The room was painted pale green and had a light and airy feel to it. The seating was of brown leather, arranged in little groups, with a coffee table in the centre of each set of four chairs.

Seeing the doctor caused tears of relief and joy to well up in Mags’s eyes. At last, at last – a face from the life I used to have. ‘Oh, Dr Lange, I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see you.’

‘Dear Margaret, how did we get to this? Dear, dear, look at you. I can hardly recognize you.’

‘I know. I feel dirty and unkempt. I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be. You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one to be sorry. I should have stood up to that husband of yours. How can you ever forgive me? I had no idea it would come to this. When asked about your mental health, I thought of what I had said to you before you married, about seeking the help of a professional. I thought Harold had come to the same conclusion and had seen that you were haunted by your experiences during the war. I assumed he was getting you help. If I’d have known what happened and his real motive, I would have been very careful about what I said.’

‘I know. I have never held you to blame. But what now – can you help me?’

‘Let’s sit down. Iris assured me we won’t be disturbed. She said she will hang around outside and make sure no one tries to listen in. I assume she has told you what we suspect?’

‘Yes, and I wouldn’t put it past Harold. I know a lot about him. And as I have been thinking about it and remembering, I have become appalled at going along with him. He . . . well, he’s even capable of murdering someone for his own gain.’

‘Dear God! And you know this for a fact, Margaret?’

‘Yes, I do. I overheard Harold plotting with his mother to murder his own half-brother, only . . . Well, I foiled that and . . .’

‘Margaret?’

Though it cost her emotionally, she told the doctor what had happened, and how it all ended up that she caused the death of Harold’s mother.

‘Well, you were very brave to intervene like that, and you weren’t to know the outcome of the tussle. You must think of the positive side: you saved a life. That one life was lost was a pure accident and a misfortune, but it should not make you feel guilty.’

‘I know, but these things stay with you. Anyway I need to know if you can help me. I don’t think I can stand another day in here.’

‘You will have to, Margaret, as I cannot work miracles. It has taken a while for me to get this far. Dr Jenkins was not in agreement with it at all. Probably afraid that I would find out he hasn’t been here to see you for himself, and has used reports in order to administer a treatment plan for you.’