‘You shouldn’t be up,’ she says, her eyes narrowing as she looks at me, her mouth a thin, straight line. Her hair is scraped back into a tight ponytail, and it seems more of a pewter colour than silver down here in the gloomy cellar. The cheekbones that I always admired catch what little light there is, giving the contours of her face an angular look. Her gaze moves to the full mug next to the bed. ‘And why haven’t you drunk your tea?’

I’m not sure how to respond. I feel I am on a knife edge here. Will Thea hand me over to the police? Is she angry with me for bringing so much trouble to her home? I can hardly blame her if she is.

‘Thea, I’m so very sorry for this…mess!’ I say, knowing that such a trivial word doesn’t come close to describing the catastrophic quagmire I have landed her and Garrick in. I feel a sob building, but I swallow hard and pray that I can control it. I’m sure I would get little sympathy.

Thea gazes back at me, and I can see she’s thinking, but I have no idea what is going on in her head.

‘We will protect you,’ she says finally. ‘We’ve helped others who have found themselves in a difficult position, and the doctor will talk to you about what brought you to this situation. That is non-negotiable, Judith. If we are going to keep you safe, sessions with the doctor will be part of your treatment. We need to understand what demons are lurking within your psyche – whether you can be cured or whether you have no hope.’

What does she mean, ‘treatment’? I’ve already had a session with the doctor, and I didn’t enjoy it at all. It left me confused and anxious. And what happens if he decides I have ‘no hope’?

‘While the doctor is making his assessment, you will help around the house but live down here, where you’ll be hidden from the outside world. The police won’t find you here.’

‘Of course I’ll help,’ I say, only too happy to do something to pay my way. ‘What would you like me to do?’

She still hasn’t moved from the door, and I wonder – now she knows I can be violent – if she doesn’t trust me.

‘The other girls will explain your duties. They have a rota of tasks – cleaning, cooking, ironing. It’s a big house and it takes a lot of looking after. You are not allowed into our private rooms on the first floor. One of the other girls has that task. You will be allocated jobs downstairs.’