“Ah, there you are,” Edwina said. “We wondered where you had got to. And Elisabeth, dear. How nice to see you for a change. Do join us. Frederick, move away one of the chairs to make room for Miss Elisabeth.”

We pushed Sissy into place, and took seats lower down the table.

“I must apologize for the schoolroom nature of the meal,” Edwina said. “Poor Cook was quite flustered about not having enough time, so I reassured her that we’d make do.”

“Making do” apparently consisted of a large meat pie, cauliflower, cheese and mashed potatoes. Compared with my usual fare it was a feast, and I helped myself generously.

“You didn’t encounter John—I mean, Jack—in your travels, did you?” Edwina asked. “I’m concerned about him. I hope he won’t do anything foolish like try to run away. He wasn’t brought up to duty and honor as we were.”

“I’m afraid we haven’t seen him,” I said.

Edwina summoned Frederick to her side. “Go and ask Mr. Huxstep to look for His Grace and cordially invite him to join us at luncheon,” she said.

We ate in near silence then Huxstep himself came into the dining room. “Your Grace, I’m afraid the young duke is nowhere to be found. And his overcoat is missing.”

“Oh, no.” Edwina put her hand to her throat. “What shall we do?”

“Georgiana and I will go in search of him, if you wish,” Darcy said. “I have a motor. If he’s trying to catch a train, we may be in time to intercept him.”

“I’d be most grateful, Mr. O’Mara. He may listen to you.”

Darcy nodded to me, and we got up from the table. Darcy’s sports car was housed in one of the stables. As soon as we drove it out, I saw why Belinda had complained. Spatters of rain came in through the leaky rag top.

“Not the most pleasant ride, I’m afraid,” Darcy said. “God, I hope we catch him before Fairbotham realizes he’s missing. Doesn’t Jack realize how bad this will look for him?”

“We have to consider that he may have done it, however much we want him to be innocent,” I said.

We drove down the driveway, peering to left and right through the rain-spattered windscreen. When we reached the road, Darcy turned away from the village. “Railway station first,” he said, and followed the railway line until we came to a station. Both platforms were deserted, and we were told that there hadn’t been a train for a half hour.

“He probably couldn’t have got to the station in time for that train,” I said. “I wonder if buses go from the village.”