15
Sipping my tea, I broached the subject of my great aunt’s death.
‘I know she went into hospital after falling down the stairs, but no one’s told me what happened in any kind of detail. I mean, I know she died, but what did she actually die of?’
Catherine’s eyes narrowed and the lines on her face seemed to deepen, highlighting the pale pink dusting of powder on her withered cheeks. For the first time since we met, she looked terribly frail. She set her cup down carefully on its saucer, and I noticed her fingers were trembling.
‘What makes you ask?’ she countered.
Her words seemed innocuous, but I had the impression she was frightened and she kept her head lowered, unable to meet my gaze.
‘It just seemed rather sudden,’ I replied.
Since I hadn’t been in contact with my great au
