‘It’s not a question of that,’ Camilla said. ‘Dr Ward said yesterday that you could come home because there’s medical help nearby. That’s not something we can arrange in Burford, two days before Christmas.’

Marina sat up and smiled. ‘I know, darling. But I’ve worked it all out. Edward could come with us.’ There was a childish triumph in her words and the effect they had on her daughter.

‘I’m sure Edward has other plans for Christmas,’ Camilla said. ‘Besides, there’s nowhere for him to stay.’

‘There’s the Bear,’ Marina said.

‘We’re not going to ask Edward to spend Christmas in some awful room above a pub in Burford. It’s an insane idea. Let’s just cancel the drinks tomorrow and spend a quiet Christmas here on our own.’

‘George, please do this for me.’ Marina turned a beautifully tragic face to her husband. ‘Please. I don’t want our last Christmas to be in this flat. I don’t like the city any more. It makes me nervous and panicky, with all the noise and mess and hurry, and the buses and cars hurtling past. I know they’re outside and far away really, but they frighten me. I want to be somewhere calm and quiet. Please, George.’ Marina had begun to cry.

‘I’m going to make some tea,’ Camilla said.

She felt a terrible compassion for her mother, but it was mixed with annoyance at Marina’s endless ability to manipulate. Even now, with death staring her in the face, hovering beside her as she took each slow, unsteady step, she was capable of controlling their lives and thoughts. Dr Ward had opposed the idea of her being discharged from the hospital. She was still in pain, weak from the pneumonia, responding too slowly to the antibiotics. It was sheer will power, he said, that had kept her alive through the crisis. On the other hand, the most important thing was to make her comfortable, and to keep her spirits up. She had argued with him, forceful and piteous and charming in turns, until he agreed that it might be better for her state of mind if she was at home for Christmas. But now that was not enough, and she wanted to be taken to the country.

George emerged from the bedroom. ‘Do you think we could do it?’ he said.

‘It’s not remotely feasible, for God’s sake.’ Camilla’s annoyance surfaced as she saw that he was determined to indulge Marina. ‘I’m certainly not going to ring Edward and try to blackmail him into spending Christmas in the boondocks with us.’

‘Your mother says he’s in love with you,’ George said.