She stepped forward to see the player better. The woman was middle-aged and wore ragged clothes. Her boots were scuffed and her grey plaid shawl threadbare. As Ann stared at her, the woman turned to face her; her eyes were empty, glazed. It was then Ann realised who she was and turned away towards the carriage. As she stepped inside, she risked another look back towards the melodeon player.

‘That’s Blind Mattie,’ said the driver. ‘She’s not usually this side of town, normally in Lochee. Someone must’ve took her down here for the afternoon. Grand song she’s playing. What’s it called again?’

Ann opened her mouth to reply then pressed her lips firmly together.

‘Oh, I ken now,’ he said, smiling. ‘It’s “To the Weaver’s Gin Ye Go”. Fine song, one from the mills.’

‘If you say so. Now drive on. Home to Magdalen Yard Road.’

The driver continued to stand, listening. ‘What a grand instrument that is. I love a melodeon.’

Ann shuffled in her seat and pulled her cloak round her.

‘She cannot see a thing yet, did you ken, she’s got a gift, sees things no one else can.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s a gift, but she’s still a poor soul.’

‘Drive on!’ Ann commanded. As the horse began to trot off, she pulled back the curtain a fraction to see Blind Mattie put down her melodeon, pick up her pipe and put it in her mouth. Ann watched as she put her other hand behind her onto the window ledge where she felt for the tin can, placing it on the ground in front of her. The woman looked up, towards the street, as if searching for someone. Her dead eyes met Ann’s gaze and she felt a chill penetrate her soul. She slumped back into the seat and pulled the curtain shut.

CHAPTER 24

Chapter 24

2015

‘Sounds to me like that Debs woman made it all up. She seems like a psycho. Mind you, where would she have got the photo.’

Martha was pulling on her white gloves in the archives room the following morning. ‘At least Cressida told you how madly in love he was with you though.’

‘Yes, I suppose that was something. She kept saying she couldn’t believe he’d done a runner as he’d told her how blissfully happy he was at his work and at home; he said we were good together. Though why he poured his heart out to her I have no idea.’

‘Maybe just because they were both into food? Allie’s always telling me about the great chats she has with Claire, that woman she works with. Makes me feel quite jealous sometimes.’