‘No, don’t. I’m fine,’ Caroline’s voice is a dry rasp as she collapses against her pillows. ‘I just … I just need some more sleep. I’m very … I’m very tired.’

Fran presses a hand to her friend’s forehead. She’s burning up.

‘I’m going to get Tom,’ she says decisively, then adds needlessly, ‘stay where you are.’

A hush falls over the guests gathered in the living room as Tom walks into the house. His expression is grim as he gets closer. His gaze sweeps the group, resting on each of them in turn. Fran stiffens as Tom’s eyes meet hers. It’s bad news, she can see it in his face.

‘So.’ He forces a tight smile, his hands twisting in front of him. ‘Um … first things first. Joy won’t be returning for the last couple of days of the retreat. The doctors suspect she is suffering from secondary drowning and they want to keep her in for observation.’

‘What—’ Phoenix says but Tom cuts him off.

‘She’s got fluid in her lungs. It can be fatal but, thanks to Geraldine’s swift action, Joy should make a full recovery. She’s being given oxygen and various medications and she’s being well looked after.’

‘Oh thank goodness.’ Priyanka, perched on the edge of her armchair, slumps back against the cushions. ‘I was so worried.’

‘We all were,’ Peter says, and everyone nods in agreement.

‘Can I see her?’ Fran asks.

Tom shakes his head. ‘Probably best to just let her rest today but I’m sure we can sort something out for tomorrow. The … er …’ He clears his throat. ‘The other thing I know you’ll all want an update on is … um … Kate.’

Phoenix, sitting beside Fran, gives her a nudge. In the two hours Tom’s been at the hospital the house has been abuzz with rumours. No one is entirely sure where Kate disappeared to but Emily and Sophie saw her charge down the stairs with her suitcase and when one of them (Fran still struggles to tell them apart) asked her if everything was okay she totally blanked them. Peter, who was in his and Phoenix’s bedroom on the first floor, said he saw Kate dragging her suitcase up the path to the car park and Damian, who’d been smoking round the back of the house, said he’d seen Kate and Tom arguing a few minutes earlier, in the field.

‘Kate’s um …’ Tom runs a hand through his hair. ‘Kate’s had to leave for personal reasons but she’s … er … she’s left me with strict instructions not to let anyone touch the toaster.’

Several of the guests laugh, but it has a strange, nervous timbre to it that doesn’t ring true.