I need to speak to the builder – it could be nothing, in which case maybe I’ll ask Rupert about that night one more time. I’ll show him the earring and see if he has a valid explanation for why it is in the house after Caro supposedly disappeared wearing it. And the money, I think with a shiver, as if someone has walked over my grave, Rupert was adamant that he didn’t want to use Caro’s money on a pool… but he’s been making transfers into his own bank account regularly from her funds.

Suddenly chilly, I hurry back into the house, closing the blinds in the orangery and slamming the door closed. As I head back upstairs to put Caro’s jewellery away, I think of Rupert and my heart turns over. Things had got bad between me and Harry, violent and out of control, but this time – I pause as I reach the bedroom, our wedding photo on display on the nightstand – this time, I think I have bitten off more than I can chew.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Jittery with nerves, it’s hard to act normally when Rupert comes home from work, knowing what I think I know. I have to keep reminding myself that I don’t actually know anything as yet – all I have is an idea, a suspicion, but still the temptation to call the whole thing a day and shove my things in a bag and run back to the flat, to Mags, is strong. Not that Mags would probably let me in, not after the way I’ve treated her. Instead I paste on a smile, and let Rupert pull me down onto the sofa, laying my head in his lap after dinner.

He runs his fingers through my hair, making my scalp tingle, and if I close my eyes, I can almost pretend that nothing has changed, that Rupert hasn’t lied and everything is perfect, just as it was.

‘Rupert, what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?’ I ask, from my position lying prone on the sofa, as his fingers massage my scalp. I open my eyes a fraction, enough to see his reaction. His fingers pause for a tiny second, before he rakes them through my hair.

‘Gosh, I don’t know. Nothing excitingly bad.’ He lets out a laugh, but I can feel the way his chest strains as he forces it out. ‘There was that time I paid a guy ten quid to give Miles a wedgie, and then obviously Will’s stag do, when we tied him to a lamppost, naked, which is something he’s never forgiven me for… that’s as dark as I get, I’m afraid. What’s brought this on, anyway?’ He shifts so that I have no option other than to sit up.