He then struck a pose like a warrior asana in yoga. I did not want to do this to my poor body but he stared at me expectantly.

I sighed and assumed the posture. He coached me to breathe through it and then we switched sides. He then had me do a forward bend. Not going to lie, it hurt like a beast at first but as I breathed, I felt the muscles slowly give and relax.

“Now go take a hot bath,” he said when I straightened up. “You’ll be right as rain.”

I took a few tentative steps. The screaming pain had lessened to a dull aching throb.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Don’t mention it.” He retrieved his coat from Viv and said, “Now why did the three of you go into town to talk to Dominick Falco?”

Viv blinked in surprise. “Did you have us followed?”

“Didn’t need to,” he said. “One of the constables was in the village and recognized you. He called me and let me know you had left the castle grounds despite my very clear instructions that no one was to leave.”

I felt as if the three of us had been called to the principal’s office. I was the people person in the group, so I knew it was up to me to explain.

“This is my fault, Detective,” I said. Both Viv and Andre started to protest but I held up my hand to stop them. “I’m sure you’re aware that Dominick Falco is a hatmaker, a quite famous one in fact.”

“I am,” he agreed.

“And my cousin is a hatmaker,” I said. “So, obviously, when we knew we were coming to Sussex for the wedding, I promised Viv that she could meet Dominick Falco. I’m sorry we left the grounds, and I understand that we shouldn’t have, but since we’re not suspects . . .”

My voice trailed off. I didn’t feel like I needed to hammer home the point that we were just collateral damage and really should be released because obviously none of us had a reason to murder Dooney.

“Who said you’re not suspects? Did I say that? Did one of the constables say that?” Detective Stewart asked. He lifted one eyebrow higher than the other.

“No, but clearly, we’re not. We’re just two hatmakers and a photographer,” I said. I smiled at him. He didn’t return it. I felt my smile slip.

“While I appreciate that you, Ms. Parker, do not have any prior connection to Dooney Portis, the same can’t be said of your friends,” he said. “And given the way this case has gone, that makes them suspects.”

Detective Stewart turned and began to stride to the castle, clearly expecting us to keep up. I exchanged a glance with Viv and Andre and the three of us picked up our pace.