“Christian Science reveals incontrovertibly that Mind is All-in-all, that the only realities are the divine Mind and idea,” said Ruby.

Smithson smiled. “Fascinating, Miss Smith. Fascinating.”

“Isn’t it?” said Ruby.

“I’ll say,” said Smithson. “Why don’t you tell us more?”

“Certainly,” said Ruby, despite Enid mouthing, no. “Christian Science is natural, but not physical. Mind governs the body, not partially but wholly. There is no pain in Truth and no truth in pain. Sick and sinful humanity is Mortal Mind. When subordinate to the divine Spirit, man cannot be controlled by sin or death. Christian Science brings to the body the sunlight of Truth, which invigorates and purifies. Christian Science acts as an alternative, neutralising error with Truth. It changes the secretions, expels humours, dissolves tumours, relaxes rigid muscles, restores carious bones to soundness—”

“That’s enough,” said Lord Merrivale.

Ruby tilted her head to see him, and her ringlets bobbed against her shoulders. “Don’t you want to know how it does it?”

“No,” said Lord Merrivale.

“I think we’ve all got the gist,” said Smithson.

When it was Crowther’s turn he managed to get her onto the topic of Enid’s fine character again, but it all felt a little too late.

Another Christmas, another attempt at joviality gone wrong. She’d won him for the day, and immediately, as the day dawned, regretted it. Stockings that had failed to match up to Joan’s, a goose none of them could eat, and presents that fell flat. Finetta had smiled and said thank you Mummy for a silk robin, and put it aside. Ian hadn’t known what to do with a stamp book. Douglas had sent him a boat. At least he’d loved that. It was over. That was the best she could say. She’d taken them to a Christmas fair, bought them each a square of fudge, and avoided any post that didn’t look Christmassy; an absurd amount of invitations to join Ruby at Didlington Hall and a card from Crowther’s office – that had been the sum of it. Everything else was piled on the table in the hall. The High Courts were shut until well into the new year, and so was she.