She insisted Maude bathe her face properly, and found her a clean towel to use, it was warm and soft and smelt of lavender. She kept up a gentle flow of chat as she helped her back upstairs and sat her back on the bed. And when she asked how Maude was feeling, she seemed to properly listen to the answer. The mess in the attic didn’t seem to bother her, and she didn’t seem to notice the shadow flickering in the corner either, so Maude did her best not to look.

She sat on the edge of the bed. ‘What’s happened there?’ she asked, and looking at her wrist, Maude noticed that her bracelet had come loose. Carolyn helped undo it.

‘This ribbon’s looking a bit worse for wear.’ She held it up to the light and the silver flower turned lazily. The ribbon was grubby, and beginning to fray at the ends. ‘Shall I ask Evie to replace it?’

‘Yes, please.’ It felt odd, not wearing it; surprising how quickly Maude had got used to the warm weight of it against her skin. It was far nicer than any of the things Nell and her dad had ever given her. ‘She said I should wear it all the time.’

‘Well, no wonder it’s in such a state.’ Carolyn looped the ribbon carefully over her fingers, then shoved the bracelet into her pocket.

‘So, this is a bit rubbish, isn’t it?’ she said.

‘Yeah.’

‘Not much of a holiday for you.’

It was a bit gloomy in the attic, despite the bright weather, and Maude switched on her lamp. Her foot ached and she kept seeing, in her mind’s eye, the flesh stretching and tearing as she placed her foot flat against the floor, against the edge of broken glass – and there was a bit of her that was puzzled, that didn’t really understand where it had come from, because neither she nor Nell had been carrying a glass – as her skin was sliced apart. She was supposed to take painkillers if it hurt too much, but she had left those down in the bathroom.

Carolyn was going round the room, checking the windows, scooping up Maude’s collection of pebbles, tidying up.

Leave them, she wanted to say, at least leave the pins, and if it had been Nell she might have, but it was Carolyn, and Maude had the idea that she didn’t want to be rude.

‘And speaking of holidays,’ said Carolyn, ‘I was wondering. I don’t mean to pry, but your mum mentioned something about school?’

‘We’re on holiday.’

Carolyn opened one of the drawers and dropped everything inside. ‘Can you keep a secret?’

‘Yes.’