Steph felt a little uncomfortable, unsure what to say. She stole a glance at Pru, who was looking wistful. Steph wasn’t sure if she was even addressing her any more. ‘I’m sure he will in time,’ Steph offered by way of comfort.

‘Hmm, I hope so.’ Pru continued to look thoughtful for a moment and then seemingly shook herself out of her trance. ‘Oh, before I go, you might like this.’ She unzipped her pocket and felt around for what she was looking for, before holding it out to Steph and dropping it into the palm of her hand.

Steph’s heart nearly leapt into her throat as she looked at the drop-pearl earring in her hand. ‘M-my earring,’ she stammered.

‘Thought it was yours. I remember admiring them the other day when you were in Elizabeth’s room.’ Pru arched an eyebrow. ‘I found it in rather an odd place, though. The office. Not sure how it got there.’

‘I … er … didn’t realise I’d lost it,’ said Steph, trying to hide her shock. ‘Maybe someone handed it in to the office and it got knocked on the floor?’ It sounded plausible, but only just.

‘Maybe that’s what happened,’ said Pru, in a tone that didn’t sound entirely convincing. ‘Right, well, I’d better get on and catch up with those dogs.’ Then she broke into a gentle jog.

Steph watched as Pru disappeared over the rise, heading in the direction of the boathouse, and couldn’t help admiring how fit Pru Sinclair looked for her age; she was in her sixties, and the active-wear certainly looked good on her. She remembered the photograph in Harry’s lodge of Pru in her wetsuit. Pru Sinclair was evidently a woman of determination and stamina who loved her family dearly.

Steph took a moment to replace her earring, uncertain whether Pru’s finding it was a good thing or not, but at least she had it back now. She supposed it was better that Pru had found it than Dominic or Harry – they would probably have wanted a better explanation as to how it had got there. Hopefully, Pru would forget all about it and not mention it to them. She took one last look at the boathouse. Ideally, she’d like to go down there and have a little nose around, but with Pru about it wouldn’t be wise to do so. She resolved to come back later when it was darker.

Conmere, Wednesday, 15th May, 8.45 p.m.