Sadie
For a long, breath-holding moment, no one says a word. Nina stares down at Everett, and Everett gazes back at her with mounting horror.
“It’s not true, Dad,” Zach says. “Is it?”
Two uniformed officers burst into the drawing room, firing questions at the guests, and more than one trembling hand rises to point directly at Nina. The officers converge on her, and they take her to one side to talk.
“It wasn’t like that.” Beth pulls a face. “I mean, okay, those bits weren’t good, but apart from that—most of the time—it was a pretty wonderful place to live . . .”
Sadie remains unconvinced. “But you said they made you pretend to be Nina—why?”
Beth answers slowly. “It was to do with the house. Leonora didn’t want to lose the house.”
“Well, that turned out well.” Sadie mulls it over, frowning. “Do you think they dreamed this up together, then, Nina and Leonora?”
For a long moment, Beth doesn’t reply. They both watch as Nina repeatedly shakes her head in response to the police officers’ questions, and Sadie thinks perhaps Beth doesn’t think it’s fair to speculate.
But eventually, Beth sighs. “I just can’t imagine Leonora agreeing to anything that would damage this house.”
Sadie catches hold of Beth’s hand. “We’re going to be okay, Mum, aren’t we?” She searches Beth’s gaze, feeling like a child again, desperate for her mother’s reassurance. “Aren’t we?”
“Oh, Sadie.” Beth draws her into her arms, and she holds her tight. “Of course we are. We’ve got each other, haven’t we? We’re definitely going to be okay.”