He had switched so suddenly to business mode that it took Steph by surprise. She had really felt he was going to open up to her, but he had managed to hop from one mood to another in the blink of an eye.

She stood up too. ‘Yeah, sure.’

‘When you go to the office, if I’m not there someone will show you where your staff accommodation is,’ he said. Before she could reply he was walking out of the door.

Steph went to call after him but changed her mind. What the hell had just happened there? She’d thought they had something between them just then, but now she just didn’t have a clue. Was it something to do with what they had discussed? He’d said his demon was guilt. What exactly did he feel guilty for? Betraying his wife’s memory by being with Steph? Or betraying his wife by having some involvement in her death? Steph didn’t think Harry was a murderer, not that she had anything to base this assumption on, but from what she’d seen of him, he was a good man, kind and considerate. But then, what about the other side she’d seen last night, his acceptance of his brother and the drugs? Could Harry turn a blind eye to people doing bad things? He might not have had a hand in Elizabeth’s death, but had he been a bystander? Steph closed her eyes – she really didn’t know what to think.

The sound of her phone ringing took her attention. She picked it up and saw it was Sonia Lomas again. She’d totally forgotten Sonia had called earlier.

‘Hello, Sonia. What’s up? Why are you ringing me? We said no contact.’ It wasn’t the most gracious way to open a conversation but Steph’s head hurt, she was tired and she felt cast adrift.

‘It’s important,’ said Sonia. ‘I need to speak to you.’

‘What’s happened?’

‘Meet me today at one-thirty at the Fox & Hounds. It’s a pub in the village. About a mile away from Conmere.’

‘OK, but can you give me some idea what this is all about? Are you OK?’

‘I think I’m being followed. I’ll talk to you properly when I see you.’

Before Steph could ask anything more, the line went dead.

Chapter Twenty

Two Years Earlier,
Conmere, 10 September, 10.45 a.m.

Elizabeth checked the camera was in her handbag and, leaving the lodge, made her way over to the stables, where she knew Owen would be. If nothing else, he was a creature of habit. Harry had already headed over to the offices at Conmere House, as he and Dominic were interviewing for a new chef that morning. Elizabeth knew it pissed Owen off that he wasn’t invited to these meetings, but Dominic was adamant he and Harry were best placed to deal with it.