Eileen put her knife and fork together and pushed away her plate. ‘It was never the same after Harry left. I used to clean Harry and Elizabeth’s lodge.’

‘Eileen does all the Sinclair family lodges and private bedrooms,’ put in Hazel.

Steph nodded. This was a great way in for her. ‘That was awful what happened to Elizabeth Sinclair. Were you here that day?’

‘Yes, I was working in the house,’ said Eileen gravely. ‘Terrible business. There was pandemonium when her body was discovered in the lake. It was Harry who found her.’

‘That is awful,’ agreed Steph, and she felt a wave of compassion for Harry. ‘I can’t imagine getting over something like that.’

‘I don’t think he could,’ said Eileen. ‘That’s why he went off to France six months after burying her. He couldn’t cope with being around so many memories of her.’

‘Although God knows why,’ muttered Hazel. Her eyes met Eileen’s and something passed between the two women which Steph couldn’t read.

‘She wasn’t that bad once you got to know her,’ said Eileen. ‘She just didn’t fit in well, that’s all.’

‘In what way?’ asked Steph.

‘Oh, I shouldn’t really speak ill of the dead.’

‘I don’t mind though.’ Hazel flicked her friend another look and lowered her voice as she spoke. ‘Elizabeth was a modern-day woman. She wanted to be involved with the business. She was always floating around telling the staff to do this, that and the other, as if she was our boss. But the brothers and Mrs Sinclair didn’t want anyone else involved.’

‘Elizabeth wanted to feel like she was useful,’ said Eileen. ‘It’s not quite as cut and dried as Hazel’s saying. Elizabeth wasn’t like Dominic’s partner or Owen’s wife. She was ambitious and I don’t think the Sinclair family were quite ready for her.’

‘She was an awful flirt too,’ said Hazel.

‘A flirt?’

Eileen answered before Hazel could elaborate. ‘She was a beautiful young woman, with a good sense of humour, who was very charming, especially where the men were concerned.’

‘A flirt. Like I said. You should have seen her with Dominic. They all got drunk one night and, by all accounts, it was embarrassing for everyone there. Harry and his brother had words and then Harry practically carried Elizabeth back to their lodge.’

‘Ladies,’ said Antonio, who up until that point had remained silent. ‘I don’t know if we should be speaking about the late Mrs Sinclair. I’m not sure it’s appropriate.’

‘Oh, go and polish some silver if you don’t like the conversation,’ said Hazel, waving her hand at Antonio. ‘You didn’t even work here at the time.’