I pause, my gaze wandering to the open doors of the orangery. I saw Sadie pause, just as she stepped over the threshold, and I know that she is aware that Rupert closed it off after Caro died. ‘Rupert built the orangery for Caro, didn’t he?’ I know he did, but this is my chance to learn more about Caro and what happened.

‘Yes.’ Sadie follows my gaze and lets out a long breath. ‘She was so thrilled with it when it was finished. The light, the view, everything. Just thrilled. Her face when she showed us…’

A memory swims to the surface of my mind – something about a party – and I grope for the words used, before remembering it was at the wedding, those bitchy women talking about a party. ‘Was that the night of the party?’

‘The party?’ Sadie says sharply. ‘Did Rupert tell you about the party?’

I shrug noncommittally and sip my coffee.

‘Yes,’ she goes on eventually, ‘the party was to celebrate the orangery being finished. Caro was so excited, but there was definitely something in the air that night. She looked fantastic, as always.’

‘She did?’ I am thirsty for knowledge; I want to know every little detail. Looking at Caro’s Facebook or reading articles about her online just isn’t the same. I don’t push to know what Sadie means by ‘something in the air that night’, but instead let her speak, her words tumbling out as though someone has pulled a cork.

‘Caro always looked amazing.’ Sadie runs her eyes over me, and I feel every speck of dirt grained into my leggings, the sweat that has beaded and dried at my temples. ‘That night she wore a red, ruffled Givenchy gown – it was too much for a house party, especially in January, but that was Caro all over – with matching kitten heels, and her favourite diamond earrings, ones Rupert had bought her when they got married. Her hair all swept up in some fancy bun. You should have seen Rupert’s face as she came into the room.’

I swallow, her words a sharp dig in my side, but Sadie doesn’t seem to notice, and she carries on talking. ‘It was an… odd night. It was mild for the time of year – there was a storm later that week, I think – and the orangery was warm… too warm, I had to ask Caro to open the door. People drank too much too quickly. I know I did.’ She looks down at her cup. ‘Speaking of which, shall we open some wine? The sun’s over the yardarm somewhere.’ Without waiting for a response, she pushes back her chair and goes to the fridge, helping herself to an unopened bottle of Sancerre. Reminding me that she’s known this house for longer than I have.

I wait until she has poured us both a glass, even though I don’t really want one. ‘What happened, Sadie?’