Chapter One – The Wedding at Ashcombe Manor

James Fletcher and Sophie Bennett had been looking forward to their wedding for almost a year. They had both worked at Ashcombe Manor, a substantial country property on the outskirts of Chipping Campden, where Richard Ashcombe lived with his wife Victoria. James managed the estate's grounds, maintenance and staff, while Sophie organised private functions, weddings and corporate gatherings for the wealthy visitors who regularly rented the property. Their relationship had developed gradually, beginning with a friendship formed during long working days and eventually becoming something neither wished to keep secret. They were not particularly wealthy, but they had saved carefully, and their forthcoming marriage represented the beginning of a life they intended to build together.

Richard Ashcombe had initially appeared delighted by their engagement. He had offered them the use of the manor's smaller reception suite for their wedding celebrations and had even suggested that he would contribute towards the catering. James had been grateful, although he was sufficiently familiar with Richard's temperament to recognise that generosity from his employer was rarely entirely without conditions. Richard had inherited the estate from his father, along with several rental properties and a considerable investment portfolio. He enjoyed the admiration that his wealth attracted and was accustomed to finding that most people were reluctant to challenge him. His marriage to Victoria had become increasingly strained, however, and he had recently begun paying an uncomfortable amount of attention to Sophie.

It was Margaret Collins, the housekeeper, who first made James aware that something was wrong. She had overheard Richard discussing Sophie's wedding arrangements with his personal assistant and had noticed that the proprietor seemed unusually interested in ensuring that Sophie remained at the manor after working hours. Richard had also begun finding reasons to summon her to his private office, ostensibly to discuss events and business matters that could easily have been dealt with by email. Margaret had seen similar behaviour before and suspected that Richard intended to exploit his position. When she eventually explained her concerns to James, he initially dismissed them as speculation, although he could not ignore the discomfort that followed.

The situation became clearer when Richard privately approached Sophie. He suggested that her wedding plans might be premature and hinted that he could offer her a considerably more comfortable future if she reconsidered her relationship with James. He spoke of a management position, a generous salary and opportunities that would be difficult for someone of her background to obtain elsewhere. Sophie understood the implication and rejected his advances, but she was troubled by the possibility that refusing him might jeopardise James's employment. Richard, meanwhile, had convinced himself that his wealth and influence made him irresistible, and he was not accustomed to accepting rejection.

At home, Victoria Ashcombe had begun to suspect that her husband was once again pursuing another woman. Their marriage had been unhappy for several years, although they continued to present a respectable image at charity dinners, local fundraisers and social gatherings. Victoria had met Oliver Price, Richard's young personal assistant, through the daily running of the household. Oliver was attentive and considerate, and his evident admiration had gradually become a source of comfort to her. She was aware that his feelings were developing beyond professional respect, but she had not encouraged him openly. Nevertheless, she found herself looking forward to their conversations and increasingly resented Richard's absence and indifference.

James decided that he needed to confront Richard, but Sophie persuaded him to exercise caution until they had secured their wedding arrangements and their financial position. Richard was, after all, his employer, and James knew that losing his job could leave them in a difficult position. Their plans were further complicated when Margaret announced that she intended to marry James herself. She produced an old financial agreement which showed that James had borrowed money from her some years earlier, and which contained a clause allowing her to claim marriage as repayment if the debt remained outstanding. James was astonished, particularly because he had always believed that the money had been a straightforward loan. Margaret, however, seemed entirely serious, and the matter threatened to derail the wedding before it had even begun.