‘We might as well go in.’

Just as they were about to enter, a hearse drew up with a white coffin and a small wreath of white tea roses on top.

Jane and Tyler went into the empty chapel. A plinth waited for the coffin. They sat to one side, at the rear.

Four men in black mourning suits carried in the white coffin and placed it on the plinth. They bowed and walked back down the aisle. After a few moments a small woman in a rather old-fashioned high-shouldered fur coat entered. She was carrying a large handbag and wore a silk scarf knotted under her chin. She looked nervously towards Tyler and Jane. She was heavily made-up, with a lot of mascara, and her red lipstick ran in tiny rivulets around her lined mouth. She seemed to hesitate, as if unsure where she should sit. Eventually she chose a center row and sat in the middle.

There was a camera flash, then two or three more, and then the sound of piped music – ‘Where Did Our Love Go?’ by The Supremes – at high volume. As the song began, Justine Harris, wearing a black Chanel suit, her hair loose and shining under a silk veil, walked slowly down the aisle. She was followed by her daughter Clara, wearing a black coat with, as requested, black velvet collar and buttons, white stockings and patent-leather shoes. Her hand was held by her grandmother, Florence Harris, who was equally elegantly dressed in black with a wide-brimmed black straw hat. Finally, George Henson, who was carrying a flash camera.

They took their seats in the front row as the vicar closed the doors and walked slowly up the aisle to stand by the lectern. With perfect timing, the music stopped. Jane didn’t need to look at Tyler because it was obvious that neither of them could quite believe what they were seeing, and judging from her bewildered expression, nor could the elderly woman in the old-fashioned fur coat.

The service was astonishingly short. After the vicar had said a few words of prayer, Justine stepped up to the lectern. She lifted her veil dramatically.

‘I am here, our daughter is here, and my beloved mother, to say farewell to you, husband, father and son-in-law. There will be a public memorial service but we are here today just to say goodbye. May God embrace His son and give him peace.’

She turned and stepped towards the coffin, leaning forward to kiss the top. She held her hand out and her daughter joined her and stood on tiptoe to kiss it as well. Then, bizarrely, Justine picked up the small coronet of tea roses and placed it on her daughter’s head. They then walked back down the aisle and her mother briefly nodded towards the coffin as the curtains slowly began to close. Henson glanced towards Jane and Tyler, nodding briefly in acknowledgement. Then it was over.