“One of my ancestors decided to risk battle against the occupying Turks,” he said. “He was foolhardy and the Turks were all-powerful in those days. My ancestor counted on the help of his neighbors in what should have been a regionwide uprising, but I’m afraid my family had earned a reputation for brutality and ruthlessness. No help came. The castle was taken and my family had to flee into exile. So it is true I was raised in what is now part of Yugoslavia. I went to study in Vienna, where I met the present king of Romania, who was a fellow student. We struck up a friendship and later I was offered a government post when he came to the throne in his country. Times have been hard since the Great War and jobs not easy to come by, so I was glad to accept. Ironically I was put in charge of this castle, so I am now the glorified butler where my family once ruled. But that is life, is it not? Nothing is certain.”

I nodded. “My family has also lost all its money. My brother is just scraping by at the family seat. Times are hard.”

“I believe I would have risen higher in government circles had it not been for our friend Patrascue.” He came closer to me. “Tell me—Patrascue has enlisted you to trap me, has he not? That is the way he works—he decides whom he would like to be guilty, arrests them and then invents the evidence to prove it.”

“He did suggest to me that I might have seen you put the poison in a glass. I told him I saw no such thing.”

“The English, they can always be counted upon to behave like gentlemen and like ladies.” He smiled. “But do not underestimate this Patrascue. He wields considerable power in my country. There is a rumor that he is a puppet of Russia. They would like to extend their arm into this region, you know. I can understand why Prince Nicholas wanted to keep the death a natural one. The least little thing can spark off an international incident in these parts.” He straightened a bowl of flowers on a small table, then looked up suddenly. “So I would stay out of any unauthorized investigation or amateur sleuthing, if I were you. You are playing with fire, my lady. Enjoy your role as bride’s attendant and have a good time here. This is what young ladies should do, no?”

He nodded graciously and left. His tone had been pleasant enough but the threat had been real. Was he concerned for my safety or his own? So the castle was his ancestral home. And given his family history, he could well have an ax to grind with any of his Balkan neighbors. And a desire for revenge, going back generations. Maybe a little war between countries was just what he wanted.