“Because one never knows everything about people. Jack might decide to take his money and go back to Australia and convert this house into a hotel.”

“Surely not. Jack’s a good fellow,” Nick said.

“One never knows,” I repeated.

“Do you think there are elevenses in the morning room or the Long Gallery?” Nick asked, his mind turning to more important matters for eleven-year-old boys.

“You will tell us when the police arrive, won’t you, Georgiana?” Kat said. “Me and Nick want to follow them around and observe their every move. We might want to be detectives when we grow up.”

“I don’t think the police will take too kindly to being followed by you,” I said, smiling at her eager face. “If I were you . . .”

This was interrupted by Nick’s call. “Kat, come in here and see. Sandwiches, cakes, the lot!”

And she ran after him. How simple life was for children, I thought.

I had just reached the foyer and was debating whether to follow the children in the direction of food in the Long Gallery or to do the more charitable thing and join poor Mr. Smedley in the morning room when there was a loud rap on the front door. The police had got here really quickly, which was good. The way the rain was coming down, any kind of clue from the crime scene would soon be washed away. I lingered in the hallway, curious to see the inspector who was going to take over the case, as Huxstep came hurrying from the rear of the house, brushing down an invisible fleck from his black coat.

I watched him open the door and start in surprise. “Oh, good morning, sir. We had no idea that you were coming. You’ve caught us off guard. Please do come in. Most inclement weather for a drive, isn’t it?”

Then the door opened wider and into the hall came Darcy, followed by an elegant creature hidden under a black, hooded cape. Huxstep shut the door behind them.

“I will inform Their Graces that you are here,” he said and hurried off again.

I was about to go to Darcy, then hesitated at the thought that he’d brought a woman with him—an elegant woman at that. Who on earth could she be? Not one of his sisters. They weren’t tall, dark or sophisticated like that. Then the woman said, “If I’d known it was going to bucket down like this in the country I’d never have left town.” The hood was thrown back and beneath it was Belinda.

I rushed over to them. “You came. It’s amazing. How did you find out? Who called you?”