The casino was becoming more and more crowded. People came up to me to inquire about my health, to offer commiserations on my accident and to speculate about the missing necklace. I began to feel uncomfortable, almost claustrophobic, so I eased myself through the crowd until I was standing among the potted palms by the wall. The room was packed with elegant and rich people, all of whom appeared to know each other and were chatting away merrily. I looked longingly at the entrance and wondered if I could slip away. What was I doing here? I didn’t belong among these people. The problem was that I didn’t know where I wanted to be. Certainly not at home in Scotland, and not trying to fend for myself in London either. It struck me that I hadn’t yet found my niche in life.

At that moment a couple approached me. At first I thought they were a romantic couple, moving into the shadows among the palms to be alone. But then the woman turned to the man and said, “How dare you.” She almost hissed the words. “You’re a swine, Toby.”

And I saw that it was indeed Sir Toby Groper, and Lady Groper with him. Had she discovered the mistress, I wondered. I hastily ducked back into the alcove, shielded by a potted palm tree.

Sir Toby turned back to her and I saw that he was grinning. “Haven’t you heard the old saying, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander?” he said. “If you want a divorce, my dear, and you’re trying to cite my bad behavior, did you not think I’d send out feelers to uncover yours? And yours is so much more delicious. Everyone expects a man to have a showgirl mistress—but a cabinet member? I could bring down the government if I wanted to.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, I dare most things,” he said. “I’ve dared all my life, which is why I’m where I am today. So do your worst, Margaret, my dear. I love a good scrap.”

“One day you’ll go too far, Toby,” Lady Groper snapped. And she pushed her way through the crowd to the exit. Sir Toby watched her go with that same amused expression on his face. Then he forced his way up to the bar. “Whiskey,” he barked, “and make it a double.”

I was about to move out of my hiding place when I touched something warm. I gasped and looked around. It appeared I was not alone. A tall, rangy young man with hair flopping boyishly over his forehead was flattened against the wall behind the potted palm. He put his fingers to his lips as Sir Toby walked away, then heaved a sigh of relief.

“Phew, that was close,” he said. “I didn’t want them to see me. There would have been the most frightful stink.”