‘Yes, very different from now, I’m sure,’ Jazz agreed, feeling uncomfortable. ‘So, what did she do?’

‘Well, Hugh came to me in confidence to ask my advice. Under the circumstances, he felt I should know. I, too, am Catholic, so I was certainly not going to condemn a life to death. But by the same token, there was no place in our family for Corin’s illegitimate child, especially as the young lady in question was the daughter of one of the workers on our estate.’ Emily sniffed. ‘I suggested to Hugh that this girl go and have the baby quietly in one of the discreet homes that were set up for just that sort of thing, and then put it up for adoption. I also offered to pay, which the girl accepted. And that was the end of it, really. The girl did as I’d suggested and no more was said of it. In fact,’ Emily mused, ‘it’s the first time I’ve spoken to anyone on the subject for forty years.’

‘I apologise for reminding you of it now,’ said Jazz. ‘So you’ve no idea what happened to this baby?’

‘Good God, no. He or she could be anywhere, Inspector Hunter. Or dead for all we know.’

‘And this baby could have no idea who he or she really is?’

‘Absolutely not. They were very careful about that sort of thing then.’

Jazz spoke slowly. ‘But just say Hugh had found out who the child was?’

‘I can’t imagine how, but pray continue with your train of thought.’

‘Let’s go back a stage.’ Jazz rubbed her forehead, as she tried to put the information into cohesive order. ‘Edward told me Charlie was the only heir to the Conaught Estate. Now he’s dead, there’s no one else to inherit. Is that right?’

Emily nodded. ‘We have an expert searching the family tree for a distant cousin, or branch of the Conaughts we may have forgotten. Otherwise, when Edward dies, the line is finished and the estate will be sold and the money left to charity.’ She sighed. ‘Over four hundred years . . . So very sad.’

‘So, what if there was an heir, let’s say, the son of Corin, your eldest child? I understand it would have to be a male.’

‘But, Inspector, “he”, if it is a “he”, was born out of wedlock!’ Emily responded, shocked. ‘The child is illegitimate.’

‘But still a direct blood heir. And with DNA tests, these days, this can be proved beyond all doubt. I’m pretty sure there’ve been some cases in the past few years where the courts have granted the illegitimate child his legal entitlement.’

‘Well,’ Emily replied stoutly, ‘that closes the debate. Corin died forty years ago. It’s not possible to prove any genetic inheritance. For goodness’ sake, there’s nothing of him left.’

‘You kept nothing of his, Emily?’

‘I kept some things from his childhood, photographs and whatnot, but nothing of him, Inspector.’

‘Did you by any chance keep a baby book, detailing Corin’s weight, his first smile, when his tooth came through, that kind of thing?’