‘Jesus, Dom. What’s the big deal? I went for a walk with one of the reporters because she wanted to go down to the lake.’

Dominic shook his head. ‘You went for a walk with a reporter? It wouldn’t be Steph Durham by any chance, would it?’

‘Can you get over this, please?’ said Harry impatiently, bored at Dominic’s obsession with what Steph was doing or not doing.

‘And you went to the lake? What the fuck did you go there for?’

‘She wanted to see it. She’s a photographer. She wanted some different shots. In fact, I might be buying some to put up in the breakfast room. And while I’m here I might as well tell you that I’ve given her a job for the week. To cover the two members of staff who walked out this morning.’ He gave his brother a challenging look, knowing Dominic would hate this, but Harry didn’t care. It was a small, possibly petty, victory, but satisfying all the same.

‘What?’ Dominic sat up in his chair. ‘That was very good of you,’ he said, clearly put out by Harry’s decision-making. ‘Not bad for someone who swans into the place twice a year only and spends the rest of the time holed up in some old house in the middle of the French countryside.’

‘Seeing as I’m not going back to France for a while, I took the initiative. I had a problem and I’ve dealt with it. Now can you get on with what you wanted to see me about.’ Harry could feel the old tension rising between himself and his brother. He had always had to defend his decisions and actions to Dominic, who had, in Harry’s opinion, too readily taken up where their father had left off. It was no wonder Owen was totally pissed off with Dominic.

‘It might have been better if you’d run it by me first,’ said Dominic, his brow furrowing. ‘What I wanted to talk to you about was actually Steph Durham.’

Dominic had his attention now. Harry shifted uneasily in his seat. He’d seen that look in his brother’s eye many a time. It was one where the scent of blood was strong, and Dominic was preparing to mount his attack. Harry inwardly steeled himself for what Dominic was about to say about Steph as a somewhat unexpected desire to protect her rose.

‘What about her?’

‘I did a bit of digging. There was something familiar about her and I couldn’t place it,’ said Dominic. ‘I was certain I’d seen her before.’

Harry held out his hands in an impatient gesture. ‘And …?’

‘You know I have a good memory for faces,’ said Dominic. ‘I’d seen her at a funeral. Her dad’s funeral. I should have made the connection as soon as I heard the surname.’

‘What?’