Posy darted across the room, before realising that her sharp, speedy movements would draw more attention to her, not less. She slowed, taking one of those deep, mindful breaths her yoga teacher insisted on. She knew almost everyone in the room, she realised, by sight if not by name. They’d been around her all day – on the tour, at the panel, at lunch or coffee. Whoever was behind this, she knew them now. And that made it scarier.

Posy paused in the doorway, surveying the situation beyond. Most guests had stayed in the library with the pre-dinner drinks, so Marcus and Caro were alone, deep in conversation. About blackmail, perhaps?

Marcus spotted her first. ‘Ah, Posy! Don’t you look lovely?’

Caro turned to face her too. With her dark hair pinned up in perfect waves, and her gold and ruby-red evening dress clinging to her curves, Caro was every inch Dahlia again, down to the fan in her hand that she snapped closed as she saw Posy.

‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.’ Posy started to back away, but Marcus stopped her.

‘No, no, not at all! Come and join us. Can I get you a drink?’

‘Not for me, thank you,’ Posy replied. ‘I was just wondering if you’d heard from Clementine yet. I was supposed to, well, talk to her about something this afternoon.’

‘Yes, she left me a message, blasted girl.’ He fished his phone out of his pocket and checked the screen. Of course he wasn’t bound by the no phone rule. ‘Listen to this!’

He tapped the screen a couple of times, and suddenly Clementine’s Scottish accent filled the room.

‘Hi Marcus. So sorry I had to run. Bit of a family emergency, you see. I tried to find you. I’ll come back as soon as I can and explain everything properly. Sorry again.’

‘Can you believe it?’ Marcus slipped the phone back into his pocket. ‘And I can tell you now, Isobel is not pleased. Once we’d finished searching bags for the missing jeweller’s loupe, she realised that one less person at dinner was going to mess up all her hard work on the seating plans, and got mad all over again.’ He sighed. ‘She was still reworking them when I came down for dinner. I suppose someone better go and check on her.’

‘And that person should be you.’ Caro gave him a little push towards the door. ‘Come on, I’ll protect you.’

Posy turned to watch them leave, and saw Libby backing away from the doorway, almost colliding with Rosalind. Her face was pale and troubled. Posy was about to follow her and ask if everything was okay after her stunt at the panel, when Kit slipped in through the doorway and handed her a glass of champagne.

‘There you are. I need you to save me from the couple in tweed. I think they’re trying to collect me or something.’