Ruth padded towards the door, and ran her hand over Rosamund’s orange coat hanging on the rack. Before she could stop herself, she’d lifted it down, and slipped it on. It was far too long for her, almost touching the floor, but she didn’t care. She rolled her chin over the soft collar. It smelt of expensive perfume.

Within moments she was strutting up and down the lounge, as though on a catwalk, spinning around several times. Oh, to be as beautiful as Rosamund – oh to have had the life I should have had.

The door swung open. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ It was Rosamund. Her arms folded across her yellow anorak, her face red with rage.

‘Nothing,’ Ruth said, almost toppling as she took off the coat.

‘How is putting on my coat nothing?’ Rosamund snapped.

‘Sorry. It’s just so beautiful. Sorry.’

Neil and Elise appeared behind Rosamund.

‘I just brought fresh towels,’ Ruth babbled, shoving the coat into Rosamund’s arms. ‘I’ve put them on the beds.’ And without another word, she pushed past the congregated family, and headed back to her cottage.

Chapter 21

A Year Ago

Amelia

The sun was going down, now a shimmering spread of deep orange on the horizon, reflecting on the sea.

There was no sign of Lark.

Rosamund and Neil had taken the others back to Drummondale House some time ago, and Amelia and her dad now made their way down the beach in the direction Lark had gone several hours before.

‘She’s lost track of time, that’s all,’ Amelia said, trying to keep up with her dad’s long strides. But she couldn’t help thinking Lark was being inconsiderate, taking off – worrying everyone – again. ‘Are you OK, Dad?’ she added, when he didn’t reply.

‘Do I look OK?’ He blinked furiously. ‘Sorry. Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you, love. It’s just hard enough, all this.’

‘A total nightmare.’

‘And now Lark has taken off, and Rosamund Green and her add-ons have turned up.’ He dragged fingers through his hair. ‘Why the hell your mum got back in touch with that woman is a mystery.’ He kicked a large pebble. ‘She hurt her, Amelia.’

‘That was a long time ago, Dad. People change.’

‘Do they? Do they really? In my experience people rarely change – just the masks they wear.’

‘Well Mum seems happy she’s here. Surely that’s the most important thing right now.’

He said no more, and they continued on in silence, not seeing a soul for almost half a mile. And as the darkness thickened, Amelia’s anger that her sister had taken off turned to worry.

‘Where the hell is she?’ she said, her feet heavy in the sand. ‘Why would she take off like this?’

‘She’s not herself.’

She swallowed. ‘None of us are, Dad.’