Eventually Ann put down her fan. ‘I want you to come with me tomorrow morning to the station. I wish to see Mr Smith in person for a full assessment of the situation. We shall leave after early breakfast, once you have taken the children next door to the Donaldsons.’

‘Very well.’

‘And Baxter,’ Ann said, her fingers upon the jet brooch at her neck. ‘Remove the armband, if you please.’ She sighed and continued, ‘I appreciate the sentiment but until we have confirmation, we shall not attend to the etiquette of full mourning. I do not wish to upset the children until we know more.’

* * *

Ann sat between her children’s beds and closed the book she had been reading. Every time she read to her children she thought back to her own childhood. Her mother had never read to her, nor indeed cuddled her; she could barely remember any physical contact at all. She bent over to kiss her daughter’s forehead then put her arms round her and squeezed tight.

‘Mamma, I have been thinking,’ said Lizzie, releasing herself from her mother’s grasp.

‘Yes, my darling?’

‘You know how Alice has all these adventures? Well, surely she must have been away from her house for a long time?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, she fell down the rabbit hole then so much happened to her that the people in her house – her mamma and pappa – must have missed her for many days?’

‘Yes, probably.’

‘So, I wonder if perhaps Pappa is having a big adventure, like Alice, and he will soon be back home with us once the adventure is over?’

James sighed. ‘You don’t understand, Lizzie, it’s just a book. Mr Carroll made it all up.’ He slithered down under his covers and pulled the sheets up to his nose.

‘Lizzie, dear child, you have such a wonderful imagination. But now you must say your prayers. Sit up please, James, and put both hands together.’

There was a crash as the door was flung open and Mrs Baxter burst in, red-faced and panting.

‘Mrs Craig, come down the stairs at once, Donald has news!’ She gestured to Ann to draw nearer. ‘They’ve found a body,’ Mrs Baxter hissed. ‘They’ve found a body in the river!’

CHAPTER 8

Chapter 8

2015

Fiona slammed the passenger door shut and turned for one last look at the village where they had lived for the past two years. There was a low mist so she could not see the hills, only a shadowy tunnel of trees, leaves dripping with morning dew. She waved again at Mrs C and Doug, standing at the entrance to the hotel. Doug gave her a thumbs up and beamed. Mrs C bent her head down and waved with both hands at Jamie who sat in the front, unsmiling.

‘Wave at Mrs C, Jamie!’ Fiona whispered, slipping into the car beside him.