‘I think she might prove interesting, that one,’ said Catherine thoughtfully.

‘Oh dear – well I’m sorry then,’ said Louisa, pulling a face. ‘I can see you neither of you approve, so I’ll try to be nicer to her, but I don’t promise anything if she goes on being such a pain . . . and anyway I feel much better for having said what I did! I could see she knew exactly what I meant.’

‘Yes,’ said Isobel, laughing. ‘Knowing you, I bet she did! You’ve never gone in for the Mona Lisa approach, have you? What did you both make of Christopher Piper? He’s our mystery man – rather a dishy one though.’

Louisa grinned. ‘Hmm – dark and smooth, like expensive chocolate!’ she said. ‘I bet he’s got a little notice stamped on him somewhere saying Guaranteed not less than 75% cocoa solids. I’ve actually met him before but I was going to ask you to fill me in about him because I don’t really know much about him – but you obviously know even less than I do.’

‘But I think you fancy him rotten,’ teased Isobel, who had noticed Louisa’s manoeuvre before dinner.

Louisa laughed. ‘He certainly seems very charming, but I’m generously giving Marnie a chance to get to know him first!’ she said lightly.

Giles and the dogs were waiting for them in the kitchen, a tray with a decanter of whisky and glasses on the table and the kettle simmering away on the Aga for hot drinks.

‘Now tell me how you got on and what everyone was like,’ said Giles, ready to have a discussion about the evening. ‘And guess what, darling.’ He grinned at Isobel. ‘You’re going to be very pleased with me! I’ve remembered what it was that I read about the Donovan woman.’

‘What?’ they all asked.

‘I think she recently inherited a lot of money,’ said Giles. ‘I knew her name rang a bell. At least we know we have one participant who can afford to pay her bill!’

And he looked at their surprised faces with satisfaction.

Chapter Five

The following morning by half past nine, the group had once more assembled in the conference room, this time seated round two oblong tables, which had been pushed together to form a square. Catherine was already seated when her class started to arrive.

There was already a much less constrained atmosphere than there had been the night before. Several people had chatted over drinks in the bar before going to bed, and they had all met again at breakfast. There was beginning to be a sense of camaraderie and a feeling that they were here with a common purpose, no matter how disparate their ages, backgrounds and talents might be. If there was not exactly a stampede to sit next to Stanley Heslington, this was something of which he was supremely unaware as he settled himself confidently next to Louisa.