After a few moments, she heard his car on the gravel. Rolling over, she managed with an extreme effort to reach the bell. A maid whose name Susan didn’t know came into the room.

‘I need help. Please fetch me a glass of water and bring bandages and lint.’

As the maid attended to her, she made no comment. How was it that other women and men could hear a woman being beaten and do nothing? Surely Barnard and the maids had heard what went on? One of them must have prepared the bath for her, and they must have seen her being carried up the stairs, unconscious, battered and bleeding. But then it was considered a man’s right to keep his missus in check. Let alone his mistress, for whom none of them had any respect.

The pain in Susan’s chest was unbearable, and breathing was becoming more difficult. She suspected that she had a broken rib and felt afraid it would pierce her lung. ‘I need you to go for Dr Lange.’

‘We are none of us allowed to use Dr Lange – he’s not the doctor of the welfare facility no more, Miss.’

‘I know, but I want him, and I will pay independently. Please have him sent for.’

It was an hour before Dr Lange arrived. When he saw the state Susan was in, he was appalled that the message had said there was no hurry.

Dismissing the maid, Susan spoke openly to the doctor. ‘That’s because they don’t like me here – they don’t care if I die. None of them came to my aid, when they must have heard how badly Harold was beating me. But no matter. I have something to tell you. Harold is out at this moment, trying to find out exactly how Mags managed to escape. He is incensed that she got away, and is looking for those who may have helped her. He has deduced that she had to have money, and to get that she needed help from someone who was rich enough to give it to her, or she has hidden funds. If she does have hidden funds, then he says she won’t have them for long, as he has power of attorney over her. He knows she had a visitor at the institute, and he admitted he has a man inside the asylum that he pays. I am afraid for Mags.’

‘Can you contact Montel? I will try to contact Mags, but I cannot get home for at least an hour.’ The whole time they were talking, the doctor had been administering to her.

‘Yes, if Montel is at home.’

‘Right, tell him to warn Mags as soon as he can.’

Susan expressed her surprise at this, as Montel had told her that Mags was going to France, but she was glad when she heard of the new arrangements.

‘I’m sorry, but I have to go. I must get my rounds done as quickly as possible. Now, you do have a cracked rib. I have bound you up and you must rest. Do not get out of bed for a few days, no matter what transpires. I don’t think I will be able to come and see you again – not when Harold finds out that I have been here. However, I will make sure that Harold’s doctor knows that you need care. Is there no one here you can trust to bring me a message, if you find out anything of importance?’