If Papa were here now, he would have answered my doubts with a laugh. I knew where he stood on things supernatural. Had we not had conversations long into the night, turning superstition, religion and philosophy on to their backs to enquire inside? The Earth was made of mineral and flora; animal life was the only sentient presence upon its surface. I would have welcomed one more glimpse of Clara, and yet that never came, except in my imagination. There was no door between life and death.

I do not know what time it was, but I woke to screaming – high and thin like an animal. Mary. My limbs were uncoordinated as I ordered them to the floor. Lighting a candle, I stumbled into the corridor. I had almost begun to hope that her nightmares had stopped since my arrival.

She was upright on the mattress, her spine as straight as one of the hall chairs, eyes wide and staring at some fixed point. There was an unnatural immobility to her face.

I touched her arm. ‘Shush, shush, it’s just a nightmare.’ Her cries fell to an intermittent whimper. ‘Hush now. It’s just a dream.’ But my heart thudded.

She turned and looked directly at me, fear and something else embedded in her eyes. She began to whisper fast and low but the words fell into each other like waves crashing to the shore and being instantly swept up by the next onslaught. It was curious to finally hear her voice, but as hard as I tried, I could not comprehend her. I listened closer but the sounds she made did not follow a language I understood, and I drew back. It was clear that she was still asleep.

But at that moment Miss Gillies was in the room, her features stretched. Greer was behind her.

‘Don’t worry, Elspeth,’ Miss Gillies said, ‘I know what to do. Go back to your bed.’ There was alcohol and clove on her breath.

‘I can help,’ I said. ‘She’s talking in her sleep but she’s not making sense.’

‘It’s nonsense she utters. Just go.’ There was a note of command in her tone.

‘But I’m sure I should help her,’ I said, ‘I’m happy to.’ Greer stood and watched, her arms folded and a gleam of pleasure in her iris. Although snubbed, my heart ached for my charge, but Miss Gillies was my mistress and I could not protest.