She nodded. “After the first death it’s never so hard anymore. You can only go to hell once, can’t you?” And she actually smiled. “The truth was, Inspector, that Jonquil grew into a horrible adult. Maybe I spoiled her, maybe she was born with a personality flaw. But she started bringing men down here, making love to them under her husband’s nose. She loved the danger, you see. One of these men had a splendid sailing boat. I heard them talking together, down at the dock. She said that she was already bored with Tony Summers and told this man she’d get a divorce and they’d sail off together. Sell the properties, buy a lovely yacht on the Med. She was standing on the cliffs one evening, gazing down the estuary, waiting for him. I came up to her. She said, ‘Isn’t it a lovely sunset, Manny? I feel so happy this evening.’ I wanted to ask her what would happen to me if she sold the property, but while I was plucking up the courage she said, ‘Go inside. It’s rather cold.’ And I said, ‘Very good, Mrs. Summers.’ And the moment she turned to gaze out to sea I pushed her over the cliff.”

She looked almost triumphant. “I don’t regret it for an instant. An eye for an eye. Isn’t that what the Bible says? And she had not turned into a person of whom I could be proud.”

“And Tony Summers?” DI Watt asked. “Was he killed for the same reason?”

“I quite liked him,” she said. “He was well brought up and willing to learn, I thought. Then he married her—a cook’s daughter. He brought disgrace to this house.”

“Well, of all the ungrateful . . .” Rose said.

“I stayed silent, but then he talked of becoming bored, of turning this house into a hotel, of selling it and then I heard him say that I’d have to go. To go. After I have given my life to this house. Cast me out as if I were last year’s fashion. So I saw that the timing was perfect, with Miss Belinda here.”

“What could you possibly have against me?” Belinda asked.