“I see no reason why Her Grace should want to visit a storeroom or an attic,” Huxstep said. “No doubt she’ll appear when she’s ready.”

I was experiencing a growing sense of dread. “Inspector—do you think that something might have happened to her?” I asked. “After all, one member of her family is dead, and an attempt was made on Irene’s life. Could it be that someone has a grudge against the Altringham family?”

“Oh, crikey,” he said. “I suppose I’d better get extra men in to do a thorough search of the grounds. And you can have the staff do a complete search of the house, if you don’t mind, Mr. Huxstep.”

“Of course,” Huxstep said. “This is most worrying.”

We all joined in a search, opening doors to rooms swathed in dust sheets and nervously peering beneath them. But an hour went by and there was no sign of the missing duchess. More policemen arrived, and I saw them searching the grounds with dogs. As I looked out of the window I saw an estate car draw up and out of it stepped the dowager duchess herself. I rushed downstairs and was just in time to see her enter the foyer as Fairbotham came striding down the hall toward her.

“Where the devil have you been?” he snapped. “We’ve had the whole household looking for you.”

“Looking for me?”

“We were worried something had happened to you,” I said.

“My dear, I just drove myself down to the vicarage to talk to the vicar about Cedric’s funeral,” she said. “You know it’s been on my mind. The vicar was most understanding. Most. Such a kind little man.”

“I thought I said nobody was to leave the property,” Fairbotham grumbled.

“The village church is on land formerly belonging to the Altringham family, thus one might say that I have not left our property,” Edwina said frostily. “And you should realize that a member of a family such as ours would never dream of running away.” She glared at him as Huxstep arrived to take off her overcoat and hat. “Now, what was it you wanted, Chief Inspector?”

“I’d like to speak to everyone again, if you could assemble them for me.”

“You’ve discovered what poisoned my son? What was it?”

“I’d prefer to give this information to everyone at once. I’d hate to think I gave anyone a chance to destroy evidence,” he said.

“Really!” Edwina sniffed. “This is all beyond my comprehension, Chief Inspector. Suggesting that a member of this family might behave like a common criminal. Something like this has never happened in the history of the Altringham family.” She turned to address Huxstep, who was still hovering in the background. “You heard the Chief Inspector, Huxstep. Please have everyone assembled again in the Long Gallery.” She shook her head. “This is turning into a farce.”