“I have to stay here?” His face fell.

“Of course. The murderer might return and try to dispose of the body.”

I could tell this didn’t cheer him up, but he managed to say, “Very well, Your Grace. I shouldn’t think our detective inspector will be too long.”

“We should go back to the house,” I said to Edwina. “It won’t do any good if you catch cold as well as everything else, and Irene will need you when she regains consciousness.”

She nodded. “Yes. And I’ll have to inform the family immediately, especially John.”

We trudged up the hill in our sodden clothes with Frederick trying to control the lurching umbrella. Huxstep was waiting for us anxiously.

“I have coffee and brandy waiting for you in the Long Gallery, Your Grace,” he said. “Let me take your coat.”

“I would like the grounds staff to take a tarpaulin down to the police constable and make sure that my son’s body is properly covered until the inspector gets here,” Edwina said as her coat was being removed. “And please inform me the moment the inspector arrives.”

“Very good, Your Grace,” Huxstep said.

Our coats having been removed, we went through to the Long Gallery, where a giant log was burning in the hearth. “I think we both need some brandy in our coffee,” Her Grace said, and poured a generous amount into both cups. I felt the warmth of the alcohol flood through my body, and realized that the cold I had felt was not just from the rain, it was from shock. Huxstep came back to join us. “Your Grace, what are your instructions concerning the servants? I have told Frederick and the groundsmen that they are to say nothing until you inform the whole staff.”

“Thank you, Huxstep. Yes, I shall want to address them all, but first I must see my daughter. Then I’ll talk to the family. Please let the family and guests know that I wish to speak to them, then have all the staff assembled in the servants’ hall in half an hour.”

“May I suggest you assemble the family in the library, Your Grace? It has the right air of solemnity.”

“Spot on as usual, Huxstep.” She nodded with almost a smile. “Please summon everyone to the library.”

“Everyone, Your Grace? Does that include the children?”

“I think it should, since it concerns them,” she said.

“And what about those young men who were the duke’s guests?”

Edwina frowned. “Yes, I suppose they’ll have to know, and then they can go home, thank goodness.”

“And the visitor in the morning room, Your Grace?” Huxstep asked with no trace of expression on his bland face. “Should he be included?”

“I see no reason to include him in family business. His visit here was incidental. Leave him where he is.”