Eve Theobald sat in the kitchen at Back Rigg and waited for Mrs Palmer-Jones to return. She had given up the idea of going to look for Jeremy on the hill. The walk from Appleworth had left her quite washed out. Besides, she trusted the old lady to sort it out for her. She sat in the comfortable chair by the range. The room was very hot and she must have fallen asleep.

She was awoken by the sound of the kitchen door being opened and because there had been no knock she assumed it would be Molly or George. She tried to compose herself and turned to greet them. Jeremy Grenville stood just inside the door. His face was streaked with black and he smelled of smoke.

‘I saw you from the hill,’ he said. ‘Walking up the track. What are you doing here?’

‘I wanted to talk to you,’ she said. ‘You wouldn’t answer any of my calls. I was worried.’

‘Worried? What could you have to be worried by?’

She noticed then that there was no stammer. He spoke so fluently, with such confidence and determination that he seemed like a different man.

She did not answer.

‘Go on!’ he said. ‘ What’s bothering you? Why don’t you tell me? Don’t you trust me?’

‘I don’t know,’ she said carefully. ‘I’m not sure any longer.’

‘Look,’ he said. ‘ Tell me if something’s wrong. Perhaps I can clear it up.’

He walked further into the room and stood beside her.

‘I saw you,’ she said. ‘On Friday night.’

‘I don’t understand what you mean.’

‘After I’d let you out of the car at the dam I felt lonely. I thought we’d had so little time alone together that evening. I wanted to walk with you. It seemed a romantic thing to do, walking together by the lake in the dark. I parked the car and followed you. But before I could catch you up I saw you go up the track to Back Rigg.’

‘What did you do then?’

‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘I didn’t want to be involved in any argument over estate business. I was on Mrs Ottway’s side. I felt awkward. I went back to the car and drove home.’

He moved closer to her and crouched on the floor beside her chair.

‘Have you told anyone about this?’ he asked. He began to caress the hair on the back of her head.

‘No,’ she lied. ‘Of course not. I never betray my friends. You know that.’

‘Do you want to know what happened at Back Rigg that night?’ he asked.

‘I’m not sure,’ she said. She was frightened, and wanted to give an answer that would please him. ‘Only if you want to tell me.’

‘My mother sent me there,’ he said.

‘Of course,’ she murmured under her breath. ‘She would.’