‘Docherty should be charged with murder. I thought he only hit her on the head.’

‘They say she would probably have lost the baby anyway. It was a weak pregnancy.’

‘I want you to stay here until she’s better. I’ll go home and pack up your clothes and shaving kit. And tell them to bill me for any expenses.’

‘Lord and Lady Hadshire have taken care of everything.’

‘Really? You amaze me. I’ll be back shortly with your things.’

Harry collected his car from where Becket had left it outside the hospital. He considered his changed circumstances as he drove back to Chelsea. Before he had started the agency, when he had little money, he had been content with Becket as his only servant. Then there was Phil, but Phil had left. He would hire two detectives to help him, and in the morning he would get his secretary to call an agency and employ a housekeeper and gentleman’s gentleman. He would find an apartment for Daisy and Becket. Becket could work as his chauffeur and Daisy could be a lady of leisure.

During the next week, he longed to see Rose, but instructing his two new detectives and breaking in new staff left him little time to visit the hospital, and on each occasion he found Rose had just left.

Kerridge phoned him one day to say that they could not charge either Jones or Docherty with the murder of Dolores because there was no proof. ‘But if they didn’t do it, I’m sure they organized it,’ he said, ‘so Lady Rose does not have to worry about any of them any more.’

Harry entered his office in the morning to be told that Lady Glensheil was waiting for him. He had worked for Lady Glensheil before.

Lady Glensheil was an imposing woman with a face like a Roman emperor.

‘How can I help you?’ he asked, ushering her into the inner office.

She sat down with a sigh. Her hat was decorated with a stuffed ptarmigan with little rubies for eyes. He wondered how she could bear the weight of it.

‘I employ a lady’s maid. Her name is Henrietta Thomson.’

Harry had begun to take notes. He looked up sharply. ‘She did not once work for Dolores Duval, did she?’

‘Not that I know of.’

‘Who was her last employer?’

‘Lady Burridge. Thomson has excellent references.’

‘I think I know the woman. But first tell me your problem.’

‘Some of my jewellery has gone missing. I do not want to call in the police because most of the staff have been with me for a long time. I am having one of my tea afternoons. If you could come at five as a guest but observe the servants and this Thomson woman and tell me what you think .. .’

‘Perhaps it would be better if you could sketch me a plan of the house, pointing out where her room is. When your guests arrive, keep her occupied and I will search her room.’