‘Yes, she was quite chatty this afternoon. Playing with Johnny.’

‘And Johnny’s OK?’

Lydia nodded. ‘It all happened rather suddenly, I think. She became listless and tired and wanted to go to bed. I just thought she was exhausted, which would be no surprise. She’s had quite a time of it, I’m afraid. Anyway, I found her like this an hour ago and tried to get her fever down with a cool flannel.’

‘Is Harry Taylor home on leave – is that why you’re here?’

‘No, I keep an eye on the place. It seemed like a perfect hideout for a day or two.’

‘I see.’ Edie bent close to the girl. ‘Klara, dear, can you hear me?’

Klara reacted to the voice. ‘Zu heiss, zu heiss,’ she said, her head nodding from side to side, her chest heaving as she struggled for breath.

‘She’s saying she’s too hot.’

Edie stood up. ‘Well, at least she’s not unconscious, but nor is she properly aware of what’s going on. I’d say her temperature is at least a hundred and three. She really isn’t a well girl. Darling Lydia, I think to be on the safe side I’d like to get this child to hospital. It’s probably measles, but we won’t be sure for a day or two. If she’s come straight from Germany, we can’t have any idea what’s going around in her home town, but measles is my big worry. If a rash comes in a day or two, then we’ll find out. To be honest there’s not much you can do in the way of treating the virus. But Addenbrooke’s will keep an eye on her.’

‘I’m scared, Edie. I know no one takes a child to hospital for measles, but if we can’t be sure . . .’

‘Well, I could take her if you trust me.’

‘Of course I trust you. But I have to stay with her.’

‘Let’s all go then – in my car. I’ll carry Klara down and you fetch Johnny.’ She smiled broadly. ‘This is all something to do with Tom’s absence, I suppose. You two do get in some scrapes, don’t you!’

‘Won’t Rupert be home yet? Couldn’t we go there?’

‘I don’t know. It was a police call. They can last a few minutes for an inebriated driver or hours for something more serious.’

‘But we could wait for him at your house?’

She could see Lydia was not happy about the idea of taking Klara to a hospital.

‘Oh, all right – we’ll go home and wait for Rupert.’

*

The door was unlocked when Wilde arrived back at Trinity Villa. Just inside, there was a note on the mat. Wilde picked it up with trepidation. ‘Klara sick – maybe measles. Called Edie W. She came here and is taking me to her place.’