‘I was just thinking about Sadie,’ I say, tucking my legs up underneath me. I let my fingers mingle with his. ‘How we both thought she couldn’t possibly behave that way. It must have been more shocking for you than it was for me. After all, you’ve known her for years.’

‘Yes,’ Rupert says quietly, ‘I suppose it was shocking. Although not entirely surprising. People only show you the façade that they want you to see. Everyone does it. We all show our best faces to the others around us.’

Goosebumps rise on my arms and I rub at my skin through the thin material of my cardigan, as a prickle of unease runs down my back. I can’t have expected him to just admit to me that he had something to do with Caro’s disappearance, and now I’m starting to wish I hadn’t asked the question. ‘Yes. I suppose you’re right. Still shocking, though.’

‘What about you?’ Rupert says suddenly, his mouth twisting into a smile. ‘What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ I say, breezily, trying to make light of things. ‘Probably the way I treated Mags. I shouldn’t have cut her off when I met you. She did a lot for me, and I feel bad that I didn’t keep in contact with her. That I dropped her.’

‘Hmmm, she wasn’t really your friend, Em,’ Rupert says. ‘She was obsessed with you, standing over your bed at night, always wanting to know where you were, what you were doing.’

I nod noncommittally, thinking of how best to turn the conversation to the things I really want to ask him about. I get to my feet, under the pretence of stoking the fire he lit earlier, throwing another log on and standing for a moment, my hands outstretched to feel the warmth of the flames. I let my gaze wander to the doors that lead to the orangery. People only show you the façade that they want you to see.

‘Rupert, are you sure you want to keep the orangery locked up?’ My pulse speeds up as I finally get up the nerve to turn the conversation to the extension, wondering what his reaction will be to me mentioning the builder. Surely if I have jumped to the wrong conclusion, Rupert won’t have any issue with me speaking to him.

‘Hmmm?’ He looks up from the television, seemingly distracted by whatever TV show is on, but I get the impression he’s buying himself a few seconds.

‘I know I’ve said it a million times, but I think it’s such a shame to waste the light in that room, it’s such a gorgeous space. We could redecorate it…’

‘No, Emily.’ Rupert’s tone is sharp. ‘I told you the reason why I don’t want to use that room. We’ve already talked about this.’