“Isn’t it obvious, even to you, that someone is trying to frame me?” I said. Actually I said “attach the blame to me” because the only French word I knew for “frame” was the one that held pictures on walls and I didn’t think that would be right. “Why would the real killer not have disposed of the evidence? How easy that would be in a castle of this size, with so many nooks and crannies and gratings in walls and floors. Or why not keep it on his person?”

Patrascue said nothing for a while. “Because only a clever criminal would absolve herself from blame by making me think that she had been framed,” he said at last. “I will tell you what I think, English lady. I think that this is a clever plot between you and your fellow Englishman, who conveniently drove away with the body before I could examine it or question him.”

I grinned. “He’s not English, actually. He’s Irish.”

He waved a hand in a bored manner. “English, Irish, what is the difference. I have heard of this Mr. O’Mara before. He was involved in a scandal at a casino, I believe. And he is interested in making money. But don’t worry, I will send my men after him and he will be brought back here, and the truth will come out.”

“Don’t be so ridiculous,” I said. “The queen of England would be horrified if she heard I had been treated this way when I have been sent to represent my country. Princess Maria Theresa, my dear school friend, will also be horrified, if I tell her.”

He put his fingers under my chin and drew me closer to him. “I do not think you realize the spot you are in, young lady. I have the power to arrest you and lock you up, and I can assure you that our jails are not pleasant places—rats, disease, hardened criminals . . . and sometimes it takes months or years before a case comes to trial. But given that you are here for such a festive occasion, I will be gracious. I will merely inform you that you may not leave this castle without my permission.”

His fingernails were digging into my chin, but I wasn’t going to show him that I was scared. “Since I’m here for a wedding next week, I’m hardly likely to do that,” I said. “Besides, I understand it may snow again, in which case nobody will be leaving for a while.”