Jack blushed bright red. “I can explain that,” he said. “You see, I popped down to the pub in the village for a quick one.”

“The public house in the village?” Edwina actually fanned herself with a copy of The Tattler. “You went to a common, ordinary public house? You, a duke?”

“Well, I felt like some common, ordinary beer,” Jack said defiantly. “I’ve been cooped up here too long. I feel like a bloody chook in a pen.”

“And when was this, sir?”

“About one, I suppose,” Jack said. “I can’t tell you exactly.”

“We can verify that he came up that path around two o’clock,” Darcy said. “And told us he had been to the pub.”

“I see,” the chief inspector said. He was still staring at Jack. “Rather convenient, wouldn’t you say?”

“What do you mean?” Jack demanded.

“Meaning that if we found your distinctive footprints on that path, you’d have a good excuse for their being there—one that had nothing to do with the murder.”

“That’s bloody rubbish,” Jack said, standing up belligerently.

“Watch it, young man.” Fairbotham wagged a finger in Jack’s face. “I’m not arresting you right now, but I’m placing a police guard on the door, and you’re not leaving this place again. Do I make myself clear?” When Jack didn’t answer, he looked around at the rest of us. “And the same goes for all of you. I’ve given permission for Mr. O’Mara and Lady Georgiana to be away tomorrow, but that’s it. Nobody else is to go anywhere. Is that clear?”

Nobody spoke.

“Well, I’m clearing off for the night now but I’ll be back bright and early in the morning,” Fairbotham said. And off he went, his large boots clattering along the hallway.

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

We went up to change for dinner. “Maybe you should go and help Miss Warburton-Stoke,” I said to Queenie. “She hasn’t brought a maid with her. But please do be careful.”

“Don’t worry, miss. I’ll be as gentle as a lamb.”

“Lambs gambol around and knock things over,” I said. “Luckily, there are no candles so you can’t set her on fire.”

“That was only once I set someone on fire,” Queenie said peevishly. “It ain’t fair to keep reminding me.”

Then she went off with her nose in the air, looking like a respectable lady’s maid.