This visit wasn’t about me after all, I realized, going weak with relief. I tensed again with the thought that the detective was likely investigating the bandits. I’d worried what I should do with my knowledge about Henry, but now that a police officer was interviewing me, I had no doubt. “Yes, sir, he was. We took the children for a picnic in the park,” I said, trying to sound as though the matter was inconsequential to me.

“Do you know what time it was?”

I gave a little laugh that I hoped sounded casual. “Oh my, I’m really not sure. I have to pay such close attention to time on school days that I completely forget about it on weekends. I do recall that the large airship—the Hercules, I believe it’s called—was traveling past, because Rollo—Lord Roland—was fascinated with it. He would talk of nothing else.”

“I see.” The detective made a note in his notebook. He didn’t ask which direction the airship was going when we were on our picnic, and I decided not to clarify that for him. I hoped my instincts about Henry were correct and that I wasn’t abetting some horrible crime. The detective snapped his notebook shut and stood. “That should take care of matters for now, my lord,” he said. “You will notify us if you think of anything else?”

“Yes, of course I will.” Lord Henry rose to walk him to the door, where he handed him over to Mr. Chastain to see him out.

When the detective was gone and the door firmly shut behind him, Henry sagged against the wall. “That was unnerving,” he said.

“What was that about?” I asked, fearing the answer but not expecting the truth.

“One of my friends was arrested after a robbery yesterday. There were others with him who got away, and the police are talking to all of his known associates.”

“How awful!” I said. “Had you any idea he was involved in criminal activities?”

His lips twitched. “I had a few suspicions.”

“Well, it’s most fortunate that you were with us yesterday. And if my word wasn’t good enough for the detective, there are dozens of other people who saw you in the park.”

I wished I could see his eyes behind his glasses, but he stood at just the wrong angle, with the light from the chandelier creating a glare on the lenses. “Yes, that is very fortunate,” he agreed. “Imagine if I’d come home and gone straight to my study while you were out, and you weren’t able to vouch for my whereabouts. I might not have been able to persuade him of my innocence.”