Pat felt a stab of uncertainty. She knew very well that she wasn’t fond of Jack as she was the others. Had she let that cloud her judgement?

“That’s awfully good.” Bill didn’t sound beset by doubt in the slightest. “Very effective. But you lied about being with Lady Anna. You weren’t with her at half past eleven; you arrived significantly later, and she knows it. And if she sticks to your story she’ll be an accessory after the fact. Making her your accomplice is hardly the act of a gentleman.”

“I did not lie,” Jack said. “I always told you I didn’t look at the time; why should I? You lied, and we all heard you. Where was Jimmy when Maurice was killed? Why did you lie about that? Because he did, Anna. He lied about where your brother was when your husband was murdered. I want to know why.”

Lady Anna had one shaking hand pressed to her mouth. Pat looked from her to Fen, desperate, and their eyes met. Fen’s face was oddly set. She stared into Pat’s eyes, then she very deliberately, even jerkily, changed the direction of her gaze up to point, as best she could, at Jack.

It was a shout of warning, and Pat let out a long, slow breath. “I have a question too, Jack,” she said. “It’s about Maurice Haworth blackmailing you.”

Jack’s mouth opened, and his fingers tightened on Fen’s shoulder. She gave a little gasp.

“I overheard him threatening to expose you,” Pat went on. “It’s as simple as that. Of course you could assert I’m part of this conspiracy against you but the thing is, when he was murdered, he was sitting at a desk with a pack of playing cards that included two aces of hearts. He’d caught you out, and you killed him for it. Didn’t you?”

Fen’s brows were almost at her hairline. Pat caught her eye, though she couldn’t manage a smile. Jack was too close to Fen; she was sitting too rigidly.

“More nonsense,” Jack said. “They’re lying, Anna. They’ve picked me as the sacrificial lamb. Merton probably put the extra ace there himself to throw suspicion on me—he’s already lied for Jimmy and you heard him threaten you with that talk of being an accessory. I shan’t let them blame you or me, don’t worry. I won’t stand for it.”

“But there were cards all over the table when he was found,” Preston said. “And if he was blackmailing anyone over card play, it was you. Of course it blasted was: you’ve taken enough of my money in the last few days. Two aces? You miserable swine.”

“That’s not his most serious fault,” Victoria observed, her voice very nearly under control. “Why did you use my father’s kirpan, Jack? Was that directed at me?”