Grace had never followed anyone before, but she’d seen it done on the television. It seemed to involve hopping in and out of doorways and adopting a deep fascination for window displays if there were any danger of being spotted. In fact, Grace noted ironically, Charles would be much better at that kind of thing than she was. However, no sneaking about seemed necessary. Leah was showing no interest in anything around her, let alone being aware of a well-dressed middle-aged woman following twenty yards or so behind her. They walked for around fifteen minutes, along streets filled with houses like the one she had just left. Each had the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree burning brightly inside. It broke Grace’s heart that Leah would have no parents to share Christmas with. Maybe she could invite Leah to spend the day with them at the Hall, Grace thought, but in her heart she knew that that could never happen. If Leah came for Christmas, then Hector and Clio would want to know why their mother had invited a stranger to that most important of family days and the whole ghastly story would come out. Not to mention how Charles would react. No, Grace could not offer Leah any help of that sort.

They reached the little town centre, and Grace wondered whether there was a purpose to Leah’s trip. Maybe she would just buy what she needed and then walk home without any chance for Grace to talk to her.

At the top of the road stood a church. It was built in a warm caramel-coloured stone with a tiny round turret rather than a tower and, despite its proximity to the town centre, it stood in a large green space. A graveyard, thought Grace. Is that why we’re here, to visit Melissa’s grave? She shuddered at the thought, but it would make perfect sense. Melissa had only been dead two weeks. The funeral must have been very recent.

But instead of turning towards the graveyard, Leah made for the open church door, slipping quietly inside. Grace hesitated for a moment and then followed her.

Inside, the church was dark and the smell of burnt matches and furniture polish hung in the chilly air. Greenery festooned the windowsills and Grace could also detect the clean scent of pine needles. A huge tree, clearly decorated by children with handmade paper decorations, stood at the front.

Leah walked towards the altar and then sat on a pew about halfway down the aisle. There was no one else around. Grace waited to see if a vicar would appear, but no one did. Leah was just sitting there, staring straight in front of her, apparently oblivious to her surroundings. Was this the perfect opportunity to approach her? Grace wasn’t sure, but she was here now, and she hadn’t had a better idea. She followed Leah up the aisle.