It was at that moment that they heard a sound from within, followed by Rose’s nervous voice, ‘Hello? Who is it, please?’

‘It’s us, Rose. Mac and Clara,’ Mac called. ‘Are you OK?’ They heard bolts being drawn back and finally the door opened.

The Rose who peered out at them was so gaunt and ill-looking that Clara gasped. ‘What’s happened?’ she asked anxiously, feeling suddenly afraid. ‘Why are the windows shuttered, and the door bolted? Are you all right?’

Rose stared at her strangely before nodding. ‘Yes. Yes, of course.’ She opened the door wider and, glancing quickly behind them from left to right, added, ‘Come in, both of you. Please, do come in.’

Even in the dark gloom of the interior Clara could see that the house’s sad air of disarray had worsened since last she’d visited. When they reached the kitchen she and Mac paused inside the door, shooting nervous glances at each other as Rose silently filled the kettle then stood motionless, staring blankly down at it in her hand. ‘Rose,’ Clara said, going over and gently taking it from her, before leading her to a chair at the cluttered table. ‘Are you sure you’re OK? I’m worried about you.’

‘Worried, darling?’ Rose asked faintly. ‘About me? Why should you be worried about me?’ She began to cry, the tears seeping out down her pale, make-up-less face. ‘It’s I who should be worried about you.’ She put her hand to her mouth as a sob escaped. ‘After what happened to you,’ she glanced at Mac, ‘to both of you. I’m so sorry, I’m so dreadfully sorry.’

Clara knelt down next to her and took her hands. ‘Sorry? Oh, Rose, why are you sorry? None of this is your fault. How could it be?’

At that moment Oliver appeared, their dog, Clemmy, at his heels. Mac stepped forward to greet him but received barely a glance, as though Oliver could see nothing or no one but his wife. ‘Rose,’ he said, his voice full of tenderness. ‘Oh, darling, why are you crying? Don’t cry, please don’t cry.’ He went to her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, fixing him with her gaze, something that Clara couldn’t read passing between them and then, to Clara’s astonishment, Rose very slowly and very deliberately removed his hand from her shoulder and got up. She stared back at her husband, a look on her face of such coldness, of such breathtaking dislike, that Clara felt her heart jolt in shock. And then Rose turned and left the room, leaving the three of them to stare silently after her.

Later, as they were unloading Luke’s belongings from the van, Clara said quietly to Mac, ‘What the hell is going on?’

He shook his head. ‘I have absolutely no idea.’