Lindsay agreed to this, and they both fell silent. As the car sped on through the night to Derbyshire, Lindsay put a cassette of Cosi fan tutte on the stereo and Cordelia sank back in the seat. It was shortly after eleven when they pulled into the forecourt of a small hotel where Cordelia had booked them a room. As they collected their bags, Cordelia said, “I thought it might be better for everyone if we didn’t actually stay at the school. Pamela Overton is insisting on paying our bill, much to my humiliation, but who can argue with a woman like that? We can phone her from here and tell her we’ve arrived and that everything is under control.”

“You really think you can make her believe that?” said Lindsay with a grin. “Tell her we’ll be up in the morning. I want to see the music room again. I didn’t really take it in on Saturday night. Lorna’s body distracted me.”

They took their luggage up to a large, rather spartan room at the top of the three-story Victorian building, then went out in search of food. Eventually they found a fish and chip shop on the market place that was still open and returned to the car with fish and chips, Cordelia muttering all the while about cholesterol and calories. By midnight, they were in bed together, staving off their misgivings about what lay ahead.

10

Lindsay woke on Thursday morning to the sound of Cordelia pulling the curtains open. “Look at this view!” she exclaimed. All Lindsay could see was a square of gray sky.

“Do I have to?” she groaned crossly. “What time is it?”

“Half-past seven. I’m going for a run.” Already she was dressed in the familiar training shoes and tracksuit. It occurred to Lindsay in her jaundiced frame of mind that Cordelia was certainly fit enough to have sprinted to the music department, garroted Lorna, and sprinted back again without even being out of breath. Cordelia added, “I’ll be about half an hour. You can have a lie-in if you want.”

Lindsay groaned again. “Some lie-in! I may as well get up. I’m awake now. I’ll take a walk and see if I can pick up the papers.”

“See you later.” And she was off, running down the wide staircase.

Lindsay struggled out of bed, wondering if she could stand the pace and promising herself once again that the fitness program should start soon. She walked over to the window to see the view and was impressed in spite of her drowsiness. The room looked out over a couple of football pitches to a broad sweep of mature woodland, and beyond that to distant hills folding into each other. Even in the gray morning light it was spectacular. She dressed hurriedly and went off in search of a newsagent, planning the interview with Margaret Macdonald as she walked.