As they walked along Melville Drive, beside the Meadows, they could see the orange glow in the sky reflected in the tenement windows.

Finlay held Ann’s hand tightly all the way home and she didn’t complain at all.

When they reached Library Terrace, he turned and hugged her. ‘I would never, ever have left you behind, Annie Bee.’

Ann was still too shocked to speak.

Ursula answered the door. ‘Did the performance go on late? It’s past midnight.’ She sensed something was wrong. ‘What’s that smell?’

‘Smoke,’ said Finlay. ‘There was a fire. A big fire. I am not sure how we got out of the theatre at all, to be truthful.’

‘Are you sure you’re alright?’ She ushered them into the hall where the light was better and examined their faces. She needed to know they weren’t hurt.

‘We are both safe. Nothing to worry about,’ replied Finlay. ‘But I need to speak to Father and tell him that myself. I’m sure you understand.’

‘Of course. He will want to hear what has happened, as I do. He managed to get out of bed after you left and was determined to stay up until you got home.’ She sniffed. ‘But first I want you to take your coats off so the smoke doesn’t affect his throat. I’ll come up with you so he doesn’t get a shock, and then I’ll ask Isobel to make you some hot milk.’

*

They sat around the fire, a smaller one this time, contained behind a fireguard and with coal instead of the burning curtains and theatre seats.

Isobel brought hot milk as requested, and Ursula poured a little brandy into Finlay’s cup without being asked. ‘Stay, Isobel. I’m sure you want to know about this as much as we do,’ she said.

John made a space on the couch and beckoned Ann to sit beside him. ‘Now we are all here, please tell us what has happened. Start at the beginning,’ he croaked. Ann sat down, but didn’t cuddle in.

‘We arrived a little early,’ Finlay began, ‘and we managed to get to our places without any great difficulty. Every seat was sold, I heard the ushers talking to one another. It was a full house. The performance started on time and it was really very good. I honestly did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did.’ He stopped. ‘It feels so wrong to say that now.’ He coughed into his handkerchief and looked at the speckles of grey on the cotton lawn fabric, surprised to see evidence of the night’s events in front of him.

‘Go on,’ said Ursula.