“Anna!” the Countess almost shrieked. Fen gave a sharp gasp, Preston an inarticulate shout.

Victoria looked at her accuser with bafflement. “I’m a vegetarian.”

“The Sikhs are a fighting people. Didn’t you always say that?” Lady Anna swung to her father. “You always said, rely on a Sikh to avenge an insult. Of course she had a grievance against Maurice because he said what he thought.”

“If you’re going to accuse everyone your husband insulted, the field will be pretty wide,” Pat said. It wasn’t, perhaps, the kindest remark to a widow, but Lady Anna wasn’t being terribly kind herself, and Victoria’s look of stunned betrayal was unbearable.

“Quite. What utter nonsense,” Preston said. “As though we don’t all know who had an actual motive to kill him.”

“I don’t know who you’re directing that at, and I don’t care to find out,” Jimmy said thinly.

Jack held up both hands. “We all need to stay calm. This won’t help anyone. Granted the use of that particular knife is, ah, suggestive—”

“Yes, it is,” Pat said. “The blade must be six inches long judging by the sheath, and it was driven in to the hilt. I doubt I could do that and I’m stronger than Victoria. And more used to cutting up carcasses.”

There were multiple noises of strong objection. Bill said, “Could have put that better, old girl.”

“I’m still right. A man struck that blow. If I don’t have the arm strength, none of us women do.”

“We’ve only your word that you don’t,” Lady Anna said. “And you made your dislike of Maurice very clear.”

“Luckily, you don’t need Pat’s word for anything,” Fen told her. “I’ve been with her almost every minute since we last saw Mr. Haworth alive, so you may keep your nasty insinuations to yourself, and I would if I were you before people wonder why you’re so awfully keen to assign blame to other people considering that horrible man was your husband!” She took a much-needed gasp of breath.

“How dare you, you impudent slut!”

“Stop it, all of you. This is getting us nowhere,” Bill said. “We’re all tired and shocked and we all need to sleep. And Miss Carruth made a good point, I fear: someone in this house killed Haworth, and we all need to be conscious of that. I think we fellows should pair up, so we can account for one another’s whereabouts. Preston, suppose you and Jack share a room, and so will Jimmy and I.” He did not look at Pat as he said that.

Jack and Preston looked warily at one another. Pat said, “Good idea. Victoria, if you want to squash in with Fen and me...?”

“My room has a lock and a key,” Victoria said. “And I shall put a chair under the door handle. But thank you.”