‘I agree. You’re absolutely right. It’s as if once you’re severely ill it’s in everyone’s interest to write you off.’

She thinks she may have gone too far.

‘Of course I am not saying that is what the family wanted, far from it, but the doctors are always in a hurry to clear the decks.’

‘Fleur has not taken it well.’

‘No, she’s in a very poor state.’

‘But I hear you are helping her sort out her affairs. That’s so kind.’

Her keen eyes, above the almost freakishly long neck, are looking at Estelle closely.

‘Yes, I’m trying. She is a woman who has always relied on others.’

‘Do you think, perhaps, she’s the sort of woman who finds expression through men?’

Estelle thinks this is a coded way of saying that Fleur is a tart.

‘Well, I think it’s because she was an actress. She plays roles and feels happier when she knows exactly what the role is.’

‘That’s so-oh fascinating. I had never thought of it like that, but it explains a lot. Do you think the merry widow could be the next role?’

Estelle sees that the family is wary of what Fleur may do. The old boy’s indulgence. Charlotte eats fastidiously.

‘Estelle, it was such a pleasure to meet you, but I have to go off now to help keep the show on the road.’

She departs smoothly, without causing a ripple in the air.

After lunch, Estelle finds a message from Amanda Stapleton.

‘Estelle, I hear you’re back. How marvellous. Would you give me a ring?’

She knows that Amanda is not calling for a chat. She rings her.

‘Estelle, hello. Can we talk tomorrow? There are some questions I need to ask you. The family trust requires absolute clarity about Harry’s intentions. Would you mind coming in to me first thing, say about eight? I’ll send a car.’

She takes a note of the address; Queen’s Park is evidently about as familiar to her as Ouagadougou.

‘Good, see you tomorrow. The car will be with you at seven-fifteen.’

You can’t say no to Amanda. This will be about Fleur and possibly the paintings and Amanda imagines she can intimidate her. Intimidation and bullying are what have made her such a success. You don’t mess with Amanda Stapleton, they say.

She goes back to her lists and prints off the inventories for her meeting with Amanda.

Nigel, always neatly and modestly dressed – no satin linings for his suits, no velvet on his overcoat – comes in to see her. He was the first director ever to be appointed from outside the family. She’s heard that Julian relies on him for everything. They play tennis every weekend.

He’s sitting on the edge of her desk now, one leg on the floor, the other showing an inch of skin above the socks.