Claudia took a business card from her bag and handed it to Karin. The hardship fund wouldn’t be in a position to accept applications for weeks, but Claudia wasn’t going to let bureaucracy get in the way. She would use her own money if necessary. ‘Send me an email with your account details and I’ll arrange an urgent payment. It might not be everything you need, but it’ll be a start.’

Karin took the card in her shaking hand. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘My advice would be to say nothing,’ Claudia said. ‘Especially to the press.’

‘I won’t. And thank you.’

‘It’s my pleasure,’ Claudia said. She was tempted to offer a hug, but she thought Karin might break.

It was cruel how the press were hounding her, and they would bleed her dry if they could. Wasn’t that what Leanne had done to Claudia? She hadn’t gone to the press looking to share her personal experience. Leanne had coerced her into making a confession she hadn’t wanted to make. The press didn’t play by the book, so why should they?

Claudia was about to leave, but her steps faltered. Her recent conversation with Bryony had unnerved her. She didn’t want to take the blame for spreading the rumours about Phillipa. She needed someone to muddy the waters, and who better than Declan’s sister?

‘Can I ask you something?’ she began. ‘What do you know about your brother’s private life?’

‘That it was private,’ Karin said. She pushed Claudia’s business card into the pocket of her tabard. ‘Why?’

‘I don’t mean to pry, it’s just that, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s a rumour being circulated about an affair.’

‘With who?’ Karin demanded.

Claudia paused to give Karin warning that she wasn’t going to like this. ‘The press are saying he was involved with Phillipa Montgomery.’

‘That’s rubbish!’

‘Is it? Did he ever mention her?’

‘Of course he did. He talked about her all the time. I guess he liked her, but she’s married.’

Claudia tilted her head, waiting for Karin to consider the possibility.

‘Maybe they were involved, I don’t know,’ Karin said, refusing to meet Claudia’s gaze. ‘But Christ, haven’t the press got better things to do? What does it matter? He’s dead.’ The reminder caused her to gasp. Whatever anger Karin felt towards her brother hadn’t stopped her from loving him, and it was painful to watch.

‘It matters to Phillipa,’ said Claudia.

‘Phillipa? Why should I care about protecting her? She didn’t protect Declan, did she?’