He waited for a while, not wishing to return to what had become a place of dread. Some wading bird watched him suspiciously from a reed bed, and he noted the statuesque figure of a grey heron surveying him from the muddy mouth of an inlet.

‘Stupid birds. It’s not me you should be wary of, it’s this bloody place,’ he muttered. ‘Go and fish elsewhere, somewhere healthy!’

Acquiescing, the great bird rose majestically, its enormous wings beating soundlessly in the morning mist. With a single cry, it turned and flew inland, away from Holland House.

As Will, too, would be flying. But what would he find on his return?

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER NINE

Will left it until the Monday morning to tell Kate that Matt would be accompanying him to Canada. He said it had been a last-minute offer. Kate had little to say about it, appearing far more interested in all the jobs she had lined up for herself in his absence. As the time for his departure grew closer her moods were swinging like an out-of-control pendulum.

It was weird. One minute she was her old loving self, telling him she would miss him terribly, and the next she was nagging him to get everything ready for all the jobs she was determined to do. Instead of calmly preparing for his sister’s funeral, Will found himself moving heavy furniture into the centre of the lounge so that she could begin decorating, sweeping the chimney and carrying unwanted items up into the loft.

By Tuesday morning, he was exhausted, while Kate seemed full of energy. Will realised that while he was distraught at their enforced separation, Kate was actually relishing the prospect.

At last the car the RCAF had sent for him was winding its way up the marsh lane, and Kate was crying and clinging to him like a child. Will experienced a moment of sheer panic. He shouldn’t be leaving his wife. He could do nothing for his sister, he certainly couldn’t bring her back, so why hadn’t he remained where he was needed, with the living?

But it was too late now. He kissed her gently, told her he would be back soon and would phone often.

As the car moved off down the lane, he looked back. Kate was standing in the porch, outlined by trailing leaves of clematis and a few late roses. She seemed to be part of the building itself — the pale spirit of Holland House.

By the time they reached the end of the lane, he found he was crying.

They collected Matt. As he and Liz said goodbye to each other, Will couldn’t help comparing this farewell with his and Kate’s. They were so close, so unreservedly in love. Will felt a pang of envy.