‘I have been to the hairdresser,’ said Ann, ignoring Isobel’s question, ‘but there were no appointments available.’ She pulled off the hat. ‘I think I need to take you up on your offer of brushing the tangles out, Keith. I can’t see the back at all, and it may take some time. It’s either that, or you’ll need to just cut it all off.’

Chapter 46

October 1931

The drawing room at the front of the house hadn’t been used for almost a year. Ann and Isobel stood in the doorway and took in the vastness of the task ahead of them.

‘I’ll find you one of my working headscarves to tie over your hair,’ said Isobel.

Ann made a snipping motion with her hand. ‘I was serious about the scissors!’

Isobel surveyed the room. ‘I don’t think we should add haircutting to the list of jobs to be done before tomorrow. There’s more than enough to be getting on with as it is.’ She put her hands on her hips and took a deep breath. ‘Come on. Let’s get started. If we work steadily, it won’t be so bad.’

Ann hoped that Isobel’s confidence was well placed. The room hadn’t been touched since the previous December. Even then Ann had wondered why she had bothered when there had only been herself in the house, but as she had walked back from the shops in Morningside, she had caught glimpses of Christmas trees in her neighbour’s front windows. She had reluctantly tried to join in with the festivities, opened the shutters just a peep, and had even hung some paper chains on a large plant she had placed in the bay window. It had almost ended her, trying to carry the heavy earthenware pot through from her room at the back of the house. Eventually, she had edged it onto a wooden trolley with wobbly wheels and managed to get it through that way. The trolley had then died and so had the plant, left alone through the spring months in a dark, unheated room.

Isobel shivered. ‘We’ll need to light a fire.’

‘The chimney hasn’t been swept for two years. I didn’t bother last winter.’

‘Do you think we could risk it?’

‘Definitely not,’ said Ann hastily. ‘I should have had them done in the summer when you suggested it. Mind you, the chill may speed her visit up somewhat. Maybe the four of us should just go out for the day and avoid seeing her altogether.’

Isobel shook her head. ‘If she has something to say, and if it’s about Finlay, you are going to let her visit, and you will be polite and make her welcome, at least until you know what it’s about.’ Isobel walked over to the big bay window. ‘We need to draw these curtains and air the room at the very least. That should help a bit.’