Edwina looked at him in surprise. In fact, she raised her lorgnette to him. “Such an outburst,” she said. “Hardly seemly for a duke, John. Really, you will have to learn to control your emotions. Of course I’m upset at the loss of my son. I am outraged that somebody chose to murder him. But I am also aware that it is up to us to set a good example, chin up, best foot forward and all that. This household will continue as usual, except for the fact that we will be in mourning for the requisite amount of time. No gramophones to be played. No radio. No dancing. A black suit will be required, John. I should ask Mr. O’Mara to advise you as to which one is suitable.”

“Bugger your mourning,” Jack said. “It’s all for show, isn’t it? Doesn’t anyone here care that a member of your family is dead? And my name is Jack, not John. I’m not your son come back to life. I’m me, and everyone better get used to me the way I am.” Then he strode out of the room.

“Well, really,” Princess Charlotte said, looking at Virginia for confirmation.

“A young man with spirit. I like that,” Virginia said. “Reminds me of a certain cavalry officer in Budapest . . . he had the most impressive—”

“A young man sadly lacking in manners.” Edwina cut her off. “But understandably upset. And given the circumstances, we should overlook it this once.”

“Do you really think he stabbed Cedric?” Charlotte asked.

Edwina sighed. “We cannot rule out that possibility. He has shown himself to be a young man of quick temper. If they met in the grounds and Cedric insulted him again, who is to say he didn’t turn and fling the knife in a moment of anger? Let us hope that fingerprints confirm things one way or the other, and life at Kingsdowne can return to normal.”

Except for Jack, I thought. One way or the other life would never return to normal for him.

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Edwina came across the room to Darcy and me. “Might this be a good time for you to put out those feelers you keep talking about, Mr. O’Mara? We seem to have been left in peace at last, and the sooner a top man from Scotland Yard is on the scene, the better.”

“I don’t think it would be wise for me to attempt to telephone right now, Your Grace,” Darcy said. “If the police have taken over your son’s study with a telephone extension in it, they will be able to listen in on any call that we make.”

“Surely they wouldn’t have the audacity . . .” Edwina began.

Darcy smiled. “They are conducting a murder investigation. It’s their job to monitor everything we do. We are all suspects, Your Grace. Surely you realize that.”