None of the women staff had been too bad, but simply reacted to her behaviour. It was the men that Mags feared. And one in particular: a thin, weedy man, whose moustache curled into a point on each side of his mouth. His eyes were very dark and evil-looking. And although he did indeed look feeble, when he’d restrained her he’d been immensely strong. Then there were the men who were on duty at night. They were the ones who caused the most distressing noises from the adjoining cells. Mags prayed that they never visited her.

‘There, that’s better, lass. I’ll take that plaster off your mouth, but mind: any profanities or spitting, and it’ll be back in place in a shot.’

Mags braced herself, telling herself that no matter how much it hurt, she wasn’t to cry out. How she managed it, she didn’t know, for the stinging sensation was excruciating.

‘There, all done. You’ve some tears to your skin, but that will soon heal.’

‘Th – thank you.’ With her mouth as dry as sandpaper, it was difficult to form the words. ‘Can I ask what day it is and the date, please.’

‘Aye, it’s Saturday the sixteenth. Yesterday is being called Black Friday, as the transport and rail workers ain’t coming out in support of the rest of the workers in the country. Me old man and me son are miners, and both are out on strike. They’re nearly on their knees, I tell yer. And if it weren’t for my wage, we’d starve. But then, happen as you’d not knaw what that feels like – you being a lass from moneyed folk.’

‘I do actually. During the war I was a nurse, and I nearly starved. There was a time when I became trapped in Brussels with two fellow VADs, and we ran out of food and money.’

‘Eeh, lass, you’ll have to tell me more about that sometime. Well, hats off to yer. Here, let me get you a drink of water.’ As she got to the door, the woman turned towards her. ‘Me name’s Iris. And I’m going to do what I can to get that straitjacket off yer, I promise. I’ll not be a mo.’

The key turning in the lock left Mags feeling cold. The fact they thought she should be locked in had a lot to do with her own behaviour, she knew. Well, now she’d learned that far more could be achieved by being compliant. And although she realized it might take her a long time, she would prove to them all that she wasn’t insane.

So I’ve been here six days! The incredulousness of this came as a shock. How had she lost six days of her life? Of course it had been the fault of the drugs, but they hadn’t administered any of them today, so maybe things were changing for her a little. Please let them. Please . . .

Betsy looked across the room at Bill. His leg was in plaster and elevated on a chair. He’d hardly spoken since the ambulance had brought him home two days ago. He’d been meant to stay in hospital for ten days, but the doctor’s bill had been returned unpaid, and although the surgeon had said he would wait for what was owed to him until Betsy could sort it out, he didn’t think she would ever raise enough to pay for more than it was already, so he had discharged Bill early. However, he had arranged two follow-up appointments, which he said he would not invoice for. One would be to check for infection and the other to remove the cast.