Again there was a silence, then he said, with emotion in his voice, “You’re a grand girl, Georgie. And I don’t know what I want. I want you safe and far from scandal. I don’t want your life blighted. . . .”

“So there will be some scandal,” I said. “But I really don’t see how our lives will be blighted. Our behavior has been beyond reproach. Or at least mine has. Yours might have been questionable at times—” I watched him grin. “There might be gossip, but then people will accept us for who we are. It’s not your fault, Darcy. You are not to blame for anything. Now, let’s forget all this nonsense and get on with proving your father’s innocence.”

He reached across and grabbed my hand. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “I’m really glad.” And the motorcar almost swerved into a ditch as he kissed me.

Chapter 17

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4

SLEUTHING IN KILHENNY.

As we approached Kilhenny Darcy turned to me. “There seems to be activity in the high street. Maybe you should duck down out of sight.”

I did as he suggested, curling up into a little ball. We hadn’t gone far before Darcy muttered, “Damn.”

“What is it?” I asked from beneath the dashboard.

“Mrs. McNalley has spotted me.”

“Mrs. McNalley? The one who works at the castle?”

“She used to be our cook and she stayed on to cook for the new owner. But she also keeps the place tidy for my father and makes meals for him as well. Oh no, she’s heading straight for us.”

I heard him roll down the window and say, “Good morning, Mrs. McNalley. Lovely day, isn’t it?”

“You’re just the person I wanted to see,” she said. “I’ve got these two bags of shopping and my rheumatics are playing up something terrible, so if you don’t mind I’ll just hop in”—she opened the back door of the Rolls—“and let you drive me to the lodge in style.”

I heard her grunting as she hauled herself into the backseat.

Now I wasn’t sure what to do. Stay curled up or reveal my presence? I decided that of course she’d see me and think me very odd for sitting with my head between my knees. So I sat up again, giving her a start. “I’ve found it,” I said, waving a triumphant hand. “Oh, hello. I was looking for my missing earring. I’m Georgie, one of Darcy’s friends from London.”

“Pleased to meet you, miss,” she said. “You’re not coming to stay at the lodge, I take it? I don’t think the accommodation there is suitable for a young lady like yourself these days.”