‘What time is it?’ I asked. My throat was sore.

‘Late. You slept for twelve hours.’

‘Will Mary be all right now? It looks like the worst has passed.’

‘She will. You both will.’

The following days were dreamlike. Although the fever receded, it left some mark of distance on me, but beneath that a new fear had begun to drum – because I knew for certain that Hettie not only made changes in the physical world but that she intended the worst kind of harm. I stuck to Mary like a shadow, not leaving her except for the times she was with Miss Gillies, and even then I stayed close in the drawing room, my attention half turned to the corridor in anticipation of her step. Staying had become not just terrifying, but dangerous.

I had to leave and I had to take Mary with me. Yet I could not imagine how that would be achieved, and soon my head began to hurt again, and in spite of the fire, I could not get warm. After that, the hours began to blur. Sometimes Mrs Lenister’s face was there, at others I saw Greer bending over me, and once, Miss Gillies standing at the window of my own room although I did not remember moving back.

At times I woke from nightmares with Hettie laid across me; others were full of Clara or Mary who had become lost and I could not find them, and when I woke it was to the pain of knowing that at least one would never return. Eventually, my head cleared. I found Mrs Lenister asleep in the chair beside me. She stirred when I sat up.

‘Is Mary still well?’

She looked at me with relief and touched my brow. ‘Much better,’ she said. ‘It is you who has been ill.’

‘I’ve been ill?’

‘Yes, you took a turn. Been worrying us all half to death.’

‘How long?’ I asked.

‘Three days.’ She came and straightened the bedding. Her movements were nervous, and when she had finished she did not go but pulled at her sleeve and watched me.

‘Is everything all right?’ I asked. ‘What is the matter? Mary is definitely safe?’

‘I told you she was. We’ve all been managing but we can hardly keep her away from your room. She watches you like a personal nurse. You have captured her affection, Miss Swansome. It gladdens my heart.’ She smiled. ‘Let me get you some broth.’ She went to the door but at the handle she turned. ‘It’s good to see you back, Elspeth.’

Elspeth. She had not used my name before and somehow its sound on her tongue stung my eyes.

I lay back against the pillows and listened to the sea and the wind. It did not seem many moments until she was back with a bowl and a drink on a tray. She helped me up and placed it on my lap.