Two very well-dressed elderly ladies were sipping tea from delicate china cups and their eyes widened at Oscar’s hasty entrance, especially when they noticed Serena standing behind him.

‘Why, Oscar . . . whatever—’

Completely ignoring his soon-to-be ex-wife, Oscar stabbed a shaking finger towards his daughter. ‘I think you and I need to have a little talk, miss, don’t you?’

‘I, er . . . what about?’ Miranda was squirming in her seat and looking more uncomfortable by the second.

‘Oscar, how dare you enter the house and speak to our daughter like that!’ Lydia was incensed. ‘And in front of our guests, too. Have you completely forgotten your manners?’ Lydia’s mother had always told her that Oscar was far below her in class and his behaviour now was reinforcing it as far as she was concerned.

‘Lady Chumley, please excuse us for a moment!’ Beckoning to her daughter, Lydia rose and with an apologetic nod towards her future mother-in-law she ushered Miranda out of the room, her silken skirts swishing.

With Oscar and Serena following close behind, she marched towards the drawing room and once everyone was inside, she slammed the door and rounded on Oscar furiously.

‘Kindly explain yourself,’ she spat, glaring at Serena. ‘And explain to me the need to bring your fancy woman with you!’

Serena opened her mouth to object but clamped it shut again as Oscar bore down on Miranda, making her shy away from him.

‘Now, miss, would you care to explain what these diamonds were doing in your possession?’ As he spilled the diamonds onto a small table, Miranda’s hand flew to her mouth and she stared at her father fearfully.

‘Leave her alone, you bully.’ Lydia stepped forward but Oscar was not going to be silenced so easily.

‘I will when she tells me what she’s playing at. You must be aware that these jewels went missing at the same time as Ruby. Miranda is very aware that people thought Ruby had stolen them when all the time they were in her possession. I rather think she owes us an explanation, don’t you?’

A deadly silence settled on the room as Lydia’s lips worked soundlessly until finally, she sneered, ‘It seems the truth is going to come out so you may as well know that it was me who was responsible for the jewels going missing. I instructed Miranda to take them.’ Her back was ramrod straight and she showed no sign of remorse.

Oscar frowned. ‘But why would you do that?’

‘I’ll tell you why!’ She faced him full on, her hands clamped into fists of rage. ‘I told her to do it because I know all about your dirty little secret.’

It was Oscar’s turn to look bemused now. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’