Page 76 of Be More Octopus

As Isabella reached the driver's door, she turned around. 'You're welcome to him. Our marriage was a nightmare from day one. I warn you; he won't care about you once he's got a ring on your finger. All he cares about are ships, books and Clara bloody Benetti.'

Clara? Em didn't respond. She'd have to read the dossier Lucy had sent her on Clara after all. In the meantime, she needed to warn Jack about Isabella. Grabbing her phone from her back pocket, she went indoors to text him.

Red alert. Isabella is parked in the courtyard waiting for you.

Jack rang back almost immediately. 'I was expecting another solicitor's letter, not a royal visit.'

'She's refusing to leave until she's seen you.'

Jack sighed. 'Lucky me. I'm halfway up the hill. I'll be 10 minutes. It will give me time to get my thoughts together. '

'See you soon. Let me know if you need moral support.'

Nancy appeared in the kitchen just as Em ended the call. 'Moral support?'

'Isabella is outside, demanding to see Jack.'

'Is she indeed? How convenient. I was going to visit her in London next week. She's saved me a trip.' Nancy looked genuinely delighted. 'Olivia and I were only discussing it this morning. And here she is on my doorstep. The universe works in mysterious ways.'

Nancy headed over to the desk by the Aga. 'Would you mind telling her to come in, please? Put her in the drawing room while I find my phone. And then tell Jack not to talk to her until I've spoken to him.'

Nancy was up to something. Em went back outside.

Isabella was reluctant to go indoors. 'I know Jack is stopping in one of the cottages. Why do I need to come into the house?'

'I don't know. But it's the only way you'll be able to see him,' said Em.

She showed Isabella into the hallway. 'Please make yourself at home in here,' she said, opening the double doors into the drawing room.

Once Isabella had settled on a sofa, Em retreated to the safety of the kitchen and phoned Jack again to update him on Nancy's plan.

'What's she up to?'

'I've got no idea, but she's quite gleeful about it. I get the impression she's been plotting something with your mother.'

A few minutes later, Jack stuck his head around the back door. 'Where's my adoring wife?' he whispered.

'I don't know about the adoring one,' Em said, 'but the vindictive one is in the drawing room. Nancy is in her study. I've shut the drawing room doors. You should be able to get to the study without alerting her ladyship.'

'Wish me luck.' Jack headed into the hallway.

The door to Nancy's study clicked shut. A few minutes later, Em heard Jack's footsteps crossing the hallway to the drawing room.

She heard Isabella's raised voice but couldn't make out what she was saying. She couldn't hear Jack at all.

Nancy walked into the kitchen, looking triumphant.

'What did you do?' Em asked.

'London can be a small world sometimes. Olivia heard a rumour that Isabella was having an affair with her personal trainer, Angelo. So Olivia employed Angelo to train her. She's had an exhausting few weeks trying to keep up, poor soul. She's never needed to work out before.'

'Why did she do that?'

'We needed evidence of Isabella's infidelity to give to Jack.'

Em was baffled.

'Olivia watched Angelo type in the code for unlocking his phone a few times, memorised it, and when he left it unattended while he went to get some fitness equipment out of his car, she had a look at what was on there. She slipped the lock on the front door to give herself plenty of time, so Angelo had to ring the bell to get back in the house. Then she went through his camera roll and found some compromising photos of Isabella.'