‘She’s fine. In full possession of her faculties, if that’s what you’re delicately hinting at.’

‘You don’t know her like I do. My aunt’s not at all herself,’ Mary protested.

‘I know her far better than you do and she’s as intelligent and sane as she ever was,’ Victor snapped. ‘And actually, I see her far more often than you usually do, young woman, because she’s my best friend and we’ve known one another since we were in our twenties. Until this happened I doubt you saw her more than two or three times a year.’

As Mary glared at his uncle and opened her mouth to reply, Gordon intervened again. ‘Come and meet Mrs Carlton, Jenny. She’s been revoking the enduring power of attorney her nieces held.’

Mary let out a growl of anger. ‘You must have been exerting undue influence.’

‘Mrs Carlton has a perfect right to choose whoever she wants to help her.’ Gordon’s quiet tone was in great contrast to Mary’s sharp voice. He glanced quickly at the other sister, who had remained in the background and was looking worried, but didn’t say anything to her.

Mary glared at him. ‘I’m sure I read somewhere that until the change is registered, we still have the power to act. I’m not letting you coerce my aunt. She needs looking after and I know how much lawyers cost, even if she doesn’t.’

He breathed deeply but didn’t reply to that one.

As they came into the room Elise spoke up loudly and clearly, ‘No one is trying to coerce me except you, Mary. How many times do I have to tell you that I do not wish to go into a care home?’

‘You can’t look after yourself, let alone that big house!’

‘I agree about the house, not about myself. Anyway, I’m making other arrangements.’ She turned to the social worker. ‘Do we need to fetch a doctor to prove that I’m in my right mind?’

Jenny smiled. ‘I don’t think so. I wouldn’t usually have interfered but your niece seemed so upset about your state of mind. Perhaps, since I’m here, you and I could just have a private chat for a moment or two to set my mind completely at rest about the situation.’

Gordon smiled.

Elise saw Victor slip something into his mouth, but didn’t say anything.

She shouldn’t have come to him. He didn’t look at all well.

He caught her watching him and shrugged. ‘Why don’t you two ladies use the dining room for your chat?’

When she was alone with the social worker, Elise took the initiative. ‘My niece always has been bossy. She thinks she knows what’s best for me, but she doesn’t.’ She gestured to the wall where another of her paintings was hanging. ‘I’m an artist, still working when I’m not breaking hips. That’s one of mine, so were the bluebells in the other room. I sell my paintings and I’m preparing for an exhibition. The mere idea of me going into a care home is ridiculous.’