I followed him out of the sitting room. If Dragomir were really the one who had administered the poison, why had he seemed so helpful when we met afterward? He had helped collect the utensils, handle the servants, get the body up to a bedroom and generally behaved the way a perfect butler would. Why? Was it that he wanted to appear above suspicion, or did he know that he had carried out a clever murder and would never be caught? Or was it that he felt guilty that the wrong man had died?

With these thoughts buzzing through my head I found myself in the long gallery, where afternoon coffee was being served. My mother had found the group of older countesses and was sitting eating torte with them. She waved as I approached.

“We’re about to play bridge, darling. Care to join us?”

“No, thank you, I’m useless at bridge. Is the princess still in the fitting room?”

“Oh, no, darling. She appeared about half an hour ago, poured herself a black coffee and looked with longing at the cakes. That child is starving herself, if you ask me. Now she’s definitely too thin. European men do like a woman to have a little meat on her bones.”

“And Prince Nicholas, have you seen him recently?”

“I haven’t seen him since lunch. I gather he and Anton went out to shoot, and I expect Max went with them. They’re only happy when they’re shooting something—apart from sex, of course.”

“Mother!” I gave her a warning frown.

My mother glanced around at the other women, who were tucking into their torte with abandon. “They won’t understand. Their English is hopeless, darling. Besides, it is about time you were acquainted with the facts of life. I’ve hopelessly neglected my duty in that area. Men only have two thoughts in their heads and those are killing or copulating.”

“I’m sure there are plenty of men with finer feelings, who are interested in art and culture.”

“Yes, darling, of course there are. They are called fairies. And they are quite adorable—so witty and fun to be with. But in my long and varied life I’ve found that the ones who are witty to be with are no use in bed, and vice versa.”