The next morning, when he arrived at the Trenchards’ house to pick up the Mercedes, he found a note stuck in behind the driver’s windscreen wiper. It was from Katie, asking him to come into the kitchen before he left.

She rose from her customary seat in the window as he entered and pushed her arms high above her head in a long stretch. “Morning, Dan. You got my note, then.”

The strain of Patrick’s “bad patch” over the past few weeks had taken its toll on his wife. Her face no longer glowed with rustic health but had become pale with fatigue and worry. Yet, in a strange way, the change seemed to accentuate her attractiveness, and the vulnerability that was now displayed in one usually so capable brought out an ethereal beauty in her.

“Everything all right?” Dan asked.

“Fine. Did you get the girls onto the train all right?”

“Yes. They went off a great deal happier than when I first picked them up, at any rate.”

“Maybe things needed to reach an all-time low before they got better.”

“I think you’re right. Talking of which, how’s Patrick?”

Katie let out a laugh of frustration and shook her head. “He wants to go with you this morning.”

“Really? Is he up to it?”

“He thinks he is, and try arguing against that.”

“Do you want me to have a word with him?”

The smile slipped from Katie’s face. “No, it would be no use.” She closed her eyes. “If he wants to go on like that, I can’t stop . . .” She faltered and Dan watched as she gulped to control her emotions. A large tear broke free from each of her tightly closed eyes.

“Hey, come on. It’s all right.” He moved quickly over to her and put his arms around her. She responded immediately, pressing her face against his chest and holding hard to him. “He’ll be fine, Katie. I won’t let him overdo it.”

“I just don’t know what I would do if something happened to him.”

“I’ll take care of him.”

Katie pushed herself away from his hold. “What can you do that I haven’t done already?” she snapped at him.

Dan grimaced. “Look, what I meant was . . .”

Katie sat down on the edge of the window seat and covered her face with her hands. “I know what you meant. I’m sorry, Dan. It’s just that I can’t control him. I’ve tried, but his will to keep going is just too strong.”

“In that case,” Dan said quietly, “maybe you just have to let him keep going.”

Katie looked up at him and smiled bravely. “I know. I’m only thinking of myself, aren’t I?”

“No, you’re not. You’re being wonderful. I don’t know how the hell you cope.”