“It might come to me if I could have time to visit the place again with you.”

“Chief Inspector Fairbotham did say that we were free to go about our business, didn’t he? And that should include taking a stroll in the grounds. Although I’m not sure I like the way you’re so eager to be involved in yet another crime investigation.”

“Darcy, you spent several weeks on a ship with Jack. Do you think he’s capable of such a murder?”

“Capable? Absolutely. But as to whether he actually did it—I agree with you. He’s not at all stupid. He’d never leave his knife sticking out of someone’s back. Come on, then. Let’s slip outside while nobody is looking.”

I glanced around the room, and started in surprise when I saw that Sissy was still sitting on the far side of the fireplace. I hurried over to her. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t notice you were still there. Everyone has neglected you.”

“It’s all right. I’m used to it by now,” she said, attempting a brave, little smile. “Once one is a cripple, one becomes invisible. People talk over my head as if I’m not there.”

“Can I push your chair into the dining room for you?” Darcy asked.

“That would be lovely.” She gave him a sweet smile. “I rarely have the chance to eat with the rest of the family because it’s too much trouble to have me carried downstairs.”

“Now that your cousin is here, I’m sure he’ll oblige,” I said, and watched her blush.

Then she reached out and touched my sleeve. “Georgie, he can’t have done it, can he? Jack simply couldn’t have killed Uncle Cedric.”

“I hope not,” I said, “but I’ve been involved in murders before, and it’s not always easy to spot a murderer. Even the nicest people kill if they are pushed far enough, and we do know that Jack has a quick temper.”

“But he was up in my room by eight thirty at the latest, and he didn’t seem at all worried. Surely someone who has just committed murder minutes before couldn’t sit and chat normally without giving something away.”

“You wouldn’t think so, would you?” I said.

Darcy had maneuvered the chair away from its niche and started to push it down the room toward the foyer.

“So you really didn’t see Jack outside this morning, or were you lying to try to spare him?” I asked as I fell into step beside her.

“I really didn’t.” She looked up at me earnestly, shaking her head.

“I suppose it was too early for you to be sitting at your window.”