Harry, speeding along the bridle path with Becket behind him, saw Rose and Daisy, white and petrified, and the figure in front of them. Kerridge had shown him a photograph of McWhirter, and looking at that thick white hair, Harry was sure it was the doctor. With one hand he fished out his own pistol from his pocket. A brief memory of riding a horse in the veldt during the Boer War and leaning forward over the pommel to take aim came back to him.

Praying he hadn’t lost his skill as a marksman, he fired directly at the doctor’s back.

McWhirter dropped to the ground.

Daisy burst into tears and Becket dismounted and ran to her. Rose stood where she was, very still, staring straight ahead.

Harry dismounted. He knelt down beside McWhirter’s body and turned it over.

‘Dead,’ he pronounced.

He got to his feet. ‘Lady Rose,’ he said. ‘Go back to the house. Do not tell anyone of this.’

Rose said through white lips, ‘Why? The police will have to be informed.’

‘Well, that’s the problem. Why did he attack you of all people?’

‘He blamed me for everything. So what are we to do?’

Harry turned his head. ‘Becket, go back to the house and find two spades.’

‘But this is criminal!’ protested Rose as Becket left Daisy, mounted and pedalled off.

‘I am trying to avert a scandal. If this became known, your parents would summon you home. One of their servants who had not been in their employ very long might decide to earn some money by talking to the newspapers about your visit to the asylum. It’s better this way. Take Daisy and go back to the house.’

‘No, I want to see it through to the end,’ said Rose.

‘But I’ve wet meself,’ wailed Daisy.

A hysterical giggle escaped from Rose’s lips. ‘Then you go back, Daisy.’

‘Not without you.’

They waited uneasily for Becket. ‘I hope one of the guests doesn’t decide to go for a ride,’ said Harry.

At last they saw Becket speeding down the path towards them with two spades balanced on the handlebars.

‘Right,’ said Harry, taking the spades from Becket. ‘Let’s drag this body into the woods.’

Daisy and Rose, clutching each other, followed them.

Rose suddenly released Daisy and turned away and vomited.

‘That’s it,’ said Harry. ‘Back to the house with both of you. Daisy . . .’

‘Miss Levine to you,’ said Daisy shakily.

‘Miss Levine, take her back and tell anyone who asks that you both have a touch of the sun.’

Daisy and Rose shakily made their way back to their bicycles. They mounted and began to pedal slowly at first and then furiously towards the house.

They handed their bicycles to a footman and went up to the sanctuary of their rooms.