‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. Of course they’ll be missed, especially at this time of year.’ She was reminded how Phillipa used the social calendar to establish her pecking order. Claudia may have overreached herself, thinking she could replace Phillipa at the top, but at the very least, she deserved a higher ranking. ‘I was toying with the idea of a Christmas fundraiser.’

‘I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard.’

‘I won’t have to if you’re here to look after me,’ she said. ‘And you will look after me, won’t you?’

Justin smiled. ‘Can I have a shower first?’

‘I might join you.’

With her hair still damp and her skin glowing, Claudia left her husband snoring in bed and returned to the kitchen to clear away their abandoned coffee cups. Her head felt clearer than it had in months. Despite what Justin might have assumed, she hadn’t been suffering from a hangover this morning. Preferring to keep her wits about her, Claudia had refrained from drinking since Phillipa’s dinner party, but it did no harm for him to think she had a problem.

To Justin, Claudia was a broken toy that he enjoyed fixing, only to forget to play with it later. She was the temp who overstated her experience and messed up an entire month’s bookings at the tennis club; she was the daughter whose father let her down, requiring one of Justin’s friends to give her away at their wedding; and she was the mother-to-be who suddenly wasn’t. Each and every time, Justin had thought she needed fixing, and those were the times when his attention had been exactly where it needed to be. Claudia had him all figured out.

Pouring the cold coffees down the sink as she had done with all that expensive wine, Claudia told herself to relax. She still worried about Karin, but realistically, how much harm could she do? Her silver pendant was residing at the bottom of the canal, and Karin was left with no more than conflated memories and mild hysteria. Amelia’s recollections could be dismissed just as easily. Claudia was in control, and with Justin home again and home for good, her confidence was returning.

Claudia’s smile had a hint of smugness and it didn’t falter when her phone rang and she saw Leanne’s name appear. She told herself she had this.

‘Good morning, Leanne,’ she said brightly.

‘I’d like to ask you some questions, Mrs Rothwell, if it’s convenient.’

Claudia closed the kitchen door. ‘Shoot away, Miss Pitman.’

‘I’m writing an article on the events that took place on 21st October last year and I thought I’d give you the opportunity to respond.’