“The old man is making a fuss about Pirin,” he said. “He wanted to know when the telephone wires will be repaired. He needs to know how Pirin is doing, whether he has reached the hospital safely and whether his physician is on his way from Sofia. He was demanding that a car be sent to find out. I kept telling him that it had snowed again and the pass would be closed, but he’s not taking no for an answer. This could prove extremely tricky. I wonder where Darcy is.”

I was tempted to tell him that Darcy was in the castle, but decided to leave that decision up to Darcy himself when he reappeared. I couldn’t think what he might be doing, but I was sure it was important.

“Your bride is beginning to show the strain of the unfortunate events,” I said.

“Yes, she’s very sensitive,” Nicholas said. “Another death last night. I wish to God I hadn’t given in to Maria and agreed to hold the ceremony at this castle. It would have been so much more agreeable at the palace.”

As I left him, I spotted Count Dragomir, hurrying ahead of me. I called his name and he turned, reluctantly.

“I was wondering if you had any news about my maid yet,” I said. “I am extremely worried.”

“I am sorry, Highness. I have had no news,” he said. “But don’t worry, my people will keep searching for her.”

“She can’t have disappeared,” I said. “I want an out-and-out effort today to look for her, or I’ll have to ask Mr. Patrascue to put his men on the job.”

It was a good threat. I saw a look of alarm in his eyes. “Mr. Patrascue could not find his own nose if it were not attached to his body,” he said. “I have promised we will find her and we will.”

Then he hurried off, his cape flying out behind him. I wandered down the hallways, looking for a suitable cross, but could only come up with a six-foot-tall crucifix in a niche. I could hardly carry that around with me. I also spotted a cross around the neck of one of the servants, but she spoke no English and I couldn’t make her understand that I only wanted to borrow it. So in the end I had no choice but to make my way to the small salon and our dress fitting. A small voice in my head whispered that I was being silly to be afraid of a school friend, but I didn’t know what to believe anymore.