‘Could she just do that?’ Posy asked. ‘Go get a copy of her will, I mean?’

‘Wills are public record after probate,’ Rosalind said, absently, remembering those bewildering conversations with lawyers after her husband died.

‘The will was … imprecise. The lawyer Clemmie spoke with last month in London said she might have a case to contest it even after so many years, if she had DNA proof of her identity.’

‘And that would bankrupt Aldermere.’ Rosalind shook her head. ‘Oh, Hugh.’

‘I’m still not seeing how Marcus comes into all this,’ Caro said. ‘Or why he was murdered.’

‘When Clemmie realised that Hugh was stalling, she wanted to find another way in. So she went to Marcus and asked for a job.’

Posy’s eyebrows shot up. ‘And he gave her one?’

‘That’s what I said.’ Libby’s smile was sad. ‘Clemmie wouldn’t admit it, but I think she gave Marcus something in return for the job.’

‘Like, sexual favours?’ Posy’s nose wrinkled at the idea.

‘No,’ Caro said. ‘She gave him information. Right? She told him who she was.’

Libby nodded.

‘Marcus said something when she drove away,’ Posy said. ‘He said he knew she had family in the area.’

‘I think we can assume he knew who she was,’ Caro said, with a sigh. ‘That’s the sort of “I know something you don’t know” brag that Marcus would make, if he was in on a secret.’

‘And Marcus used that information to blackmail Hugh.’ Another piece of the puzzle slotted into place in Rosalind’s head.

‘And got himself poisoned for his troubles,’ Posy murmured.

‘I don’t know about that,’ Libby admitted. ‘Possibly. I know that Marcus was involved in some shady things. Clemmie didn’t tell me everything, but … she was scared, I think.’

And she’d been right to be, Rosalind thought.

‘So she got the job, and she came to Aldermere – more than once, because she was here for the planning meetings, too.’ Posy had her notebook out again and was flipping through the pages. ‘She was putting pressure on Hugh.’

‘Not pressure,’ Libby insisted. ‘She just … she wanted to be a part of the Davenport family so much. She wanted him to acknowledge her. It wasn’t about the money for her, not really.’

‘But it was for Marcus.’ Rosalind could see how easily this one secret had spiralled.

‘Which brings us to this weekend,’ Caro said. ‘Clementine sent the three of us notes on pages from your script, with photos that it would be … unfortunate if they were seen by anyone else. Why?’