He followed her inside and she limped across the room without the aid of her walking stick. James felt as sorry for her as he did for Rachel’s immediate family. By the sounds of it, the old lady had played a big part in all their lives for some years.

Libby was seated on one of the sofas, warming her hands around a mug of what looked like black coffee. She was now wearing a thick, baggy sweater and her long, dark hair was tied in a knot at the nape of her neck. She hadn’t yet removed her make-up and rivers of mascara ran down her cheeks from bloodshot eyes.

Claire planted herself next to Libby and placed an arm around her shoulders.

‘Support and counselling can be made available to you, Mrs Murphy,’ James said, sitting opposite them. ‘And we’ll arrange for you to leave the hotel whenever you’re ready to.’

Libby sipped her coffee, then licked her lips. ‘I won’t need counselling, Inspector. And Greg will be back soon and I’ll let him decide when the time is right to go home. He needs to be on hand to help his staff and the guests to get through this.’

‘Of course, I understand,’ James said. ‘I’ve actually come here to let you know that I’m about to go to your parents’ home so that I can look around your sister’s room. With luck, we’ll find something there that will lead us to Rachel’s Italian boyfriend who we’re very keen to talk to. I’ll be inviting your parents to go with me and if they decide to, then they might want to see you before they leave here.’

Her bottom lip quivered and tears welled up in her eyes.

‘Claire just rang Dad on my behalf to tell him I think we need some time apart,’ she said. ‘My mother’s head is all over the place and I couldn’t bear it if she shouted at me again. It really hurts that she believes I’m to blame for what’s happened.’

‘I’m sure she doesn’t think that,’ James said. ‘Like everyone else, she’s in a state of shock and that can make people say things they don’t mean.’

‘I’m well aware of that and it’s why it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to see her any time soon. Either one of us might say something that will make things very much worse than they already are.’

‘Fraser was upset but he said he understood,’ Claire broke in. ‘And I told him that I’ll be staying with Libby until Greg takes her home.’

James decided not to tell her that according to Fraser the family had been bitterly opposed to the wedding. He felt it would serve only to make Libby even more upset. He had no choice but to mention the best man, though.

‘One of your female guests is claiming that Mr Slade behaved inappropriately towards her in the garden during the reception,’ he said. ‘I’ve spoken to Mr Slade and he says she isn’t telling the truth and that she was the one who came on to him and he turned her down. I thought you ought to know about it from me because it does mean we’ll have to look into it and find out as much as we can about both parties, particularly Mr Slade.’