Carole did not say anything. ‘I’m sorry’ was always a risky response. In the past, Carole had been as bored by the rationalizations of couples telling her why they had chosen not to have children as she had by the desolation of those who’d been unable to have them.

She decided to move on to the offensive. ‘And you, Gwyneth? Did you use to work?’ Fortunately, she stopped herself from adding something on the lines of ‘before you got ill’. She didn’t want to prompt a litany of ailments.

‘I worked in a secretarial capacity for a car dealership in Leeds.’

‘Oh? And is that how you came to meet Adrian?’

‘Yes.’

A commendably short answer. Maybe Gwyneth was as unwilling to divulge anything personal as she was. That would be very satisfactory, thought Carole, though she still felt a minor pang of unfulfilled nosiness.

Her hostess then went off in another direction, maybe demonstrating some nosiness of her own. ‘Your neighbour,’ she said, ‘the one in the house two away from us …’

‘Woodside Cottage?’

‘Yes.’

‘Her name’s Jude.’

‘I think I’d heard that. Is it true that she works as a healer?’

‘Yes,’ said Carole, immediately envisioning Gwyneth’s demand to be put in contact, followed by Jude’s successful treatment of her new client, and a triumphant, but rather embarrassingly sentimental ‘Take up thy bed and walk’ scenario.

But Gwyneth’s next words instantly deleted such images. ‘I don’t believe in healers,’ she said, warming the very cockles of her visitor’s heart.

‘I agree,’ said Carole sleekly. ‘There are a lot of charlatans out there.’

‘Very true. There were a couple operating where we used to live. I think a lot of them do more harm than good. Raising people’s hopes about miracle cures. There ought to be a law against it.’

‘You’re right. Do you speak from experience, though? I mean, have you tried to get alternative therapy for your’ – Carole felt awkward for having strayed on to the subject – ‘condition?’

‘I certainly have not. It’s my view that, if you’ve got something that the NHS can’t deal with, then you should just accept the hand that life has dealt you and get on with it.’

This so exactly reflected Carole’s own views that she produced a ringing, ‘I do so agree.’

She then realized that she hadn’t yet gone through the mandatory local routine for new residents. ‘So, Gwyneth,’ she asked, ‘how’re you liking Fethering?’

This was met by a shrug. ‘I haven’t seen a lot of it. I don’t go out much.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean …’

‘Don’t worry. I can go out. Adrian has pushed me along to the parade and the edge of the dunes. It all looks as an English village should. But I prefer to stay indoors.’

‘Oh.’