It would pass, and the police would come.

There was a tap on the door which, Pat realised, was what had woken her. She swung her feet out of bed, realising she was naked and, frankly, a bit sticky. She donned Fen’s dressing gown, unlocked the door, and let Travers in.

“Good morning, Miss Merton.” The maid came bearing tea. She put the tray down, casting a reproachful but affectionate look at Fen, still apparently asleep. “Shall I light the fire?”

“No need, I think. It’s not cold, just wet. Thank you very much.” Pat took the proffered cup. “Did you sleep well?”

“As much as might be expected, thank you, miss, what with murderers roaming the house.”

That was fair, but unanswerable. Pat got back on the bed to be out of the way while Travers went about her work. “What are they saying in the servants’ hall?”

Travers pursed her lips. “I wouldn’t wish to gossip, miss.”

“Oh, yes you would,” Fen said from under the covers. “You always know everything. You knew Mrs. Mapesborough was going to leave her husband before she did herself. Cough up.”

“That’s not ladylike, Miss Fen,” Travers said severely. “And if I had happened to hear talk, I shouldn’t dream of repeating it.”

Fen sat up. “What are they saying? Stop fiddling with my hairbrush, pour us both some tea, and tell me at once.”

Pat, slightly startled at Fen’s high-handed tone, was about to point out that she already had tea, but Travers was already pouring out two more cups. She handed one to her mistress, added an extra spoon of sugar to the other, and settled on the end of the bed with it. “Well. For a start, nobody’s sorry to see the back of that man.”

“Was he a nuisance to the maids?” Fen asked.

“Not that anybody said. He wasn’t liked, to say the least of it, but I don’t think he made himself unpleasant to the staff in a particular way. Almost the other. Too friendly, when nobody wants a gentleman being friendly.”

“Isn’t that what I said?”

“Not like that.” Travers waved a hand, groping for meaning. “Insinuating, is what Mr. Keynes’s gentleman called him. Sneaking and prying with a smile on his face.”

“He was trying to butter up the staff to get information?” Pat demanded.

“Just repeating what I’ve heard, Miss Merton.”

“Oh, don’t be stiff,” Fen told her. “Pat’s one of us. Is that what he was doing? Because you may as well know, he was a blackmailer.”

Pat opened her mouth to protest that wild indiscretion, and took a mouthful of tea to prevent herself. Putting Travers’ back up would be a tactical error of horrendous proportions.

“Was he now? Doesn’t surprise me,” Travers said with a sniff. “Everyone says he was a brute to the family.”

“Is it a loyal house?” Fen asked.