‘After breaking his leg fighting so bravely in the First World War, Grandfather went into the oil industry – that’s where he made his money. When my parents died in the car crash, he retired and came back to look after us. We were only two years old at the time. We were a handful, but Grandfather raised us all by himself. My grandmother had died ten years previously. Grandfather was a faithless man after that – rare for that time – but he was also traditional, like me. He was very strict.’

‘Was he nice to you?’

‘He taught me right from wrong. He fed me and clothed me and made sure I wanted for nothing. He was a good man, most of the time.’

‘But was he nice?’

‘Nice. Such a subjective word. Such a meaningless word. I’d rather you didn’t use it, Mirabelle.’

‘Sorry, Mother. Was he kind?’

‘He was a hard man. War had seen to that.’

‘I’m sorry, Mother.’

‘He spoiled her rotten.’ Mother’s tone darkened, ‘Bought her everything she wanted. Every book she liked, she got. Every doll she liked, she got. I mean, listen to this – one day, when we were very young, perhaps four or five, Olivia decided she wanted my doll. She already had several dolls, but he didn’t even hesitate. He just let her have her. Just like that. My sweet, beautiful, little Isabelle. And when I got angry about it and tried to take Isabelle back, he shouted at me and told me I could never have a doll again and Olivia – I still remember the smug look on her perfect face – yes, she loved the fact that she could simply flutter her eyelashes at him and he’d get her anything she wanted. She loved the attention too. Craved it …’

She trailed off like she was lost in thought. Lost in memories. I felt sorry for her, but I was desperate to know more. Questions scratched at my throat like sandpaper.

I waited a few beats then asked my question, ‘Did Olivia … die?’

Mother’s fingers stilled on my head.

‘That’s enough,’ she said sharply. She looked down at me suddenly. From this angle her eyes looked crossed, her nose knife-sharp, her cheekbones blade-like.

Without warning, she stood, making my head jerk forward then flop back onto the bed. I sat up and watched her walk away, longing to hear all about my evil aunt Olivia and my great-grandfather.