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maid, helping Cook with menial tasks in the kitchen? We might need you to continue as table maid, depending on how I find your sister in terms both of appearance and speech.’ She stopped fingering the rose petals and stood up straight. ‘But that might leave you more time to help Cook with the food preparation. She tells me you are skilled in the kitchen?’
    ‘Thank you, Madam.’
    ‘Good. This household is about to become even busier. We are hoping to employ a governess soon.’
    ‘That will be good for the children, Madam.’
    As Elizabeth turned to go out, the sound of a piano could be heard. She tilted her head and listened to the rhythmic melody. ‘Is that Miss Traves playing the piano, Madam?’
    ‘Yes, it is. Roberta is having her first lesson today so Iasked the teacher to play some pieces to her to start with, to try to encourage a love of music. Though I doubt that, aged eight, she will manage anything as splendid as this Mendelssohn.’
    ‘Chopin.’
    ‘I beg your pardon, Elizabeth?’
    ‘Sorry, Madam, I am mistaken. You are right, of course, but it sounded like Chopin to me.’
    ‘Might I ask how you know about piano composers? Surely you do not play yourself?’ She drew herself up tall.
    ‘No, Madam, but my mother did.’ Elizabeth curtsied and left the room.
     
    The following week, in the same room, Mrs Donaldson sat at her bay window seat, gazing out at the rain-drenched gardens as Elizabeth ushered in a small, slight girl.
    ‘Mind what I said aboot speaking proper,’ she muttered, then turned towards the window and inclined her head. ‘Madam, this is my sister Jane.’
    Jane bobbed an exaggerated curtsey and smiled. Mrs Donaldson looked the girl up and down, taking in her lank, straight brown hair and her freckles. She looked rather plain beside her statuesque sister, but was not entirely unpleasing to the eye. She would probably do at table, eventually, though that hair would need to be seen to.
    ‘Elizabeth, if you can leave us for a short time, I should like to conduct my interview with Jane alone. Please wait outside.’
    After some questions about her experience, Mrs Donaldson stood up and said, ‘Well, Jane, you can go and find your sister outside in the hall. I will let you know of my decision soon.’
    And as she opened the door, there again was the sound of the piano, this time not the mellifluous notes of the teacher playing, but Roberta, practising a scale badly, with a heavy hand.
    ‘Elizabeth tells me your mother played?’
    ‘Played, Madam?’
    ‘The piano, child.’
    Jane frowned. ‘Oh I dinnae… Sorry, I do not think so, Madam.’ And she bobbed once more and shut the door behind her.

 
    Chapter Seven
    2014
    Mags turned the key in the lock and tilted her head to one side. She could hear the piano. Thank God, he was home.
    ‘Doug!’ she shouted, running to the dining room. ‘You’ll never guess what’s happened.’
    He turned round, broad shoulders hunched over the keys, both hands raised, hovering. ‘What?’
    ‘Jack and Anna have been in an accident. Chris texted me but I can’t get through to her. I’ve tried Gerry but his phone’s off.’
    Doug stared at her and leant back on the piano stool. His face had turned deathly white. ‘Are they okay?’ he whispered.
    ‘I don’t know. All Chris said was the kids had had an accident and she and Gerry were going down to Newcastle immediately. You try Gerry!’
    Doug darted past her and into the kitchen where his phone lay on the table. ‘There’s a new message!’ He tapped at his phone, his jaw clenched. ‘It’s not Gerry, just work.’
    ‘Phone Gerry!’ Mags dumped her basket on the table and fished inside for her phone. ‘I’m going to try Chris again.’
    But Christine’s phone was switched off. ‘I wonder if Lottie’s heard from Anna?’ said Mags, lifting the phone back to her ear.
    ‘Lottie, darling, have you heard from Anna?’ As Mags explained what had happened, she moved to the fridge and