‘He threw the body from the back of the house into the Tay in a panic, that afternoon of the fated train crossing. The sister watched, terrified, from the window. And so what were identified as injuries inflicted by the rocks on the riverbank were in fact the head injuries poor Janet sustained on her own scullery floor. The sister is the only one who saw what happened and she was in a terrible state upon telling me. I had to promise her on my children’s lives I would not say anything to the authorities.’

‘Robert, that is horrible.’ She looked at his face, trying to see his expression in the darkness. ‘But why are you telling me all this?’

Robert gave a wide yawn and slumped down a little on the bench. ‘I speak the truth to you now because I shall explain what is going to happen. I shall go to Tasmania in three days’ time. The ship is booked, I have a berth for myself and my two children.’

‘How in God’s name do you think you can do that?’

‘By law they are my children, not yours.’

‘You expect me to say nothing at all? Allow you to take my children off to the other side of the world and simply say farewell?’

‘Ann, if you do not, the consequences would not be terribly pleasant for you, I fear. The little cottage in Glenisla might no longer suit your ladylike constitution – perhaps one of the tenement flats in Lochee might be more appropriate. Indeed, you could ply your wares on the streets at night.’

She slapped him hard. ‘How dare you, how dare you.’

He put his hand to his cheek then grasped her hands and drew closer. ‘I do not imagine your wealthy friends would like to know that you are no more a lady than the whores down at the docks. I am drawing up contracts tomorrow regarding the mill and also your finances. I had thought to change ownership of the mill but I decided last night to keep things as they are, with Johnston in charge, he’s a good man. I will be providing you with a generous allowance and leaving you the house and servants. Provided you say nothing malicious, you can invent some tale about being sent for at a future date, as you wish.’

He put his hand up to his mouth to stifle another yawn and she pulled her hands away and reached into her pocket.

She put her other hand onto his coat and started to unbutton it. ‘Robert, you are my husband, have you no heart?’ She slipped her hand onto his thin silk waistcoat and rubbed his chest where his heart was. ‘I cannot believe you would deprive me of my children. I love you and…’

‘Love me, ha! You have never loved me, you used me,’ he slurred, slumping further down the bench. His eyes were closing.