High Spirits at the Village Inn (Ghosts of Rowan Vale #3)

Pushing open the front door, I felt a warm satisfaction as I stepped into my hallway and flicked on the light switch. There was no post on the doormat – not even any junk mail for once. After kicking off my shoes I hurried into the living room and switched on the lamp, then drew the curtains.

It was good to be home after a hectic day at work. I loved my job as lead buyer at Rochester’s department store in Oxford Street, but the long days and the commute home to Borehamwood did take their toll, particularly in the winter months.

Thankfully, the central heating was on a timer, so the house was nice and toasty. It might be the end of March, but the month showed no signs of ‘going out like a lamb’ as the saying goes. It was cold, dark and miserable, and it had rained most of the day, too.

I switched on another lamp, then reached for the remote control which operated the flame effect on our electric fire. I didn’t need the heater – the radiators were doing a more than adequate job of warming the house up – but the glow from the dancing flames made me feel instantly cosier.