“That’s not true,” Lizzie said, trying to hold onto her temper. “Of course I care! But you know what this business is like, Dudley. It can be brutal. You just need to give everything time to settle down. It’s hardly surprising people are jittery. You’ve just lost your wife and there are a lot of rumours going around...” She thought of Johnny and his vivid despair, and the contrast with Dudley and his self-pitying interviews online and in the news. She rubbed her forehead. She wanted to tell him that he needed to show some humility and preferably some genuine grief if he wanted to get people on his side, but she knew that would only make him angrier.

“That stupid cow,” Dudley said, with a savagery that shocked her. “I swear she did this on purpose to ruin everything for me. The police have interviewed me twice now and the press are crucifying me and it’s all her fault.”

“Dudley!” Lizzie shook her head. “I know you’re upset that Amelia’s dead—”

“I don’t give a shit about Amelia,” Dudley said with brutal frankness. “She was like a fucking leech, living off my money and my name. We were separated. I’d told her I wanted a divorce, so why does everyone expect me to be sorry she’s dead?” He looked genuinely baffled.

Lizzie took a deep breath. “I think you must be very upset to be talking like this, Duds,” she said carefully. “You know you can say anything to me and I’ll never repeat it, but...” She went over to him and took his hands in hers. “Even if you didn’t love Amelia any more it’s still a tragedy that she died so horribly. People will expect you at least to express sincere regret over that—”

Dudley shook off her touch. “All I know is I’m losing everything,” he said. “Everything! And you’re just like everyone else—you won’t help me.” He threw himself back down on the sofa and looked at her with dark, pleading eyes. “Please, Lizzie. Help me.”

“I am trying to help you.” Lizzie sat down beside him. “I’m always here for you if you need to talk, Dudley, but...” She hesitated. She didn’t want to be too harsh in case she sent Dudley spinning off into another rant. He had always been mercurial but his self-absorption was truly shocking.

“Sorry.” Dudley dropped his head into his hands. When he looked up Lizzie saw tears in his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Lizzie. I didn’t mean it. I’m not myself. That little shit Johnny Robsart came looking for me last night, making threats, saying all kinds of things. I had to report him to the police. This whole business has been awful for me—”

“Wait...” Lizzie raised a hand to stem the flow of words. “You reported Amelia’s little brother to the police?”

“He was off his head,” Dudley said plaintively. “He accused me of wanting her dead, of pushing her down the stairs. I thought he might be dangerous so I called the police.”