Shedding my sweaty yoga gear, but not quite managing to leave it on the floor for the cleaner to pick up – unlike Rupert, whose trousers and shirt from yesterday still lie in a heap by the laundry basket – I jump into the shower, eager to rinse the sweat – and Sorcha’s mention of Caro – out of my hair. As I lather up, I berate myself for being so touchy about Caro. Caro lived round here for years, it’s inevitable that I’ll meet people who knew her, go to places that she went to. It’s hardly Caro’s fault that she was married to Rupert first. I have to remember that I am the one married to Rupert now, Rupert chose me. I turn off the shower and am just stepping out onto the mat, wrapping myself in a huge, fluffy bath towel, when I think I hear something.

My heart starts to race in my chest, and I step off the mat, padding silently across the tiled en-suite floor to the carpet of the bedroom. There it is – the snick of a door closing shut. Grabbing a robe from the back of the door with shaking hands, I quickly knot the belt and start to make my way downstairs, my breath coming fast and loud in my ears. I’m not imagining it now, I think, my hands shaking as I cling onto the polished oak bannister, my knuckles turning white. There is someone in the house, someone who shouldn’t be here.

On legs like jelly, I tiptoe as quickly as I can to the huge fireplace in the sitting room, snatching up the poker from the set that sits on the huge marble hearth. Feeling safer now I have something in my hand to fend off whoever it is, I pause for a moment, straining to hear the slightest noise, but there is nothing except the rapid thud of my pulse beating at my temples. Dabbing at the sweat that beads my upper lip, the poker falls to my side and the doubts creep in. Did I really hear something? Or did I just imagine it, caught up as I was in thoughts about Caro?

I close my eyes, willing my heart rate to return to normal, for my breath to come evenly and steadily. I stand still, not moving a muscle until the adrenaline has faded away and I feel as though I can move on my shaking legs without falling over. Slowly, I open my eyes just in time to see a shadow flit past the stained-glass panes of the front door.

‘Arrrghhh!’ I shriek a war cry, yanking the front door open with the poker held high above my head, only to see Sadie on the doorstep. ‘Shit. Fuck. Oh God, Sadie, I’m so sorry.’ Panting, I slouch against the doorframe, hot tears stinging my eyes.