I opened it to find Nugent who told me Mrs Parry needed my presence. I found her propped up, fully dressed, on her bed supported by a mound of pillows. The room reeked of cologne and sal volatile and I saw that the Madeira bottle had been called into use again as it stood, almost empty, with a stained glass on a side table. Whatever the combination of treatments, Aunt Parry had rallied. She sounded brisk and appeared quite recovered. From her pillows she signalled at me with a small white podgy paw. ‘Elizabeth, do write a note on my behalf to dear Dr Tibbett. Tell that I would be obliged if he would call – no, say if he could dine this evening. Don’t tell him what happened to Madeleine, it’s hardly the way to let him know of it. Just say, there is a matter I need to discuss with him urgently. Send one of the servants with it. Simms knows the address of Dr Tibbett’s rooms.’ She paused. ‘I shall ask him if he thinks we ought to go into mourning. In the circumstances I hardly think so.
