“Oh, well, you know what I mean. Philip practically lives here now, and it will be his house someday. And it is a regular oasis with all the new construction in town. I wonder if he plans to turn the whole five hundred acres into gardens. Oh, look, here he is now, and that must be his intended.”

There was a surge to greet the newcomers. Veronica cried triumphantly, “There you are, my dear boy. We’re all waiting for you to make your announcement.”

Philip’s blush covered his face and ran up into his thinning sandy hair. “Oh dear, it s-s-sounds as if you already have.”

Regan remembered that Philip had a slight stammer when he became flustered. There was no sign of nervousness in the woman at his side. Regan’s immediate impression of Val Twyler was that she had a beige look: sandy hair almost the same color as Philip’s, a sallow complexion and pale brown eyes. Her features were sharp, her body taut and angular. She was wearing a tan gabardine skirt, a white long-sleeved blouse and low-heeled brown shoes. Her smile as she returned Veronica’s greeting revealed large strong teeth that gave a horsey look to her narrow face, but when Regan was introduced to her, Val Twyler seemed genuinely warm.

“Philip and Veronica have introduced me to all your mother’s books. I’ve enjoyed them.”

Philip hugged Regan and Kit. “Saint Polycarp’s hasn’t been the same since you two passed through here.”

They congratulated him on his engagement.

“Don’t quite know what kind of husband material I am,” he said, laughing nervously, “but Val’s a dear.”

The maid began moving through the room carrying a tray with the canapés. Her best customer was Penelope Atwater.

“No wonder she gets heartburn,” Regan observed to Kit. “She’s gobbling up those repulsive hors d’oeuvres smeared with that vile-looking pâté. Well, maybe if she eats them all, they won’t notice that nobody else is going back for seconds.”

The vans were picking them up at eight o’clock to take them back to St. Polycarp’s for dinner. At ten of eight they began to say good-bye to their hosts. The phone rang as Regan was bidding bon voyage to the seafaring travellers, praying that they would not somehow learn that her mother was on board.

The maid summoned Philip. “I asked if you couldn’t ring back in a few minutes, but they said it’s very important.”

A moment later, when Philip returned to the drawing room, his face was drained of color. He said, “I’m afraid there’s been a pr-pr-problem. The police superintendent is on his way over. He must speak to all of you.”

At the chorus of questions, Philip said quietly, “You were all in her class, you see.” Perspiration gathered on his forehead. Regan saw Val slip her hand into his and pat his arm.