Then she heard Matthew. She looked up. It was not the first time that she had heard people exclaim – and very occasionally swear – when looking round a house. These exclamations were often the result of disappointment with the décor – or, on occasion, vociferous disapproval. Then there were arguments, when one member of a couple liked the layout of a house and another did not. That led to tension and, again very occasionally, open arguments. But this was different: something had clearly happened. They’ve broken something, she thought. People will insist on picking things up and then they break them. And then we have to go back to the owner and explain what has happened. Never they, be it noted – we.

She put aside Scottish Interiors and made her way into the drawing room. There she saw Matthew bending over Elspeth, who appeared to be half draped over one of the chairs. For a moment she thought that he had knocked her down – that the scream had come from her, not him, and that a disagreement over architecture had taken a rather serious turn. But then Matthew turned to her and shouted that she should call an ambulance.

The assistant took out her mobile phone and dialled the emergency number. A voice answered quickly and took the address. ‘Stay where you are. Somebody will be with you very soon.’

Then Elspeth sat up. Matthew looked at her for a moment in complete astonishment, as if she, a female Lazarus perhaps, was defying death itself.

‘I think I slipped,’ said Elspeth. ‘Sorry.’

‘You didn’t slip,’ said Matthew. ‘You collapsed. Oh, my darling, are you all right?’

‘Of course I’m all right,’ said Elspeth, struggling to get to her feet.

‘You should sit down,’ said the assistant. ‘I’ll make some tea and then the ambulance will arrive.’

Elspeth laughed. ‘I don’t need an ambulance. I slipped, that’s all.’

‘You didn’t,’ said Matthew. ‘You collapsed. Your eyes were closed. You were unconscious.’

‘I don’t think so,’ said Elspeth. ‘If I had been unconscious, then I wouldn’t remember what happened. I slipped, on that rug.’

‘Then should I call the ambulance people and cancel?’ asked the assistant.

‘No,’ said Matthew. ‘We must get Elspeth to hospital as soon as possible.’

Elspeth reached out and placed a hand on Matthew’s arm – a calming gesture. ‘Come on, Matthew, let’s not over-dramatise the situation. Maybe I did faint. People faint during pregnancy.’

Matthew frowned. ‘Only if something’s wrong.’

The solicitor’s assistant shook her head. ‘No, I think your wife’s right. I know somebody who fainted quite a few times when she was expecting her first baby. I saw her do it several times. And the doctor explained that it was all to do with inadequate blood supply.’

‘Yes,’ said Elspeth. ‘I’m expecting triplets, you see.’

The solicitor’s assistant gasped. ‘Poor you … I mean, congratulations.’