‘What time would you say you arrived at the party?’ she pressed on somewhat indistinctly around a mouthful of mincemeat. It flashed into her mind that her mother would scold her for talking with her mouth full, then she instantly dismissed it. Building a rapport with a witness was far more important than good manners.

‘Oh, not too early, naturally,’ David O’Connor assured her coyly. ‘Guests should know when to arrive and when to leave, don’t you think? So, it must have been around nine or so. I was in time to see the golden boy arrive anyway – the dear departed Terrence. Poor dear Millie thinks she has a poker face, but, my dear, let me tell you, that woman should never be allowed anywhere near a pack of cards!’

Trudy rapidly interpreted this and nodded. ‘Yes, I thought I detected a fondness in Mrs Vander’s voice when she mentioned Mr Parker,’ she said, rather more discreetly.

‘Fondness? My dear girl, it’s the talk of the town! Well of our circle anyway,’ he felt impelled to modify, before rushing on, ‘that she was absolutely smitten with him.’ The cherubic-faced bachelor nodded solemnly. ‘One could see why, of course. He was rather a fine-looking specimen. But, oh dear, one just couldn’t overlook the age gap, could one? Really, I think it most remiss of her friends not to, well, steer her clear of such an impending disaster, don’t you?’

‘Disaster?’ Trudy repeated. ‘Was it that serious then, between them?’

‘Oh my, yes!’ David gave a small theatrical grasp. ‘It was no mere harmless flirtation, believe me. Everyone was expecting an announcement any day. We were all positively agog waiting for the other shoe to drop.’

‘Wait, you’re saying that Mrs Vander and Mr Parker were actually engaged to be married?’ Trudy asked, wanting to make sure she’d got that clear.

She saw, out of the corner of her eye, Clement perk up a bit and start taking proper notice.