‘I’ll just go an’ check if he’s in his office, milady. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.’

With that she darted away as Cissie glanced fearfully around. Just being there brought back dreadful memories.

‘Why, Cissie, you’ve gone as white as a sheet, and you’re trembling. Come and sit down.’ Lavinia’s voice seemed to come from a long way away and Cissie realised that she had broken out in a cold sweat. She plonked down heavily on the nearest chair as Lavinia asked another member of staff to run and fetch her a glass of cold water.

Cissie was sipping at it and trying to stop it from sloshing over the sides of the glass when she saw a rosy-cheeked man and the little maid who had answered the door to them approaching.

‘Lady Huntley, what a pleasant surprise! We weren’t expecting you,’ he said jovially, extending his hand. ‘What can we do for you on this rather dull day?’

Although they hadn’t as yet been introduced Cissie took to the man instantly. He was plump and not overly tall, with a headful of thick, wavy, carrot-coloured hair, and when he smiled his eyes were kindly.

‘I shall get around to that in a moment, Mr Wilkins, but first may I introduce my very dear friend, Mrs Cissie Branning?’

‘I’m very pleased to meet you, m’dear.’ Mr Wilkins gave Cissie a dazzling smile before shaking her hand so hard she was afraid it might drop off. ‘Now, how about we go into the day room?’ he suggested. ‘I’ve had this room especially adapted for the visitors of the patients. It’s so much nicer for them than having to sit on the wards, and I’d welcome your opinion on it. There have been many other changes too,’ he went on proudly. ‘Many of the treatments for the patients have been stopped, since I considered them to be frankly barbaric. Only the most violent of our patients are restrained now.’

Lady Huntley nodded her approval as he led them into a large, light and airy room that had French doors leading out onto the lawns beyond. ‘Normally some of the patients would be out there enjoying the sunshine but with the weather being so inclement today I’m afraid they’ve been confined indoors,’ he explained as Lady Huntley and Cissie looked around.

Against one wall was a towering bookshelf with a very good selection of books on it, and tables and chairs were dotted here and there with various board games on them. The walls were all painted cream but some rather crude pictures that the inmates had painted added a splash of colour and altogether it was a very pleasant room indeed.

‘I think it’s a wonderful idea,’ Lavinia told him sincerely. ‘And I love the fact that you are encouraging visitors for the inmates now.’

‘I prefer to call them patients,’ he corrected her gently. ‘After all, they are ill, and they are not in prison.’

‘You are quite right. Please forgive me. But now I shall tell you why we have come today.’