‘It’s my fault,’ I told them. ‘I should have been brave enough not to go. Not to put us all through it. And that poor vicar …’

‘I’ll go and see him,’ Ned said. ‘Leave him to me, he’ll understand. And trust me, it won’t be the first family fracas he’s witnessed. I once had a punch-up at an actual funeral, by the grave. Two wives and a body – both current wives, incidentally.’

‘No!’ The twins were gripped. ‘What – like, bigamy?’

Ned entertained the girls with his tale of marital deception which meant the rest of us could talk quietly without the twins overhearing.

‘I don’t think we ever have to see Amanda again after this, do you?’ said Imo in a low voice.

‘Certainly not,’ her aunt said crisply as I hesitated.

‘She literally has no one else—’ I began, but my sister’s face was right in mine.

‘After what she’s done? After what she said in there? Tell me you have more backbone than that.’

‘No,’ I agreed quickly. ‘No. You’re right. Never again.’

The relief that flooded through me, that somehow I’d been given permission to cut all ties with Michael’s family, was almost as huge as when I realized he’d actually died. Or, should I say, when I’d killed him. I was trying that out occasionally in my head. Trying to get used to it. It had been far harder than I’d thought it might be. In the early days, I’d kidded myself I’d been so numb with shock I’d been unable to move. But the moment I admitted the truth to myself, it rang alarm bells. And not in a ding-dong sort of way, more of a high-pitched screech. And the thing was, I’d fantasized about it so often, Michael dying. It had been a constant preoccupation. Sometimes it was all that got me through the day. And then, blow me down, a friendly burglar handed me my dreams on a plate. What was I to do, your honour? That was where the fantasy took a dive, as your honour reached for his black cap, or perhaps that didn’t happen any more. But anyway, as I was led away in handcuffs. Down to the cells. I took a deep breath. Fell into my gin.

‘Lucy?’ I realized Helena, Ant and Imo were all staring at me.

‘Mum, are you all right?’ Imo looked worried.

‘Yes, why?’

‘It’s just you weren’t answering us and you’ve gone absolutely white.’

‘Have I? No, I’m fine.’

‘We were wondering if we should order some lunch?’

‘I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t eat a thing. Also, I have this irrational fear …’ I glanced at the door.

‘That she might storm in in her widow’s weeds and make a terrible scene?’ said Helena. ‘She won’t.’