‘I suggest you stay well away. He is not the sort of man who has respect for the boundaries women such as us would impose. He has had many an affair here under the nose of his wife. He will take whatever he can.’

‘Was his relationship with Hettie a long one?’

She sighed. ‘I believe so. It was said that she was very heart-struck with him.’

‘And yet she left to go to America?’

‘Yes, perhaps it was over then, or she had bigger fish to fry.’

‘Paterson was her last lover here? You said she had taken a few.’

She nodded. ‘As far as I know. And how is Iskar? Is Greer still a thorn in your side?’

I laughed dryly. ‘A little, yes. I have given up trying to win her good favour; her manners are certainly amiss. Miss Gillies mentioned to me that Greer’s grandmother had been an unsuitable guardian.’

‘Did she indeed?’ She chuckled. ‘True enough. Greer’s grandmother was little regarded. She was a cruel woman, but more than that she had some very ancient beliefs that made the islanders fear her. She was said to be able to curse.’

‘Are you telling me that she too was a witch?’ I heard again the sound of Greer’s step outside my room, the swell of her voice and then the hush, and shuddered.

‘I suppose, yes, if you believe that sort of thing.’

It was Greer that I pictured then, not Hettie, winding hair about the pebbles and whispering spells. I thought of Mary in the same house with unease.

The wind had dropped as I returned to Iskar, leaving a strange stillness. In the hall, I shook out my hat and as I passed by the parlour, the door was a little open and Miss Gillies’ voice came out from beyond. It wasn’t unusual for lessons to finish early or for Mary to be left alone with a piece of learning. Miss Gillies was standing with her back to me at a far window, Greer beside her. Miss Gillies said something which Greer answered and Miss Gillies patted her hand. I stepped back, shocked once again at their intimacy. Miss Gillies talked in a low voice.

‘There, Greer,’ she said, ‘don’t worry, my dear. You can trust me.’ I had never heard such a tender tone before but as she spoke, Greer’s eyes slid to the reflection and to where I stood. I moved away but not before she had seen me and made the tiniest adjustment to her look and brandished her triumph.