‘What on earth’s going on?’ he demanded. ‘I’ve been trying to call you…’‘I’m sorry, I had to turn my phone off,’ Sabrina apologised. ‘Are you OK?’ she asked Annabelle.‘I think so,’ Annabelle answered in a thready voice.Robert’s eyes dilated with shock as he registered her bruises. ‘I didn’t realise …’ he stammered, a chill of horror going through him. Surely to God Nat hadn’t done that? ‘Are you badly hurt?’ he asked, not sure whether to go to her, or what to do.Sabrina put an arm round Annabelle, saying, ‘It’s been a long day. You must be exhausted. Do you want anything to eat or drink?’‘No, I think I’ll just go up and lie down,’ Annabelle answered.Alarmed by the uncharacteristic meekness, and still thrown by the injuries, Robert watched her walk to the door. Suddenly, to his surprise, she came back and hugged him. ‘I don’t want to be a nuisance,’ she said, squeezing him tight.‘You’re nothing of the sort,’ he assured her, smoothing her hair.
