As we made our way along the upstairs corridor we met Greer, humming a tune as she checked the lamps.

‘Good evening, Greer,’ I said with my kindest smile but she only tightened her lips in answer before moving on.

In Mary’s bedroom I got her ready for bed.

It was strange to be alone with her again and I was self-conscious. But her face was already becoming familiar and I realized that I liked it in spite of its quiet, inward gaze. There was something in the line of her cheek that recalled my sister – Mary’s mouth, although sullen, lifted a little at the corners suggesting that once she had smiled and laughed much. Her hair was soft and carried a breath of the sea in its strands, and as I brushed through its length, I was soothed, remembering the nights I had done the same with Clara’s – how I would glance up to meet her eyes in the mirror. Sometimes, I had wound her locks in rags and tied them and the next day we had combed them into curls.

‘I can ringlet your hair, if you like,’ I said but she did not react and so I plaited it into a loose braid.

When I had finished, she knelt at the bedside and prayed although she made no sound. Afterwards, I removed the copper warmer and pulled the bedding about her neck.

I hovered, wondering whether or not to kiss her, and all the while she looked up at me, Bobbity on the pillow beside her. I only had experience of being a sister, not a nanny, and I was unsure. Then I recalled the smile she had given me as we stood together on the ridge and I leaned over and placed my lips on her cool skin. Her lids were heavy as if she sought sleep and so, taking my candle, I left the bedroom, closing the door quietly behind me.

Later, I made my way to my room, which even a fire could not warm. When I snuffed the candle it was pitch-dark but for the flames that played on the walls.

As I thought about my day my mind drifted continually to Hettie and to the room above. I saw her catching red strands of hair in the comb and pulling through its thickness.

Every now and then the wind found some space or gutter to howl through and the shutters rattled.