‘It was hard not to,’ Claudia replied, as if mixing with the rich and infamous was a daily hazard Leanne might relate to. ‘But you couldn’t break into Phillipa’s inner circle except by invitation. I was very much a newcomer, still on probation.’ She stopped abruptly when she noticed Leanne’s pen move. She extended a hand tentatively towards the notepad, stopping short of touching it. ‘Please don’t quote me on that.’

Placing her pen on the table, Leanne signalled her agreement to an unspoken pact. Claudia would continue on the understanding that nothing she said could be attributed to her. Leanne relaxed back into her chair.

‘When Justin and I married four years ago, I was plunged into a world I knew nothing about, and I’m still finding my feet,’ Claudia said in a conspiratorial whisper. It wasn’t only the pitch of her voice that had changed, her accent had become broader too, indistinguishable from the average Sedgefield resident who didn’t care about rounding their vowels. ‘I was a receptionist at his tennis club when we met. There was a mix-up with the bookings and somehow we got talking. I’m pretty sure our paths wouldn’t have crossed otherwise.’

‘I take it you gave up your job.’

Claudia picked up a Custard Cream and offered the plate to Leanne. Leanne took two.

‘I had no choice if I wanted to fit in.’

Leanne raised an eyebrow. ‘It can’t have been that big a sacrifice.’

Claudia cringed. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to sound ungracious. I know I’m living a life of privilege compared to some, but it was a huge culture shock. My mum died when I was five, and I was brought up by my dad in a draughty terraced house. Honestly, this isn’t me,’ Claudia said. Her eyes darted to the door as if someone might storm in at any moment and evict her for trespassing on private property.

‘Sounds like a case of imposter syndrome.’

A flush rose in Claudia’s cheeks. ‘It can be quite intimidating, pretending to be something you’re not, and especially when surrounded by the genuine article.’

‘And was Phillipa someone who intimidated you?’ asked Leanne. She wasn’t ready to feel sorry for Claudia, but a note of understanding had crept into her voice.

‘I know she’s had a lot of bad press, but she was a legend. No one but Phillipa would have attempted a project on the scale of the theatre restoration.’

‘And everyone rushed to help, including you, despite not being in her inner circle,’ Leanne noted, refusing to allow Claudia to distance herself completely from Phillipa. She had been snapped at various fundraisers, as well as the grand opening.