Dr Jarman pulled up the chair from the other side of the bed and sat down, carefully adjusting the crease in his trousers.

"I expect you must be feeling pretty disorientated, Mrs Thompson, but I'm sure you'll understand once I've explained the situation. You see," he leaned forward in the chair with his hands clasped in front of him, "for some years now you have been suffering from Alzheimer's disease."

Tilly stared at him in astonishment and disbelief.

"And for the last ...