He smiled again. ‘I’m afraid we had to do a rather invasive surgical management of the miscarriage. There was a lot of tissue stuck near the lower end of your uterus – in the cervix – causing you more pain than usual and making you bleed heavily. You did right not to stay at home and miscarry, as you were in cervical shock – that’s when what’s happening causes a rapid drop in your blood pressure and heart rate, leading to collapse. But you’re out of any danger and you’ll be feeling much better in a couple of days. The nurse will be in shortly to give you something to make sure you sleep. I’ll come and see you in the morning, Cleo, and, all being well, you’ll be able to go home.’ He looked at Roy. ‘Will you be able to drive her?’

‘Yes, of course,’ Roy said. He smiled down at her then turned to the consultant. ‘We’re devastated by what’s happened, Mr Comber, and we’ll have to come to terms with it. Will it affect our chances of having another baby in the future?’

‘Not at all, you’ve nothing long-term to worry about, Mr – sorry – Detective Superintendent – right?’

Grace nodded distractedly.

The consultant looked at Cleo. ‘You should feel better in a few days, Cleo. I’d advise you to have iron and folic acid at a higher dose, as we know it can help prevent some abnormalities of the baby. I would say to wait a couple of menstrual cycles to let the lining of the uterus recover – and both of you emotionally – then try again. That time will also help raise the level of folic acid in your body.’

After Comber had left, Cleo sighed.

‘How do you feel about what he said?’ Roy asked her.

‘Crap, to be honest. I’m going to have to deal with all the sympathetic well-wishers. I know they’ll all have the best intentions, but I don’t think I can face anyone. I know what they’ll all say. Better it happened now . . . How far along were you? . . . Ever thought of adoption?’

‘Darling, just remember everyone will mean well. What could they possibly say in this awful situation?’

‘Just that they’re sorry, that’s all.’ She was silent for a moment then she said, ‘Maybe we were lucky with Noah.’

He gave her a questioning look. ‘We’ll be lucky again.’

‘We will be,’ she said. ‘We will.’

‘Yes.’

She lapsed into silence, staring down at her bedclothes, her face sad.

‘Penny for your thoughts,’ he said after a while.

She gave a wan smile. ‘I was just thinking how bloody random life is. How unpredictable. One moment you’re all excited, you’re going to have a baby, and the next you’ve got blood pouring out of you and you’re in a hospital bed.’