‘That bitch must have set me up.’ Owen thumped the lid of the laptop and shoved the memory card into his pocket, with a small look of triumph.

Elizabeth laughed. ‘Oh, really, Owen. You think I’m that stupid to just have one copy of your little show.’

‘You were behind this?’ Owen’s face was bright red with rage. ‘You give me the other copy. Now! Do you hear?’

‘Or you’ll do what? Why don’t you take a deep breath, count to ten and sit down?’ Elizabeth’s voice grew hard. ‘And get a grip of yourself. You weak, pathetic excuse for a man.’

Owen looked as if he was going to explode. He swiped his hand across the desk, sending the telephone and a pot of pens across the floor. ‘I’m not messing around,’ he shouted. ‘Give me the other copy.’

Elizabeth made a big huffing noise. ‘Honestly, Owen, just sit down and shut up so we can work this out amicably.’ She spoke to him the way she would to a naughty child who was in the middle of a temper tantrum. It was no wonder Dominic didn’t trust him with anything other than a few old nags.

Owen slumped down into his chair, the effort to control his temper very much apparent, but he made a valiant endeavour and his natural pallor returned. Only his deep breathing gave him away.

‘What is it you want?’ he said finally.

‘Excellent, we’ve come to the nub of this little exercise.’

‘Just get on with it.’

Elizabeth smiled. ‘It’s very simple: you tell Dominic and Harry you’ve changed your mind about selling North Meadow and then the three of you can tell your dear mother and she’ll have to abide by the majority voting rule and sell the land.’

‘What? Are you serious?’

‘Never been more so. It’s not a big deal, Owen. We all win that way. You four will split the profits equally, which means, as Harry’s wife and having joint accounts, I can have access to the funds too. That’s all I want. It’s not illegal.’

‘It might not be but it’s definitely immoral.’

‘I don’t think you’re in any position to preach to me about morals.’ Elizabeth inclined her head. ‘I don’t think Natalie will be very happy to know what your morals are.’

‘You wouldn’t …!’

‘Try me.’

Owen’s finger tapped rapidly against his leg. He was the one bluffing and Elizabeth knew, out of the two of them, she had the balls.