‘Sorry, my dear, not today. Though the rain has stopped, it will be too wet underfoot. Perhaps tomorrow.’

Even though he was gone, she felt his threatening presence, she wanted to keep her children close.

The door swung open. Mrs Baxter hobbled in and frowned as she looked at them. ‘Lizzie, you are too big to sit like a baby on your mother’s lap.’

‘I think that is something for us to decide, thank you.’ Ann started to pull Lizzie’s slippers back on. ‘Off you go up to the nursery. I shall pop up later.’

Mrs Baxter stood back to allow Lizzie and James to run past her then she approached the table. ‘Mrs Craig, I noticed your heavy cloak was damp. I hung it in the drying room earlier.’

‘Oh, thank you. What a good idea.’

‘I didn’t hear you go out last night. Did you go far?’

‘No, not far,’ said Ann, flustered.

‘I’ll clear up the lunch things then fetch your coffee in the drawing room.’

Ann nodded, thinking about the coat and what was in the pocket. She had completely forgotten about it. Last night, she had just flung it on the coat stand and gone straight to bed, too exhausted to think straight. And now she could not get to the drying room without passing through the kitchen where Mrs Baxter resided all day.

There was a loud knock at the front door.

‘Shall I see who that is, Mrs Craig? I can bring them to you in the drawing room.’

Ann stood up and went out, head bowed, thinking about what to do.

She could hear her voice before she reached her favourite window seat. Good God, Margaret was back.

‘Mrs Donaldson to see you, Mrs Craig,’ said Mrs Baxter as Margaret swept past her, carrying a large carpetbag. Her face was pale, her expression austere; she did not greet Ann as she took a seat.

Mrs Baxter pulled the door to, but did not shut it completely.

‘Margaret, how nice to have you back. You have been missed. How was your sister?’

‘My sister was fine.’

Margaret’s expression was thunderous. Ann had never seen her be anything other than charming.

‘You are back earlier than you had thought. Was all well, my dear?’

‘In fact no, all was not well. Yesterday morning we received a message from Aggie to say the dog had disappeared during the evening and she was worried. She had tried to waken Dr Donaldson in the night to look for her but he was not there. It was not an evening he was on duty, he had told her he had no work until Monday morning.’

Margaret glared at Ann who stood and went to the door. Take your time, Ann told herself. Be careful. ‘Shall you join me for coffee, Margaret, dear?’ She opened the door wide and, as she thought, her housekeeper was hovering in the hall.