“My darling!” Mummy cried and threw herself at me, uttering great, heart-wrenching sobs. It was a very convincing performance and I think the younger policeman dabbed his eyes. Then she turned the full force of her gaze onto Lafite. “You will let me take her home, won’t you? If you keep her here, I shall sit on the pavement outside in the cold all night, hoping and praying and waiting.”

“Madame, I cannot let her go. She will flee to the arms of her royal cousin and will never face justice for her crime.”

“What crime?” Mummy demanded. “You can’t seriously think that my daughter had anything to do with the death of Sir Toby? Look at her—a sweet, innocent girl. She is in a state of complete shock.”

“Sweet, innocent girls have been known to kill before now,” Lafite said. “They have even killed their mothers, I believe.”

“But not my daughter. She is the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She has been raised with that code of honor.”

“I remember that your Queen Victoria killed many people as your country tried to rule the world,” Lafite said.

“Yes, but not personally,” Mummy answered. “She had armies to do that for her.”

Lafite smirked. “But you are not of royal blood, Madame. And you clearly have passion in your veins. Maybe your daughter, she takes after you.”

I was tired and scared and angry. I got to my feet. “This is silly and it’s getting us nowhere,” I said. “I didn’t kill Sir Toby. I did not return to his house in the afternoon. I’ve made it clear to you that the marquis drove me home, in the rain. He drove me right up to the front door and I ran inside, where my maid greeted me. If I’d gone to Sir Toby’s I’d have been wet, wouldn’t I?”

“My lady, this does not prove your innocence. Who is to say you did not slip away later, when the rain stopped?”

I decided that a white lie might be in order. “My maid was with me, helping me prepare for my dinner with the marquis. She would have noticed if I’d left the villa. Why don’t you question her?”

“We shall, mademoiselle. Trust me, we shall question everyone. But I would take the word of a maid who is loyal to her mistress with the speck of salt.”

“Then I suggest you question Sir Toby’s wife and son, and his mistress, because they all have better motives to want him dead than I.”