Miles was looking at the large modern painting hung on the dove-coloured wall above the small kitchen table. It was painted in bold striking colours: confident blocks of white, grey and red that matched perfectly with the kitchen. ‘Where did you get that?’ he said, peering closer. ‘It’s an original, isn’t it?’

‘Well, it would be, as I painted it,’ she smiled.

Miles looked awestruck. ‘You?’

‘Yes, me.’

‘Is there no end to your talents, Ma’am?’ he teased. ‘That is seriously good. Cheers.’

‘Cheers.’ Jazz toasted him with a glass of water. Lately, she’d rather gone off alcohol. ‘Let’s go and sit down.’ She led the way through to the sitting room where the fire was building nicely.

Miles sat down. ‘This really is idyllic. You must be very happy here.’

‘I am,’ Jazz nodded. ‘It’s a perfect bachelor-girl retreat. And you’re very honoured. You’re my first official guest.’

‘It’s good to be back here, actually. When I left for London after the case, I felt claustrophobic for weeks.’ He shrugged, ‘I suppose you get used to it.’

‘Perhaps I’ll change, but I’ve no wish to return to London whatsoever,’ said Jazz with feeling.

‘So, fill me in on all the details post-case.’ Miles settled himself back on the sofa. ‘How was Jenny Colman when she met her son for the first time?’

‘Emotional, obviously. As was David Millar. We’ve got Martin Chapman to thank for that. When he was checking Rory’s trunk, he picked up David’s DNA from the fingerprints, and a hair he found inside. He remembered it when he was checking the hair sample Jenny had taken from her baby. It was identical. He then crossed it with Corin Conaught’s hair and hey presto!’

‘Wow!’ Miles replied in wonder. ‘Sometimes I hate modern forensic practices – they seem to slow down or mess up a case – but on this occasion, it had a spectacular result.’

‘It did. Jenny Colman has a new lease of life. And so does David.’

‘What about the Conaught Estate?’ questioned Miles. ‘Will David have a legitimate claim as the direct, if illegitimate heir?’

‘Absolutely. Despite her initial prejudice, Emily Conaught called to thank me a few days ago. David had been up to the house to meet her. He then took Rory with him, who of course, we both know, is the living image of his grandfather, Corin.’

‘Hugh Daneman may have got the father wrong, but it’s easy to understand why he was so fond of Rory,’ Miles said gently.

‘And died regretting his fondness,’ Jazz sighed. ‘However, the Conaughts have now got their bloodline back: David and Rory. And Emily and Edward have already offered David a cottage on the estate. They’re aware David has an alcohol problem, just like his father, and they want to keep an eye on him.’

‘They do say it can be genetic,’ Miles commented, holding out his wine glass for a top-up. ‘Unlike me, my parents are teetotal. Does Angelina Millar know that the husband she dumped unceremoniously for being a loser will eventually be a lord of the realm and inherit one of the grandest estates in Norfolk?’