Fortunately Belinda was out for the evening when I returned the garments to her. I went home to find that Fig had gone to bed and I curled up in my own bed, feeling thoroughly miserable. It seemed there was nobody I could trust anymore and in the darkness my suspicions ran riot. It was Belinda who had sat beside me on that boat. I seemed to remember that she had bent to straighten her stocking at some point. Could she have tied that rope around my ankle? But why?

In the morning I found that Fig had turned the boiler down to a level at which lukewarm water came out of the hot taps. Not that I fancied having a bath any longer anyway. I looked forward to a few days of luxury—extravagant meals, warm house, amusing guests, and all I had to do for once was keep an eye on a certain American woman. I took the invitation from my mantelpiece and was reminded that there was to be a fancy dress ball. I had neither time nor money to hire an expensive outfit at the moment so I hacked at the skirt of the maid’s uniform I had been wearing until it came up above my knee, found a white frilly apron, and decided to go as a French maid. Ooh la la.

I tried on the outfit and was rather pleased with my task when the doorbell rang. I answered it without thinking and found Tristram standing there. He opened his mouth in surprise. “Oh, I say, it’s you, Georgie. I thought you’d got a new maid.”

“I’d never hire anyone who wore her skirts this length,” I said, laughing. “It’s for a fancy dress ball. I’m a French maid. What do you think?”

“Rather fetching,” he said. “But you need fishnet stockings and high heels to complete the picture.”

“Good idea. I’ll go out and buy a pair today.”

“It’s for the Mountjoys’ do, I suppose.”

“You know about the Mountjoys’ house party?”

“Rather. I’ve been invited too.”

“I didn’t realize you knew the Mountjoys.”

“It’s obvious, really, with their place only a stone’s throw from Eynsleigh. I used to play with the Mountjoy sons.”

“The Mountjoys have sons?” This weekend might turn out to be quite promising after all.

“Both away, so I gather. Robert is in India and Richard is at Dartmouth.” (These came out as “Wobert” and “Wichard,” naturally.) “Navy family, you know. I came to ask you if you’d like a wide down to their place tomorrow. I’ve managed to borrow a car.”

“How very kind of you. Thank you very much. I was wondering how I’d get there.”