‘And so, I am delighted to announce that the winner of our competition is …’

Another dramatic pause from Marcus was ruined by the crash of the front door slamming open. Posy twisted in Kit’s arms to find Isobel standing in the doorway behind them, her expression thunderstruck.

‘Don’t let anybody leave!’ Isobel’s voice was shrill, her alarm clear.

‘Why? Whatever’s happened?’ Marcus asked.

‘Somebody,’ Isobel said, her blue eyes huge and damp as she looked at her husband, ‘has stolen Lettice Davenport’s jewelled jeweller’s loupe!’

‘What?’ Hugh turned to Isobel, as a murmur went up throughout the crowd, spreading the news. ‘How could you let this happen?’

‘Uh, is that car supposed to be leaving?’ Kit pointed over Posy’s shoulder. She followed his finger with her gaze and saw one of the vintage cars from the display area driving along the path around the West Lawn and the convention stalls towards the main driveway.

She frowned. The figure in the driver’s seat with the victory rolls and the mustard silk scarf was unmistakable. ‘Is that Clementine?’

Where was she going? Why would she leave now, if she was the one blackmailing them? Unless she had the photos with her and was leaving to sell them …

‘Somebody stop her!’ Isobel shrieked, like Posy desperately wanted to do.

Hugh placed his hands on his wife’s arm to lower her accusing finger as she pointed at the car. ‘No, no, it’s okay, dear. Clementine called me. Apparently she’s had a message about some sort of family emergency. She asked if she could borrow a car to get to the station. Of course I said yes.’ He gazed after Clementine as she beeped the ancient horn to part the crowd, and drove the vintage car over the lawns, around the waiting buses, and towards the main gates. ‘I, uh, didn’t imagine she’d take that one, though,’ he added, with a nervous laugh.

‘Well, she didn’t tell me she was going,’ Marcus grumbled. ‘Though she did mention that she had family in the area. I can’t imagine what kind of emergency would take her away from the convention now, after all the hard work she’s put in to making it a success.’

A family emergency. Posy’s heart rate started to return to normal. If that was true, it would explain why Clementine hadn’t met them. She had more important things to worry about than blackmail.

It didn’t stop the threat of those photos getting out hanging over Posy’s head, though.

‘I’m glad she didn’t decide to take Susie.’ Shading her eyes, Caro watched as Clementine passed the Gate House and drove onto the main road. Then she turned back to Isobel, one hand on her hip, one foot pointing out, and Posy could tell that she’d switched into full Dahlia mode. ‘Now, what’s all this about Lettice’s loupe?’