Ursula smiles then; it’s not a nice smile. “Until it’s too late,” she repeats and then she turns and leaves the room, Klaus following behind her, his face pale. I stand frozen to the spot.

“I-I,” Leo stutters. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Frances.”

“Now, now, Leo,” Sir Hugh says soothingly. “We must make allowances for the ardour of youth, eh?”

“She’s the playwright, yes?” Frances asks and my uncle nods. “In that case,” she continues, “painful as it may be, it is perhaps best that she does leave. An association like that might be bad for you. Her sort of work is being banned in Germany.” Her tone is even, as though she’s talking about the weather. “These are uncertain times.”

Leo looks thoughtful. “Well then, I suppose my announcement is quite timely.” He turns to me. “I’m sorry to have to cut your stay with us a little short, my dear, but spending so much time at the British Embassy in Rome with Lady Bowling and her charming friends has made me terribly homesick.”

A freezing sense of dread begins to creep through me. I look at Hero, pale and silent on the sofa.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“I have arranged for us to return to England. I’m going to take Hero back with me to Suffolk and get her some proper schooling. I’ve been irresponsible since dear Thea passed, selfish. I see that now. Frances, too, will return – we will escort her back to Kent on our way.”

She bows her head slightly to him, like a queen acknowledging a favoured courtier.

My head is reeling. “You’re going back to England?” I say. “When?”

“The passage is booked.” Leo smiles, as though delivering joyful news. “Within the week. I’ve already written to your parents. They’ll be delighted to see you.”

“But – but – ” I stammer, my heart thumping. I look wildly around the room, at Filomena’s grave, calm face. She does not meet my eyes. “What about Filomena?” I burst out.

Leo looks a little uneasy and begins clearing his throat noisily. Filomena rises and comes forward, graceful as always.

“I will stay behind and see that the house is closed up properly. Then I will join Leo.”

“Exactly,” Leo wheezes gratefully. “Exactly right, join us later, once things are a bit more settled.” He beams at me and at Frances. I look at Hero again. She hasn’t said a word since I arrived. I don’t think she’s even moved.

She’s not surprised, I realize. She looks sad, yes, but resigned. I think back to her behaviour over the summer – her restlessness and frustration, her urgent need to take in all this loveliness, as though it might all be over too soon. As though she expected something like this.