‘My cousin, Jeanie – the one who used to work at Larkins when Imelda was there – she’s coming over from France in a couple of weeks. She’s singing at Twinwood Festival but she’s stopping off here for a few days first. Maybe she’ll be able to tell you more about the people in that photograph Imelda gave you.’

Billie managed a half-smile.

‘Come on, trouble,’ Treasure teased. ‘I’ll buy you a drink.’

Chapter 56

Chapter 56

1995

Beaumont Hall was approached through an enormous pair of black and gold wrought-iron gates, and thereafter along a pristine gravel drive bordered by dark, shadowy woodland underplanted with purple and pink rhododendrons. The drive was long; no doubt intended to heighten the anticipation of the visitor to the splendour that lay ahead. Imelda had been driving for twenty minutes and there was still no sign of the house. She had been invited by a Lady Longhorn to give readings for her weekend guests at her country pile. The men had clay shooting and trout fishing to keep them occupied but their wives expected to be entertained and Lady Longhorn had thought that ‘tarot readings and the like’ might be just the thing. This type of booking was becoming increasingly popular and Imelda had done several to date. They were lucrative and gave her the opportunity to see inside some of the country’s finest homes, even if she didn’t always enjoy meeting their residents. Imelda didn’t know Lady Longhorn but assumed that she had been given her name by one of her friends or acquaintances who had already had a reading.