My grandfather was waiting for me, standing under the awning while the rain came down. Unfortunately he had nothing much to report. I told him about the five-pound notes and suggested that he should call the police with an anonymous tip about de Mauxville’s gaming. I felt the least I could do was treat him to lunch, and almost had to drag him to Lyons Corner House. I tried to be jolly and bright but he looked worried and preoccupied the whole time. When we parted company he looked at me long and hard. “Take care of yourself, won’t you, and if you’d rather come and stay with me, then you know you’re more than welcome.”

I smiled at him. “That’s sweet of you, Granddad, but I have to stay in town to keep an eye on Binky, and to find out things.”

“I suppose so,” he said with a sigh. “But watch out for yourself.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine,” I said with more bravado than I felt. I looked back once and saw him standing there, watching me.

When Belinda did her Lady Macbeth routine down the stairs about two o’clock, I told her of my decision to move back to Rannoch House.

“Georgie, are you sure?” she asked.

“I went back this morning. All traces of the body have been removed and it seems silly to go on sleeping on your sofa when I have a perfectly good bed of my own.”

“I think it’s awfully brave of you,” she said, but I could tell she was relieved.

“I do have one teeny favor to ask,” I said. “Do you think you would mind keeping me company tonight? I’m not sure how hard it will be and I’d really appreciate knowing you were there with me for the first night at least.”

“You want me to stay at Rannoch House?” I could see she was struggling. Then she said, “Of course. Why not? It’s about time I had an early night with no parties. I saw bags starting to form under my eyes when I looked in the mirror.”

So that evening, after the press and any gawkers had gone home, we made our way up the steps and into the house.

“This place has always struck me as creepy at the best of times,” Belinda said. “It’s always so cold and damp.”

“Compared to Castle Rannoch it’s a furnace,” I said, laughing uneasily because I too found it cold and damp. I was about to suggest that we go back to Belinda’s comfortable mews again, until I reminded myself that a Rannoch never runs away from danger. We undressed and prepared for bed, then I went downstairs and poured us both a Scotch to bolster our spirits. We sat on my bed, talking about anything rather than turning the light out.