‘You’d already planned to kill Marcus, hadn’t you?’ Caro said. ‘You had that sugared monkshood all ready to go from the moment the menu changed on Friday night. Maybe you had one for Clementine, too, or perhaps you had another plan for her. Two heart attacks might have been a bit suspicious, even for Aldermere. But Juliette solved that one for you, didn’t she?’

‘Solved it?’ Isobel scoffed. ‘She almost ruined everything! Everything I’d been planning ever since I found that first letter from Clementine and burned it before Hugh could read it. But luckily for her, I’ve always thought fast on my feet. And after forty years surrounded by the legacy of Lettice Davenport, I’ve learned a lot about murder.’ She turned to Rosalind, her face contorted into a scathing expression. ‘I suppose he’s yours now, like you always wanted.’

Rosalind looked her best friend in the eye. ‘I never wanted any of this.’

Larch jerked his head towards Isobel, and a police officer appeared from the hallway to caution her and lead her away.

‘I think we’ve heard enough here,’ Larch said. ‘I’m going to take these two down to the station, but I suggest you all stay at Aldermere until I’ve had the chance to speak to you tomorrow. In case we need any more information.’

He looked meaningfully at Posy, Caro and finally Rosalind, before turning and leading Juliette out of the door. Posy suspected that might mean they were in some sort of trouble, but right then, she couldn’t bring herself to care.

They had solved the mystery behind two deaths and they’d done it together. The three Dahlias.

And finally, with the surge of satisfaction, justice and horror that rushed through her, Posy knew exactly how to play Dahlia Lively. It wasn’t just about the murder or even the investigation.

It was restoring the balance of the real world that came after.

Dahlia made the world feel right again. And that’s what she would do.

Caro

Hugh collapsed against the wall, slumping down to the ground as Isobel and Juliette were led out of the room. Most of the other guests followed the police down the stairs, chattering in low voices as they went. Even Kit had nothing to say, placing Lettice’s hat solemnly back on the shelf before he left. The drama was over; there was nothing more to see beyond the destruction of a family.

Outside, the clock chimed one o’clock. The last half an hour ran on a loop in Caro’s head, as if her brain were still trying to process it all.