Chapter 53

Caroline Anderson scrunched a face at her appearance. Should she leave her hair down or pin it up? Yes, to the former and yes to some under-eye concealer. Her skin had become so pale and the rings under her eyes so dark she resembled a corpse. The black dress she’d chosen to wear only enhanced the effect, a point reinforced when her sister, Elsa, who’d come to visit for the week, walked into her dressing room and burst into laughter.

“I suppose funeral chic beats aubergine chic.”

“Don’t,” Caroline muttered. Only vanity had made her return the aubergine-coloured dress. It had clashed horribly with her hair. This black dress, though horrendously unstylish, was marginally more flattering colour-wise.

Elsa stood behind her, wrapped her arms around Caroline’s waist, groped for her hands and rested her chin on her shoulder. Their eyes met in the mirror. The contrast between them had never been so stark. Elsa shone with good health and happiness. Her eyes, though, brimmed