And she threw her arms around his neck and was kissing him in a most unsisterly manner. I felt a stab of jealousy and had to force myself to stay put and not leap out shouting, “He’s mine. Hands off.”

“It was kind of you to come, but there’s really nothing you can do to help me, Zou Zou.” Darcy’s voice was unsteady. She was still draped around his neck, her body pressed against his.

“But of course there is. I was just speaking to my dear pal Sir Roderick Altringham. Do you know him? He’s a QC, you can’t do any better than that. And he’d do anything for me.”

“Zou Zou, an English QC is of no use to us here. We’re in Ireland. Different legal system. Different judges.”

“I am aware of that, darling. I’m not a complete idiot.” She stroked his cheek. “But Roddy knows everybody who is anybody. He says he’ll choose the very best barrister that Ireland has to offer for your father.”

“Zou Zou, again it’s kind of you, but I have to point out that we can’t afford to pay the very best barrister in Ireland. My father is bankrupt. That’s the whole reason he had to sell the estate in the beginning.”

“Silly, silly.” She patted his cheek now. “I’m happy to pay, of course. Anything to take that worried frown from your darling face and make you smile again. I might even know the odd Irish judge or two if I go through my little black book. . . . Wouldn’t that be helpful?”

Darcy gave a nervous chuckle. “And I certainly can’t allow you to blackmail a judge for me.”

“What a nasty word.” The princess released Darcy from her octopus-like grip. “I would merely suggest that they do a favor for an old friend. Someone has to help you, dear boy. Your dear little lady friend was quite distraught when she came to visit me.”

I could see that Darcy had just remembered I was sitting in the Rolls. I suppose people like Princess Zamanska have that effect on men.

“My dear little lady friend is actually in the motorcar now.”

“She is? She came to you after all? I thought you had forbidden her to come.”

“I had,” Darcy said with the hint of a bitter smile. “But she didn’t listen.”

“Good for her. She has spunk. I like that.”

“We’ve been interviewing people who might have seen something,” Darcy said, as they started to walk across the field. “Come and say hello.”

“Interviewing people? Don’t the police do that over here?”

“Not very well, it would seem. They are convinced my father is guilty and not looking beyond him.”