‘I’d sooner not,’ said Steph, injecting a softer tone into her voice. ‘Please, Camilla, I just want to ask you a few questions, face to face.’

There was another pause. ‘I don’t like being blackmailed but you sound somewhere between determined and desperate, and if it will make you happy I’ll meet you, but I think you’ll be wasting your time.’

‘Let me be the judge of that. When and where can we meet?’

‘How about this evening? Kendalton Green Hotel. Eight o’clock.’

Steph hesitated momentarily. She was supposed to be meeting Harry tonight. Damn it. She hoped she wouldn’t regret her decision. ‘OK. I’ll be there.’

‘Meet me in the bar. I’ll be the blonde sitting at the corner table with a pink gin.’

‘Great. I’ll see you there.’

‘Oh, before you go, do the Sinclairs know you’re asking questions?’

‘No. Like I said, I’m being discreet.’

‘If I was you, I’d keep it that way. Have you mentioned to anyone that you were going to call me?’

‘No. Not a soul.’ Steph was glad the other woman couldn’t see her wince at the lie.

‘Again, keep it that way. I don’t want to end up like Elizabeth Sinclair.’

The line went dead and Steph replayed the conversation over in her mind. It was the only hint in the whole of the conversation that gave Steph any notion Camilla might actually know something worthwhile.

She quickly tapped out a message to Harry.

Really sorry, but I can’t make tonight for a drink. Something’s come up. Can we meet tomorrow? Xx

She hoped he wouldn’t mind and would at least acknowledge her text. While she waited for a reply, she called up the maps on her phone and tapped in Kendalton Green Hotel to double-check the directions. It wasn’t exactly on the doorstep and was a twenty-five-minute drive away. Steph closed the app and put the phone back in her pocket, picking up her pace to get back to the house as quickly as possible but without drawing attention to herself. She didn’t have much time if she was going to freshen herself up, get changed and drive over to Kendalton.

Cutting across the rear lawn towards the staff quarters, she cursed as she saw Dominic standing at the corner, having a cigarette.

‘Hello, Steph,’ he said, as she neared him. ‘Everything OK?’

‘Yes, fine,’ she said. ‘Just been for a walk.’

‘You look to be in a hurry.’

‘Not especially. Well, just a bit,’ she corrected herself, suddenly wondering if he was going to engage her in conversation if he thought she had nothing better to do. ‘I promised my mum I’d give her a call. She hates it if I’m late. You know what mums are like.’ God, she was waffling now.