He put an arm around her shoulder and she steadied him as far as the bathroom door, where he gingerly felt his ribs.

‘You may have been right,’ he conceded. ‘I’m not saying you were, but you might have been. I’ll manage from here.’

When he came slowly out she’d remade the bed and put on the small lamp. She reached out to help him but he waved her away.

‘I’m feeling a bit more human now my stomach’s settled. Ah, that’s better.’

He lay down and let her pull the duvet over him.

‘How’s the pain?’ she asked gently.

‘My head isn’t too bad, but my shoulder and side feel as if they’ve been bashed with a sledgehammer.’

‘It’s time for a couple more pills. But they don’t mix well with alcohol, so no more drinking until you’ve stopped taking them.’

‘When will that be?’

‘When I say,’ she told him with quiet authority.

He took them from her, and accepted a glass of water, as docile now as he’d been aggressive before. When he lay back she turned out the lamp again, so that the only light in the room was the soft touch of moonlight.

‘There’s something different about you,’ he said suddenly. ‘You’ve changed your clothes.’

‘Yes, I’m here for a few days. I’ve checked out of my hotel and into the room next door.’

‘How did Mamma persuade you to do that?’

‘Good heavens-you don’t think she asked me first, do you?’

He gave a short bark of laughter that ended in a gasp of pain. ‘Of course. I should have remembered Mamma’s way. When did you find out?’

‘When my things arrived.’

‘I’m sorry. Just taking you over like that-what about your holiday?’

‘That doesn’t matter,’ she said hastily. ‘Go to sleep now.’

He stared at her for a while before saying vaguely, ‘Was it you by the track?’

‘Yes, it was me.’

‘Are you sure? No-that’s stupid-I mean-’