‘But, I am hypothesising, my darling,’ she said, running the tips of her fingers across his lips. ‘What if a body were to be found that had only been in the water a day or two? And it was Robert? You could perhaps write down on those very important documents you must write for each person, that he had indeed been in the depths for two weeks, that his fate was that of the other passengers on that most awful of nights.’ She gazed into his puzzled eyes. ‘You would do this for me.’ She was so near him now, her heady perfume lingered round him like a mantle.

He gazed at her as she kissed his forehead lightly. ‘I am not sure, I…’

She began to stroke his cheek.

‘Of course I would do this for you, my darling. If you ask me, I will do it.’

She kissed him on the lips then turned and fastened her buttons up to her neck and slipped on her redingote.

‘I must return to the house now.’ She drew her hair up with her hands and clamped it in at either side with two clasps. Loose locks tumbled down.

‘Even with your hair undone, you look more beautiful than ever.’

She smiled at him and kept him in her gaze as she slid on her slippers. ‘I must go now, please shut the door when you leave.’

‘Shall we meet tomorrow again, my darling?’

Ann kissed the top of his head. ‘I shall send a note if Margaret continues to be away.’

‘Oh, she will, my darling, we have another few days,’ he said, as Ann swept out of the door into the dark night air.

* * *

Half an hour later, Ann peered inside her children’s bedroom. All she could hear was the gentle rise and fall of contented breathing. She drew the door to and tiptoed down the stairs towards the front door. She pushed it open very slowly, so the hinges did not creak. Mrs Baxter had said to her at breakfast that morning that she thought she heard a noise in the night and had nearly sent her husband to scour the house.

How was that possible, Ann thought, from their cottage at the back – but she knew her housekeeper was a notoriously bad sleeper. Ann had reassured her by saying that their presence nearby made her feel calm at all times during the night and that she mustn’t worry about a thing. Any noise must have been one of the children tossing around in bed. Mrs Baxter was becoming a busybody, Ann thought, she must be watched.

The chill night air enveloped her as she pulled the door gently closed. She tiptoed onto the grass, avoiding the noisy gravel, then headed for Riverside Drive.

Patting the large pockets of her voluminous cloak, she disappeared into the dark night. It was ten minutes before midnight – the timing was perfect.