‘Well …’ Phillips cleared his throat. ‘Did you see Lord Hamilton on the road?’

‘No. I went straight back home.’

‘When did you get back?’

‘It was still dark.’

‘How did you get back?’

‘I hitched a lift. I didn’t catch his name, and I can’t remember exactly where he picked me up.’ Phillips raised an eyebrow. ‘I think I’ve mentioned already I’d had a lot to drink.’

‘Can anyone say what time you got in?’ He looked at Maud. ‘Were you there, Miss?’

‘Yes.’

‘Do you remember what time your brother got in?’

She put her hands on the desk. ‘I do remember. He woke me up, crashing into the furniture.’

I ducked my head, trying to control my breathing.

‘It can’t have been later than three o’clock.’ Maud said. ‘In fact it was quarter to three. I remember checking my watch.’

Phillips glanced back at his partner, who nodded. I didn’t look at Maud.

‘That certainly seems to check out,’ Phillips said, standing up. ‘We’ll keep in touch if we need to follow up on anything.’ He made a half-bow to Maud. ‘Thank you for the drink.’

I watched out the window as they crossed the street to their car. They looked back up at the building at the same time. I waved. It felt obviously false and they didn’t wave back.

‘I’m glad that’s over,’ Maud said, straightening her skirt.

I came back to the desk and put a hand on her arm. ‘Thank you.’

She looked away. ‘Why did you go there?’

‘To talk to him. I did in fact – he came home before I left.’

‘Theo –’

‘No one saw us together. It was deserted.’ I left my chair and knelt in front of her. ‘I’m so sorry, darling.’

She picked a piece of lint off my shirt. ‘Will I have to lie in court?’

‘No, I promise.’

I caught her gaze and held it. The thought came to me that this could all be over if I told the truth. But no one would understand why I’d done it. Not even Maud.

She gave me a half-smile. ‘I suppose I should go meet this representative now.’

Chapter Twenty-Six

I heard from Edie that she’d given a statement to the police the day after Phillips visited me.

‘As if anyone would want to kill Freddie,’ she said. We were standing together in the post office queue. She pulled a sympathetic face. ‘I suppose some people resented him. But when it’s obviously an accident, to try to make it into murder …’

‘What did you say to Phillips?’

She grinned. ‘I’m afraid he was rather shocked by my outfit, or lack of it.’

I raised one eyebrow.

‘High heels, of course,’ she said. ‘And a cigarette holder. Otherwise nothing.’

The ears of the man in front of us turned a deep red. ‘You’re very cruel, Edie,’ I said.