‘That was different. It would have been our choice – and our new home. This isn’t. And all the time, I’m waiting …’ Her voice falls to a whisper. ‘When he gets out, he will be so angry. You have no idea what he’s capable of …’ With shaking hands, she pours boiling water onto teabags, swearing as she spills some before putting down the kettle and mopping up the water. Fetching milk, she hunts around for the sugar. ‘It doesn’t look like there’s any sugar,’ she says tearfully.

I want to reassure her that she’s safe, that there’s no way her husband will be able to get to her, but until he’s sentenced, nothing is certain. ‘I don’t take sugar.’ Accepting the mug she passes me, I watch her nervous movement. ‘Shall we sit down?’

I follow her across to a small kitchen table made of antique pine on ornately turned legs. Chris has furnished the cottage simply, creating an air of calm that Elise clearly needs.

‘You can still look for a new home,’ I say gently. ‘Do you have enough money to tide you over?’ I imagine Andrew Buckley using whatever he can as a means of manipulation, including money. I’ve seen it happen many times.

She nods. ‘I stopped at the bank on the way here in case he managed to empty the joint account. I transferred what I could into mine.’

‘Good.’ I pause, relieved that at least she has her own account; many women in marriages like hers don’t. ‘Have you thought any more about talking to a lawyer?’

She sips her tea. ‘I’ll have to find one. The only one I know of is Andrew’s. That’s hardly going to work.’ She raises her eyes to meet mine. ‘Is that something you can help me with?’

‘Of course. I’ll get some numbers for you.’ My voice is quiet. ‘You really should see someone as soon as—’

‘You’ve already told me,’ she interrupts, her voice shrill as she talks over me, symptomatic of the strain she’s under as she rests her face in her hands. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘You don’t have to apologise.’ Reaching across the table, I touch her arm, a gesture of human comfort. ‘I know this is unsettling.’ I pause for a moment. ‘And I know you have a lot on your mind right now, but there are a few things I wanted to ask you about.’

Looking up, she nods briefly as I go on.

‘I had a conversation with Ida Jones. She was telling me about Hollie and Dylan, about how in love they were. She couldn’t understand why they broke up. She said it was as though they’d been somehow forced apart, but she had no idea why.’