When there was a break in the discussion of embellishments, I said, “It has been such a pleasure to meet you, Dominick.” I was using my let’s wrap it up voice and Viv frowned at me. I ignored her.

“I’ll go ready the horses,” Andre said. He rose from his seat and held out his hand to Dominick. “Thank you for your hospitality. It’s been a treat.”

“My pleasure,” Dominick said. “Do come again.”

Sensing that he and Viv wanted to chat just a little bit longer, I said, “I’ll help you, Andre.” Then I turned to Dominick and echoed Andre’s sentiments, shook his hand and said, “If you’re ever in London, please come visit us in Notting Hill.”

He smiled and his eyes twinkled. “I might just do that.”

Andre led me out to the backyard, which smelled fragrantly horsey.

“What do you make of that?” Andre asked.

I stood stroking Mabel’s nose and neck, hoping to win her over before we rode home, while Andre readied the saddles and bridles.

“Dominick the person? Or what Dominick had to say about the McKenna bride and her curse?”

“The curse, obviously the curse,” he said. He sounded overwrought.

“Well, I don’t believe in the curse,” I said. I don’t think I was imagining the way that Andre’s shoulders dropped in relief. “But he might not have been wrong about Dooney wanting out of the marriage.”

Andre’s eyebrows lifted. “Go on.”

“I just can’t help noticing the similarities,” I said. “Piper was marrying into an old family, a branch of the nobility, and in return, Dooney was saving the Portis family reputation with a huge infusion of cash.”

“Much like Brigit was to marry the baron to give her father an ally in the south and sons for the baron’s legacy,” Andre said.

“In a sense, both Brigit McKenna and Dooney Portis were pawns. It’s weird, right?” I asked.

“Definitely, uncomfortably similar,” he said. He scooped up the reins of the two horses and handed me Mabel’s. “Come on, time to go back before Detective Inspector Stewart notices we’re gone.”

Viv met us in front of the house and, with a fond wave to Dominick, who stood in his open doorway, we headed out.

As much as I was enjoying the outing with Viv and Andre, I was dreading how sore I would be after the ride back. Thankfully, the sound of the horses’ hooves on the cobblestones and the dreamy spring day in the English countryside took my mind off my aches. I pondered the castle as we slipped back onto the path around the meadow and headed toward it.