“So where did you see him last?”

“When I last saw him he was heading for the train station in Los Angeles. That was in August. Now, is there anything else I might be able to help you with?”

I was feeling really proud of myself. I went on, “So what makes you think that he has been staying at Miss Carrington’s flat recently?”

A smirk crossed his broad face. “I think a dressing gown behind the bedroom door with his initials on the pocket and his name on the laundry tag might do it. Oh, and it was behind her bedroom door. Not the spare room.”

He was enjoying this, I could see. Perhaps Sir Jeremy had told him that I had been sweet on Darcy. Perhaps he had a chip on his shoulder against aristocrats. Perhaps he just liked the feel of ruining other people’s lives. But I was not going to let him see my distress. I fought with every ounce of my being to keep my face a mask with a half-interested smile on my lips. I took a very deep breath before I spoke again. “Do you consider this gentleman a possible suspect in the case?”

“Only if he’s still in London and not in some far-flung part of the world. I would still need to rule him out as the father of the child. And as a potential suspect, for that matter.”

I couldn’t wait to escape. “Are there any other friends of mine you might want to check on?” I said. “As I told you before, I don’t spend much time in London and don’t have a large acquaintanceship here. If there’s nothing more, I should get back to Princess Marina. I’m charged with taking care of her, you know.” I stood up.

“We’ll be in touch, then,” he said. “And should Mr. O’Mara decide to contact you, please make sure he comes to have a little chat with me.”

I nodded, graciously, as my relative the queen would have done. And I tried to walk to the door without falling or staggering or knocking something over. As I reached for the doorknob I remembered something. “There is one thing.” I turned back and saw his eyes register instant interest. “Another friend of mine was at Crockford’s recently and she saw Bobo talking to a strange American. She said that Bobo appeared nervous and uneasy. She didn’t know who the man was, but you can check the Crockford’s registry to see which men were there on the same evening as Bobo Carrington.”