‘But how can they be sure that Edith isn’t alive somewhere just because she happened to abandon the car?’

‘They found incriminating documents inside the car, a suicide note from the sound of things,’ Dora, still whispering, replied. ‘The police are due here sometime soon; you can imagine the state the nuns are in. I’d better go, I’m needed,’ she said urgently. ‘I’ll call you later.’

From the minute that the chauffeur picked up Sybil in the shiny silver Daimler, the two women barely stopped talking, and of course the very first topic of conversation was Edith Mann.

‘What a shock,’ Sybil said, as the driver threaded his way through the winding, narrow streets of Windermere. ‘The whole of Mary Vale must be very upset.’

‘I’ve only talked to Dora – she did say the nuns were in a terrible state. The police are due to visit today. They’ll all blame themselves, that’s for sure,’ Rosie said knowingly.

‘Poor Matron, she has such a big heart, she’s bound to be racked with guilt.’ Rosie gave a heavy sigh. ‘I suppose the mystery of Edith’s Mann midnight flit is finally solved.’

‘It feels like none of us ever really knew her,’ Sybil mused.

Rosie nodded. ‘And now we never will.’

Cook had set out a delicious lunch in the big warm kitchen; she’d managed to drum up fresh bread, home-made tomato soup with fresh herbs and even a crumble made with apples from the Zophony House orchard. Rosie was impressed by how fit and well Sybil looked, while Sybil was astonished at the change in Rosie.

‘You’ve filled out,’ she cried, as she eagerly accepted more hot soup from the cook. ‘Your hair’s longer too, and you’re certainly a lot more energetic.’

‘I feel marvellous. Running this place gives me energy and pleasure too,’ beaming Rosie replied. ‘Moving here is the best thing that ever happened to me. My only worry was how the children would react long term to me leaving Mary Vale.’

‘Did they threaten to run away to London again?’ Sybil teased.

Rosie gave a proud smile. ‘Nothing of the sort – they’ve been here a couple of times now and they love Zophony House as much as I do.’

‘Who wouldn’t?’ Sybil asked, as she gazed out of the window which looked out over the fells.

‘They like the lake and the mountains, of course, but they’re sort of used to that now, having been at Hope Farm for so long,’ Rosie explained. ‘What they especially love is having their own room in one of the turrets. Sally thinks she’s a princess, while Ronnie thinks he’s a wizard. They make up all sorts of games and play up there for hours and hours,’ she finished happily.

‘Bless them,’ Sybil sighed. ‘I miss them so much.’

‘Will you have time to visit them at the farm?’