Sick and exhausted, he needed a shower, or maybe a bath. Everything else could wait. He went back upstairs. He had thought Kate must be walking the marshes, but he saw that her car had gone. Maybe she had mustered the courage to go into the town, or at least the supermarket.

He opted for the bath and was soon luxuriating in one of Kate’s bath foams. It smelt of lavender and the hot water soothed him.

The sound of someone opening the front door made him realise that he had dozed off. ‘Kate! Up here, sweetheart! I’m in the bath.’

There was the sound of hurried footsteps and then a door closing. His brow furrowed for a moment, and he was about to get out when he heard her call out that she would be with him a minute. Then, after considerably longer than a minute, she was with him, giving him a wet hug and a kiss. ‘I didn’t expect you until much later.’

‘I did text you.’ He bit his lip. He didn’t want a row. ‘Long story. I came home in less than style, but I’m here, that’s all that matters.’

She took the sponge and the soap from him and began to wash his back. ‘It’s all over now, Bear. Are you glad you made the journey?’

He hated the casual way she spoke. It had been his only sister’s funeral, for heaven’s sake, he’d hardly had a choice! Once again, he stopped himself. ‘Of course I’m glad I went, although it was murder being away from you. We don’t do “apart,” do we?’

She was slower to answer than he would have liked. ‘No, of course we don’t.’

‘I saw how much work you’ve done on the lounge. It looks wonderful.’

‘Not bad, is it?’ He lay back in the warm water and looked up at her. She was drawn and grey, quite haggard. His initial delight at seeing her burst silently like the bubbles from the bath foam. He sat up, splashing water over the edge of the tub, and took her hands in his.

‘Kate. How much sleep have you had since I left?’

‘Oh, don’t start, Will.’ She pulled her hands away and dried them on his bath towel.

‘Come on,’ he persisted. ‘Tell me. Have you been working day and night?’

She looked at him in a slightly bemused fashion. ‘I . . . I’m not really sure. I finished when I felt like it. I wasn’t clock watching, so maybe I did work really late once or twice.’

‘And have you eaten?’

‘What is this? The bloody interrogation room? You’ve been home five minutes and listen to you!’