Her eyes are bulging and seemingly staring, fascinated, at an empty corner of the ceiling. Her hands are clasped together over her chest, tightly entangled in a messy knot of bony fingers. Her mouth is puckered tightly closed, as if it’s trying to disappear altogether. She is humming very softly, and her head is nodding, just the tiniest amount, in time. ‘Thank you, Josephine,’ says Mr Osterley, and Josephine’s head dips forward as a grateful smile stretches out across her face. She looks like a child delighted by the praise of a parent. ‘Yes, thank you, Josephine,’ says friendly Frances. ‘I enjoyed that very much.’ Josephine grins all the wider. Jack even thinks that she might be blushing, though it’s a little hard to tell by candlelight. Some of the others offer up compliments, and Josephine shrugs and smirks in embarrassed delight. Jack mumbles something too, but he’s a little distracted. He’s thinking about the rumours he’s heard about this place, and just for a moment he’s wondering how much of what he’s heard can possibly be true.
