‘Of course,’ murmured Laura, surprising a strong rush of affection for the invalids. Look at it this way, she told herself, these two have been faithful for life, give or take a stumble or stray, a slight vagary. Their love may be a deviation from the norm, but it has lasted. They have known what they wanted and stuck to it. Why should they bother? If their mode of life has ruined mine, why should they care? There are many virtuous people who do more harm with their good intentions than this pair of hedonists.

She sat watching Nicholas and Emily lying propped by pillows in the double bed. Bonzo, crawling up over their feet, had settled between them lying on his back, eyes closed, mouth slightly open, tail gently wagging, adding his doggy smell to the fustiness of the sickroom, the tumbled bed and crumpled sheets.

‘We wore our best nighties for the doctor’s visit,’ volunteered Emily. ‘I wore the pink satin job given me long ago by dear old Ned.’

‘Almost a museum piece. She topped it with her white lace shawl from Peru,’ said Nicholas.

‘Nicholas wore his navy silk pyjamas with the monogram across his tit.’

‘I bet the doctor was impressed,’ said Laura. ‘I suggest,’ she said, ‘that you let me make up the bed with clean sheets while you have a bath—’

‘Ooh. Dare we risk it?’

‘Your nails are filthy and I bet the rest of you is the same. I’ll scrub your backs. To be honest, you smell.’

‘Listen to her!’

‘And I’ll fill your hot water bottles.’

‘Just as Nanny did in the long gone nursery days!’

‘It will not be the first time I have done it.’ Laura ran the bath, filling the old-fashioned tub with a mahogany surround, a bath so large it easily held two people. ‘Come on, in you get,’ she said.

‘The Nazis made people bath before they gassed them,’ Emily whispered loudly to her brother.

‘Careful, careful. Oops, it’s hot.’ Nicholas tested the water with his toe before lowering himself into the bath. ‘Come on, ducks.’ He held out his hand to his sister.

Laura took clean sheets from the airing cupboard and made up the bed, turning Bonzo off to do so. She also opened a window to let fresh air blow in. She chucked the dirty sheets out onto the landing, closed the window and turned her attention to the two in the bath. ‘Let’s be scrubbing you.’

‘You’re so bossy.’ Nicholas dipped down into the hot water.

‘I bet the doctor said you could have a bath.’ Laura took Emily’s hands and brushed her nails. ‘How could you let them get like this?’ She did not expect an answer.

‘Actually, yes, he did say it could be risked. We rather took it to mean at some future date.’

‘Hum.’

‘One wonders whether this is not some ploy of yours to give us pneumonia, get rid of us.’

‘I wouldn’t do that, I love you.’