‘Sunday will be quiet, we will not be disturbed. And until we decide what to do, I shall not reveal that you are back, especially if it is only temporary.’

‘Very well.’ He sat forward and muttered, feigning disinterest. ‘What else did Aunt Euphemia say?’

A smile played around Ann’s lips as she recalled the letter. ‘She was in a most frightful state for she had an unpleasant task to perform. She had to go to the mortuary at the station and identify a body.’

‘Whose?’

Ann sat up straight. ‘One of her servants. Now, what was her name?’ She shook her head then yawned widely.

His eyes opened wide. ‘Can you not recall, woman?’ As he raised his voice, a sound was heard.

They both looked towards the door.

‘Is Lizzie still speaking in her sleep?’

Yes.’ They waited until the heavy silence had resumed.

‘I repeat, woman, can you remember the servant’s name?’

‘Let me think. Yes, I know now. But it would be of no interest to you, Robert. She was a maid, her name was Janet Clark. Terrible head injuries, bashed about on the rocks.’

‘Janet? Dead?’ He sat stock-still, his face pinched.

‘Dead,’ she nodded. ‘Now, Robert, please leave before the children waken. We shall meet on Sunday evening.’

He staggered to his feet and headed towards the door, stumbling as he knocked against the side of the dressing table in the semi-darkness. When she saw he had shut the door tight, she blew out the light and laid her head down on the pillow. So, it was as she had thought, he had intended to run away with the maid. He would deem it another conquest of the lower class.

She had regretted burning the letter but the more she thought about it, she was convinced there were the letters J and C at the start of the names which were otherwise illegible. A fling with a maid; well, he would pay for his stupidity. The ignominy of it all. She uttered a long sigh as she shut her eyes tight. She had seen the woman that day in the station, the body of her husband’s lover. She shivered and pulled the blankets up around her.

As her mind played over every word he had just said, she became convinced that, even though he could not run away with the serving maid, he was after the children. Her children. He had come back to remove them from her. Well, that would never happen, not over her dead body. So, he wanted to steal her precious children? There was no doubt about it, he would pay for this.

CHAPTER 42

Chapter 42

2015

‘Oh, hi, Doug, how are things in Glenisla?’

‘Doing away fine, thanks, Fiona. Had a busy season and the new chef’s settled in better now.’

‘Good, any other news?’

‘Remember that issue with Pete’s car, the one you thought was stolen?’