The reading went on for several minutes. Milly’s father had left a request to pay any funeral expenses incurred and to settle any outstanding debts first. He also stipulated that he wished to annul his previous will, which he had written in 1919.

‘And now for the bequests,’ Mr May said, and the room settled into an air of quiet anticipation.

‘Item: To my daughter Millicent, I leave Muntham Court, along with all furniture and fixtures, its grounds and gardens. The property will be held in trust until she is twenty-one years of age. I also bequeath her an annual annuity of fifty pounds.’

There was a shocked gasp from Agatha. Mr May paused for a moment and looked over the top of his glasses as she pressed her handkerchief to her mouth.

‘Item,’ he continued, ‘I bequeath Lena Buckley the cottage in the grounds of Muntham Court and an annual annuity of fifty pounds.’

Agatha turned to glare at both girls.

‘Item,’ Mr May began again quickly as he anticipated trouble brewing, ‘I bequeath my wife Agatha and Pearl Shepherd an annual annuity of fifty pounds between them. If I die before Millicent is twenty-one years of age,’ Mr May looked up over the top of his glasses again before adding, ‘which of course he did, they are to be allowed to reside in Muntham Court until Millicent Shepherd reaches the age of twenty-one. Messrs May, May and Prior can discontinue this agreement without penalty if and whenever my wife should so desire before Millicent reaches twenty-one years of age.

‘My assets, properties and monies, once my debts and bequests are paid, I bequeath to the following charities . . .’

Mr May droned on with what seemed like an endless list of those who were to get smaller bequests. When it came to the house staff, Mrs Cunningham was to have twenty-five pounds a year, Bodkin and Dixon were bequeathed twenty pounds a year and ‘the maid who is currently serving the house’, which was Elsie of course, was to have a lump sum of five pounds. Considering the girl only earned ninepence an hour, it was a very generous amount, so much so that – when she heard the news – Elsie fainted clean away and the proceedings had to stop for a while until she had been revived and given water and a seat by the open window.

‘Just a minute,’ Agatha interposed haughtily as Mr May resumed the reading of the will, ‘what is the date on that document? My husband was very ill before he died. I cannot believe he was of sound mind or understood what he was doing when he wrote it. He was extremely upset.’

Mr May turned to the last page of the document. ‘It is signed, In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day of August.’ He paused because today was 30 September.

Agatha looked around the room with a triumphant sneer on her face.

Taking a new breath, Mr May began again. ‘In the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and thirty.’ And looking directly at Agatha he added, ‘In other words, madam, your husband wrote this will seven years ago.’

There was a murmur in the room and Agatha’s nostrils flared as she pursed her lips.

Pearl, who had been waiting patiently to hear what her inheritance would be, suddenly jumped up. ‘But what about me?’ she said tetchily. ‘I was his daughter too. Didn’t he leave anything to me?’

‘As I said, Miss Shepherd,’ Mr May repeated, ‘under the terms of the will, you and your mother will receive the sum of fifty pounds annually between you.’

‘But that means I get the same as the cook!’ Pearl cried.

‘I shall hear no more of this,’ Agatha snapped as she rose to her feet.

‘Before you go, Mrs Shepherd,’ Mr May said in a raised voice. ‘Mr Shepherd also left this envelope to be opened on the day his will was read.’

Recognising the envelope she’d seen Charles hiding in the drawer of his desk on the day of Lady Verity’s party, Agatha lowered herself back into her chair.

As soon as he’d finished the formal reading of Charles’s will, Mr May opened the other envelope. It was marked ‘Last Will and Testament’ but with the wording crossed out.

‘How did you get that?’ Agatha demanded. ‘I saw Charles with that envelope the day he went to hospital. Who gave it to you?’

The room went very quiet, and Agatha glanced around, clearly embarrassed. It was obvious by the tone of her voice that she had searched for it, and the same thought was going through every head in the room – had she wanted to destroy it?

‘It was me,’ said a voice at the back of the room. ‘Dr Jennings.’

‘Then you should have given it to me,’ Agatha said cuttingly.

‘It was the master himself who asked Dr Jennings to fetch it for him, madam,’ said Mrs Cunningham. ‘I saw him do it.’

Agatha’s face was red.

When Mr May opened the envelope, it contained four separate letters: one for Agatha, one for Pearl, another for Milly and the last one for Lena. There was also one piece of paper marked with Agatha’s name. ‘There is no need to read them here,’ said Mr May. ‘I received instruction that they are private to each of you.’ After distributing the letters and the piece of paper, he began to pack up his papers and people started to drift from the room.

‘This is preposterous,’ Agatha said coldly as she turned to Milly and Lena. ‘I shall of course contest this will. It’s obvious that you both manipulated that man to your own advantage.’ She glanced down at the slip of paper and sneered.

As Agatha stood to leave, the paper fluttered to the floor. She didn’t appear to notice. ‘Expect to hear from my solicitors,’ she snapped.

Alone in the room, Milly and Lena looked at each other. Milly picked up the note with her mother’s name and placed it on the table, but not before noticing what was written there.

Silence is golden. I remembered my promise.

The two girls looked at each other with a frown. ‘What on earth does that mean?’

Lena shrugged. ‘Haven’t a clue. I never expected him to do that,’ she whispered as Milly sat back down.

‘Me neither.’

Both girls fingered their sealed envelopes, but neither of them opened them. A few minutes later, Lena rose to her feet.

‘Are you all right?’ she said. ‘You look . . . very pale.’

‘My mother has thrown me out,’ said Milly. ‘My suitcase is in the hall but I have nowhere to go.’

Lena squeezed her hands.

‘Do you think Nan would let me sleep on her sofa?’ Milly asked, adding quickly, ‘It’s just for one night.’

‘Of course she will.’ Lena shook her head sadly. ‘It seems very unfair,’ she said, looking around the room, ‘when all this will be yours one day.’

‘It might not happen,’ said Milly. ‘You heard her. Believe me, she is going to fight tooth and nail to get that will annulled. My mother is a very determined woman.’

They were both silent.

‘You could use the cottage,’ Lena suddenly said.

Milly frowned.

‘There was no age clause on my inheritance.’

‘Could I?’ said Milly, her eyes filling with tears.

Lena gave her a sympathetic smile. Milly blew her nose.

‘In fact, we could both go there.’

‘What, now?’