‘I’d love to see what you’ve done with the story,’ Caro said. ‘I mean, if you’re allowed to show me?’

Libby gave a shy smile but shook her head. ‘Sorry. After the last script got leaked on the internet, Anton’s been really particular about who gets to see it.’

Caro held back a snort. Given that Anton had been the one who leaked the original script, being precious about the new one seemed a bit rich.

‘I was curious about one thing, after last night’s dinner. I noticed a few changes from the original book in the menu. Was it based on the script, then?’ Caro attempted to sound as innocent as she could. Like the time Dahlia tried to infiltrate a debutante training session.

Libby nodded. ‘It was! Anton let Marcus have the script early to arrange that. Then I’d made some last-minute changes – like adding in the sugared flowers and cutting one of the courses to make it flow better – and poor Clementine had to rush around with the caterers on Friday night making sugared violets at the last minute.’ She pulled a guilty expression.

‘Such a shame Clementine wasn’t here to enjoy it,’ Caro said, lightly.

‘Yeah. Anyway, it was nice to … I’d better …’ With an apologetic smile, she moved away, back towards Isobel, Anton and Kit.

Caro didn’t try to stop her. She’d already learned what she needed to know.

The sugared flowers were a late addition – and Clementine herself had been involved in making them. Well.

She looked up and saw Rosalind and Hugh enter the room, standing too close – then separating the moment they were through the doorway. Hugh headed straight to Isobel – every bit the guilty spouse, in Caro’s opinion – and Rosalind approached Caro, and the buffet table. Posy peeled away from what looked like some flirtatious banter with Kit at the same time, and joined them.

‘How did it go?’ Rosalind asked, in an undertone, as she helped herself to food.

‘Everything back in place,’ Caro replied. ‘And I found some interesting new information I need to share with you, too. Two lots, actually. But not here.’

Posy, glancing over her shoulder, nodded. ‘Agreed. Too many ears. Where then?’

‘Let’s get outside,’ Caro suggested. ‘Maybe some fresh air will help.’

Chapter Eighteen

‘I think everybody feels better after a good confession session, don’t you?’ Dahlia asked.

Johnnie looked sceptical. ‘I think it usually depends on whether that confession is likely to get them hanged.’

Dahlia Lively in A Very Lively Trip

By Lettice Davenport, 1942

The Murder Spiral hadn’t been what she’d had in mind, but Caro supposed it was fitting. Mindful of eavesdroppers, she sat on the bench with Rosalind, while Posy hovered nearby. Caro told them everything she’d found out in Lettice’s study – and about her discovery of Marcus’s ledger in his desk.