‘It always surprises me that one’s gardeners must cut the roses back quite as much. And yet, every year in the summer months, they bloom with reliable certainty. Nature is a wondrous thing.’ She stretched out a hand and Ann took it, glancing up at the sexagenarian, whose lined face betrayed no emotion. Ann’s hands were sweaty and all of a sudden she felt weak.

‘Please sit down, Aunt Euphemia.’ Ann gestured to the comfortable armchair by the fire. ‘Are you feeling better? You look well.’

She frowned. ‘I am always well, Ann, I never allow myself the indulgence of illness.’ She started to fan herself with her hand. ‘Fetch me a fan, will you. It is stifling in here.’

Ann handed her the fan from the table behind her then reached over the table for the bell and rang it. ‘Shall you take tea?’

‘What’s that? Tea, yes. And cake.’

Ann sucked in a deep breath. She wished the woman would not treat her like a servant.

Lady Cruickshank looked around and towards the window again. ‘That is an extremely sharp wind out there. But thank the good Lord Sunday’s storm abated. I had the impression our walls were to come tumbling down, like Jericho.’ Her wrinkled face relaxed a little before the daunting expression returned.

‘How was it on this side of the river on Sunday night? Dundee was struck most terribly I hear, and what a shock to have had the bridge come down. It took me such a long time to cross the river this morning. Fortunately I was only in Tayport, so only five minutes from the ferry journey over the river to Broughty Ferry.’

‘So were you not…’

‘Do you recall me telling my nephew about the rumours that the ferry drivers used to race the train drivers over the river? They used to watch each other and see who would reach the north shore first. He never concurred, he said trains were always faster than boats. But I said the races were dangerous, the trains were only meant to travel at a slow pace on the bridge, but men do like to compete. However, my ferry today was slow and calm, respectful.’ Lady Cruickshank paused for breath and Ann readied herself to ask a question, but her companion continued.

‘And so there has been talk of the fact the train had been speeding over the bridge in such inclement weathers and that may have been what caused the terrible accident.’

A knock at the door brought a welcome interlude. Ann had forgotten how much her husband’s aunt liked to talk, even though she was rather deaf and heard little of what others said. Mrs Baxter brought in a tray of tea and set it out on the table beside her.