‘It was you who interfered with me, you silly bitch. “Put your arm round me,” you said, “put it round my waist.” Like a fool I did. I was going to fill my pockets with stones and go into the river like Virginia Woolf.’

‘You hadn’t made up your mind.’

‘How do you know?’

‘You said so – you implied.’ Matilda leaned across the table screaming at him, white with sudden fury. ‘You were shilly-shallying. I had it all planned and you spoilt it. I could kill you.’

‘Do. It will save a lot of trouble. Poke that knife into my guts, then you can push off and have your picnic, drown the dog as well –’ He too was shouting, handing her the knife she had pressed on the dough.

They glared at each other with hatred. The dog whimpered.

‘Are we having a row?’ Hugh sat back.

‘Yes. I’d forgotten what it’s like. It’s ages since –’ Matilda pushed back her hair. ‘I’d forgotten about Virginia Woolf and the stones. I must remember.’

‘They would prevent you swimming very far.’

‘Yes.’

‘Your plan was probably best for you.’

‘Was?’

Hugh glanced at the dog who wagged, placating, unsure.

‘Eat your breakfast. It’s ages since I had a row. Makes me feel sick, my legs are trembling.’

‘Soon passes.’ Hugh helped himself to marmalade. ‘Delicious bread.’

Matilda stood by the stove, breathing hard, watching him eat. The kitchen clock ticked. It would need winding tomorrow.

‘If anyone comes to see me go through that door into the scullery. It leads to the woodshed.’

Hugh looked up, munching.

‘If you want to go further cross the garden to the copse. It’s thick, nobody can see you by the stream, nobody goes in there, I don’t allow it.’

Hugh’s eyes were on her face.

‘I don’t allow fishermen or hounds in there. It’s mine, private, people know.’

‘Do they pay attention?’

‘Oh yes. Gus found a boy there once and terrorized him. I tied him to a bush and left him for hours. He was scared stiff – told all his friends. It worked.’

‘Sounds a bit ruthless.’

‘There’s a badger set in there. The boy was planning to bring his friends and bait them.’

‘I see.’

‘So you’d be absolutely safe in the copse.’

Hugh nodded, helping himself to more marmalade.

‘Or if you’re upstairs, keep from the windows and go up into the loft.’

‘The loft?’

‘It might be raining.’

‘You think of everything.’

‘I’ll try.’

‘Why the hell should you?’

Matilda shrugged. ‘I meant to be dead by now. It doesn’t matter what I do, if it’s any help to you.’

Hugh looked at Matilda for a long time then said: ‘You and your husband must have made a formidable pair.’

‘I betrayed my husband.’

‘Gus?’

‘Gus? Gus is a Chinese Goose, a gander – I betrayed him too.’ Matilda wept while Hugh laughed.

7