‘That’s the salt, Eileen. Remember when Mum took us to Rainham on Sea when we was kids? And we sat on the beach and paddled in the water?’

Eileen nodded, smiling at the memory.

‘We had jellied eels and whelks for supper and Kerry got sick everywhere on the way home.’

‘That’s right, Eileen.’ Briony was pleased she was talking, pleased she seemed to like this place peopled with nuns and patients who seemed to move about as silently as the nuns. It was peaceful, though, with only the sound of the tide coming in. Briony sat on the seat beside Eileen. A few lone fishermen sat on the small quayside. It was overcast and they wore their oilskins and wellingtons with a jaunty air. This part of the coast was called Thorpe Bay. All along this road were large houses, imposing residences owned by people with money and position. She gazed out over the estuary, seeing the silent movement of the ships as they passed one another. It was a calm and beautiful place. It would do Eileen good. Make her happier.

A ship’s hooter blasted and Eileen jumped. Briony laughed and put her arm around her shoulders, pulling her sister’s head next to hers.

‘Everything will be all right, Eileen, I promise you.’

‘What’s happened to Joshua, Bri? Where is he?’

Briony took a deep breath. ‘He’s gone away, love. He can’t hurt you any more.

‘Will he come back, do you think?’ Her voice was low.

‘No, he can’t come back, darlin’. Not where he’s gone.’

Eileen relaxed against her.

‘Good, I’m glad. I can’t face him any more, Bri, any of them. Keep Mum away from me for a while, will you?’

Briony started. ‘Mum? Why don’t you want to see Mum?’ This request shocked her.

‘I can’t face anyone but you, not for a while. She bosses me about, you know that. Tells me to pull meself together. I wish to Christ I could, Briony. But I have those feelings again, like I had before, remember? Sometimes I don’t know for sure who I am or what I’m doing. I hear things, Bri... People keep talking to me, all the time. I know there’s no one there really, but I have to listen to them. If I don’t, then I feel like something bad will happen.’

Briony hugged her close. Her voice was thick with tears as she said: ‘Nothing bad is ever going to happen to us again, not me or you or the others. I promise you that.’

‘I really like it here, Briony, I feel safe.’

‘You are safe, Eileen, as safe as houses.’

‘And you’ll keep Mum away, just for a little while, until I get settled?’

‘Of course I will. Anything you want you can have.’