It was Louisa’s turn to introduce herself next. ‘Like Stanley and Win, I come from Yorkshire,’ she said, smiling towards the Heslingtons, ‘though I live a bit further north than they do. I read English at St Andrews and always had vague dreams about writing a novel some day, but time has ticked by and so far I’ve never even started one. I’ve been a PA to a politician for five years but feel I need a complete change for various reasons. I’m at a bit of a crossroads in my life . . .’ Her voice suddenly trailed away. Unaccountably she felt a lump in her throat and tightness in her chest that made it difficult to speak.

‘And the writing?’ prompted Catherine gently. ‘Have you done any at all since university? Might this be the right moment to have a go at the novel?’

Louisa gulped. ‘I . . . I don’t really know. I’m afraid I haven’t got a plot or characters lined up or anything.’

‘Everyone starts in different ways. Let’s just see what happens over the next few days. Was it the idea of writing a novel that brought you here?’

Louisa struggled to speak while Catherine smiled encouragingly. What on earth is the matter with me, Louisa wondered, unused to being inarticulate.

‘Yes, partly,’ she said at last, and then went on in a rush, ‘but it’s also because I’m contemplating big changes in my life and I know I need to face some things that I usually try not to think about.’ She paused again, feeling foolish, and then continued in a steadier voice: ‘I’m on the Glendrochatt mailing list and have always wanted to come on one of their courses. I’ve never had the time before but when I looked at their latest programme and read about this week, I thought perhaps writing might help me to unblock something – but it sounds rather an odd reason.’

‘Not odd at all,’ said Catherine. ‘It’s an excellent reason. You’d be amazed if you knew all the varied reasons that make people sign up for a course like this. Writing can put us in touch with all sorts of parts of ourselves that we aren’t aware of or have never really examined before and that can be a useful experience in itself – and who knows what may come of it? Look on it as an adventure.’

‘Thank you,’ said Louisa.

Catherine turned to Marnie Donovan. ‘Now, lastly, what about you?’

Louisa glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, wondering what she would learn about this unfriendly young woman to whom she had taken something of a dislike. Would she perhaps refuse to cooperate and tell them nothing? She was surprised to notice that the American girl, having screwed her handkerchief into a long twist, was now winding it round and round one of her fingers with great concentration.