He couldn’t get his head around Steph or why he felt so drawn to her. She was clearly up to something with Sonia and it was obviously concerning Elizabeth’s death. On reflection, he probably shouldn’t have flown off the handle the way he had as there was no way she was going to tell him anything now. He should have taken it easy and kept her on side, then he might have been able to draw her into his confidence, so much so that she would willingly share what she was doing and what she knew. At least that way he could keep Dominic at bay. Damn it! He hadn’t handled it at all well.

Maybe he should apologise and try to smooth things over. He finished his drink, enjoying the small burn of alcohol as it travelled down his throat and into his stomach. He needed to think this through and work out a strategy.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Conmere, Monday, 13 May, 7.30 a.m.

Steph felt self-conscious going into the housekeeping room that morning wearing her Conmere cleaning uniform, which Heidi had just given her to change into. The uniform consisted of a bottle-green shirt and matching trousers, the Conmere logo of a lake and a tree embroidered in cream on the breast pocket.

‘Look at you,’ said Heidi, not unkindly. ‘One of the staff now. Right, if you come with me, I’ll take you on a quick tour of the house and tell you where you’ll be working today and what you have to do.’

Steph spent the next hour going through the formalities with Heidi and learning the layout of the main house. A lot she was already familiar with, but when Heidi took her up to the first floor she had to hide her excitement as she was shown Elizabeth Sinclair’s room.

‘When I say it’s Elizabeth’s room, what I mean is, it’s where all her things are kept,’ explained Heidi, her hand wrapped around the door handle.

‘What sort of things?’ asked Steph.

‘Some personal possessions that Harry didn’t really know what to do with at the time.’ Heidi had lowered her voice. ‘Things that Mrs Sinclair Senior had sifted through and things that Mrs Lomas – that’s Elizabeth’s mother – wasn’t offered.’

‘Oh, I see,’ said Steph, trying to hide her impatience as she willed Heidi to open the door.

‘We don’t go in here, though,’ said Heidi. ‘But you can have a quick peek in.’ She opened the door and, remaining in the doorway, allowed Steph to poke her head into the room.