‘But we’re expecting you next Friday, Mr Blue,’ she said. ‘The administrator will be back on Friday to see you, it’s all arranged.’

‘I want to wish her Merry Christmas,’ said Terence simply.

She was unsure whether she should let him in. But it was Christmas after all, there were lots of visitors in the hospital today, and they had agreed he was to see her. She thought him romantic, and extremely handsome still in an ageing sort of way, but not very realistic. And rather brave to come back to a woman who had tried to stab him to death, not that there were any knives now of course within reach of Nicola Abbott. And he was a Film Star after all.

‘Could I have your autograph Mr Blue?’ she said, giggling prettily.

And when he smilingly obliged she decided no harm could be done from a short Christmas visit and led him cheerfully along the rubber-covered corridor floors, through the locked doors, past visitors with Christmas presents and anxious smiles, past the vacant faces, to the small room with the window and the bed.

As they walked along Terence Blue was silent, carrying his gifts, but the junior psychiatric nurse could hear his rather uneven breathing. Calling, crying voices echoed everywhere along the corridors, behind the doors, but the nurse was used to them, did not hear them. If Terence Blue heard these sounds he gave no sign. The nurse pondered: Mary Shand – or Nicola Abbott as she was called in the papers – was an old woman now, and quite lost to the world. Whatever was a famous film star like Terence Blue hoping for?

‘I’m afraid she doesn’t talk,’ she said, opening the door.

The grey-haired woman sat very neatly, her feet exactly together, exactly underneath her, as she stared out of the window. She turned when the door opened.

To the everlasting amazement of the young psychiatric nurse the patient got up from the chair almost at once. She remained quite still for several moments and then walked slowly towards the man in the doorway, the nurse had her finger ready to press her panic button, God I should never have allowed this, I’ll lose my job.

No one would have guessed from Terence’s demeanour that the woman walking towards him had stabbed him only a few months ago. He showed no fear at all, actually put down the Christmas gifts on a small table by the door and stepped towards her.

‘Hello Nicky my darling,’ he said to the grey-haired, dark-eyed woman.

For a moment they stood there, about two feet apart. And then Nicky moved slightly, stretched her hand across to Terence. She very hesitantly pulled her fingers across his face. The young nurse in the doorway could hardly breathe.