‘The family tree was originally created over two hundred years ago,’ Isobel said, as they admired it. ‘It has been added to with each new generation of the Davenports, of whom Lettice is only one of what has long been a highly illustrious English family—’

‘What about the dollhouse?’ the blue-haired woman broke in, clearly not interested in any Davenports who weren’t writers of crime fiction. ‘Can you tell us more about that? It’s the actual one that Lettice used, right? The one that she wrote into A Very Lively Christmas?’

‘That’s right!’ Caro said. ‘When we filmed that story we had a replica made, but it wasn’t nearly as nice as this.’ She stroked the roof, possessively. ‘Just as well though. One of the cameramen crashed through it on the last day of filming. Smashed the thing to smithereens.’

Everyone laughed at that. Everyone except their tour guide.

‘I believe she did, yes,’ Isobel said, answering the blue-haired woman’s question as if Caro had never spoken at all. ‘Until her death, the dollhouse sat in her study – yes, we’ll see that later in the tour – and she used it to map out her stately home mysteries, using little figures to represent different characters, and where they were at the time of the murder.’

‘Letty told me once that all her country house murders were set at Aldermere, really.’ Rosalind moved closer to run an idle hand along the top of the model. ‘Even the ones that seemed to be set somewhere else, abroad or what have you. She always began with the set-up of Aldermere and worked things out from there.’ The casual way she spoke of the late novelist caught Posy by surprise.

‘Yes, well.’ There was a hint of annoyance creeping into Isobel’s voice now. ‘These days we keep it here in the entrance hall for visitors to enjoy. Now, let’s move on to Lettice’s study.’

Together, they traipsed up the stairs after Isobel. Posy fell into step beside Isobel’s granddaughter as they climbed to the first floor.

‘You’re Posy Starling, right? Clementine told me you’re the latest Dahlia actress. I’m Juliette Davenport.’ She was perky, in a way Posy vaguely remembered being once. She was almost impressed that Juliette seemed to have hung on to that sort of enthusiasm for life all through her teens.

Posy forced a smile. ‘Nice to meet you, Juliette.’

‘So, tell me.’ She leant in a little closer. ‘Kit Lewis. Single?’

‘I’m honestly not sure!’ Posy laughed. ‘But I’ll tell him you asked.’

‘I’ve got a bet going with a friend that I can get a selfie with him this weekend,’ Juliette admitted.

‘Oh, well that we can definitely do. He loves a camera.’ The day of their chemistry read, she’d seen him take selfies with at least two of the assistants.

Juliette beamed. ‘That would be great! Thanks.’