“Not that I’ve heard. I don’t suppose Claudia gave you an idea of who she thinks might have done it? I mean apart from her husband, who we know is in prison.”

With a sigh, he said, “She was in no state of mind to tell me anything, but I’ve just spoken to Gould and apparently someone’s on their way over here to speak to her. Maybe she’ll be a bit more forthcoming with them than she was with me. She won’t be dealing with someone she thinks has deceived her.”

Understanding how bad he was feeling about that, she said, “Being angry with us at the moment is probably easier than trying to handle everything else she’s going through. Now tell me, what news of Marcy?”

“She’s stable, apparently, and one of the nurses told us that the skin grafts are likely to start in the next couple of days.”

“I guess she’s still sedated?”

“She is. Hang on, Leanne’s here. She wants to have a word.”

A moment later Leanne was saying, “I’ve just been talking to Mum and when the time feels right we’re going to ask Claudia if she’d like to stay with us at Ash Morley until the coach house is up together again. They can have the stables now that it’s empty. It’ll be one less thing for her to have to worry about.”

“That’s a wonderful offer,” Andee responded with feeling, for being in the safety of Ash Morley surrounded by friends was exactly what Claudia and Jasmine were going to need in the coming weeks and months. “I guess we’ve no idea yet how long Marcy is going to be where she is,” she said, “but the next time I speak to Claudia I’ll ask if she’d like us to start moving things over there. How’s Jasmine holding up?”

“Pretty well, considering. She’s been calling people to let them know that she won’t be taking part in the concert and why. It seems to help her to talk about it, at least for the moment. She told me earlier that her special violin was in the house. Apparently her dad gave it to her not long before he died.”

“Oh God,” Andee murmured, her heart contracting with pity, but as she turned to look at the house she experienced a beat of hope. “Tell her that if it was in her room there’s a good chance it’s OK. Or no, don’t say anything yet. There’s no point getting her hopes up until we know for certain. How much longer are you staying there?”

“I’ve booked myself into the hotel tonight. So have Dan and Henry, but I’ll probably head back in the morning. Are you coming over again?”