We walked the rest of the way in silence. Would I be happy in a little flat? I was thinking. Would I be able to fit into a world I didn’t know, living a life only just getting by, with no luxuries, and with a husband who couldn’t tell me about his career but who disappeared for long periods? I decided to put the future on hold for now.

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

As we approached those formidable gates I looked up at the castle and a thought struck me. “Darcy, that man I saw climbing up the wall—the one who came into my bedroom. You don’t think he had anything to do with Pirin’s death, do you? You don’t think he was sent here with that mission?”

Darcy frowned. “I don’t see how any outsider could have administered the poison. As I said, death is usually almost instantaneous. And I discount your theory of vampires.” He glanced at me and saw my mouth open, about to speak. “That man bending over you . . . who knows, maybe one of Nicholas’s groomsmen took a fancy to you. Or more likely someone got the wrong room. It’s easy to do in a place like this.”

“I know,” I said, remembering with embarrassment. “I went to Siegfried’s door by mistake. His room is next to mine.”

Darcy laughed. “Well, that explains everything, doesn’t it? I’ll wager the young man was paying a nightly visit to Siegfried. No wonder he was shocked to see you instead.”

I considered this as we went back up the steps. It did seem a likely explanation and one that I liked better than anything supernatural. It didn’t get us any closer to solving who killed Field Marshal Pirin, but at least it made sense.

The door guards stepped forward smartly to open the castle doors for us. They saluted although their expressions betrayed that we were mad for trying to venture forth on a morning like this. In the entry hall we encountered Lady Middlesex and Miss Deer-Harte, dressed in their overcoats.

“Oh, there you are. We’ve been looking all over for you. Where have you two been?” Lady Middlesex demanded.

“Just for a quick hike over the pass,” Darcy said.

“Rubbish,” Lady Middlesex said. “Nobody could go far in this sort of snow.”

“We went for a little walk,” I corrected.

“Oh, so a walk is possible after all. These stupid people are telling us that the snow is too deep to go anywhere and they didn’t seem to understand when we asked them for snowshoes,” Lady Middlesex said. “Really these foreigners have no stamina at all.”

“It is deep, actually,” I agreed. “We only walked in the tracks the tires made.”