Marnie, close as she was, saw expressions chase across Camille deVillars’ face before it settled on confusion. The old woman tried to pull her hands away from her husband’s, but he held them tightly. Only Marnie witnessed the small, urgent struggle. ‘You silly girl,’ Mr deVillars continued, ‘wandering off like that in your nightie! Look at you! You’re perished! It was the police that upset you, wasn’t it? I should never have let them through the door.’ Camille was still trying to free her hands, but she was too weak. Surely, thought Marnie, Mr deVillars could feel that his wife didn’t want to be constrained like that? Still he held onto her. He lowered his voice and asked the nurse in a stage whisper. ‘Should we call the doctor, Zoe?’

‘I don’t think that’s necessary,’ the nurse said. ‘What Camille needs is to be warmed up.’

‘You take her upstairs then. Will you help her, please, Marnie?’

Marnie pushed herself off the floor and went to one side of Mrs deVillars, taking her arm. As the women left the room, she heard Mr deVillars’ tone relax as he wondered aloud how on earth Camille had managed to get out and then offered Will a small glass of something to thank him for his trouble.

A lift had been installed in the hallway of Blackwater House, enclosed in a column of glass. It was large enough for a single wheelchair; without one the three women could squeeze in together. As soon as the door clicked shut Marnie became breathless. She felt as if she was trapped in a transparent coffin that travelled upwards painfully slowly. It seemed to take for ever to reach, and then go past the first-floor landing.

‘Camille can’t have come down in the lift,’ said Zoe. ‘You need a code to operate it. She must have gone down the stairs all on her own. Why did you do that, Camille? Why did you take yourself off out?’

‘She must be so cold,’ the old woman said in a trembling voice, ‘and so lonely. I wanted to find her to tell her I was sorry. I…’

‘She heard about the remains being discovered on the news, didn’t you, Camille?’ Zoe said. ‘Which wasn’t great. We should have found a gentle way to tell you ourselves. Finding out like that was a shock. It’s upset you something awful, hasn’t it?’

‘She’s been out there all on her own.’

‘I know, dear, but not any more.’

‘She’s somewhere warm now?’

‘Yes.’

‘They’re looking after her?’

‘Yes.’

The old woman’s distress was difficult to witness, but Marnie didn’t know what she could do to comfort her.

The lift reached the attic floor and juddered to a stop. It opened onto a narrow, windowless passageway, the ceiling sloping above.