“I’ve told the servants not to touch the table,” Darcy said. “One of the first things is to have the cause of death confirmed by a competent physician. I don’t suppose there is one of those within reach, is there?” He repeated the question in French.

Dragomir shook his head.

“Then we must find out how the poison was administered. I don’t suppose we have any scientific testing at our disposal?”

“I believe you need iron sulfate; that turns cyanide Prussian blue,” Anton said, then again he gave that boyish smirk. “So you see, big brother, I did learn a thing or two at university. I’m not sure what iron sulfate is used for—something to do with woodworking or steelworking I believe. So possibly there may be some stored in the castle outbuildings or the forge or something. We could ask Siegfried and Maria.”

“No,” Nicholas said shortly. “I’d much rather they didn’t know yet. Not until I’ve thought things through.”

“Too bad they no longer have a royal food taster at your disposal,” Darcy said, then he saw Miss Deer-Harte’s shocked face and laughed. “It was an attempt at humor,” he said.

“There may be some animals on which we could test various foods,” Dragomir said. “I can send a servant to see if any stable cats have had a litter of kittens recently.”

“Oh, no,” I interrupted hastily, “you’re not going to poison kittens. That’s too horrible.”

“You English with your sentimental attachment to animals,” Dragomir said, then he appeared to be aware of me for the first time. “Lady Georgiana. It is not seemly that you should be here. Please return to the other ladies in the drawing room.”

“I asked her to be here,” Darcy said. “Believe it or not she has also had some experience with this kind of thing. And she’s a good head on her shoulders.”

Of course I blushed stupidly as they looked at me.

“First things first,” Nicholas said. “You must understand that this is a very delicate situation for us and one that could have serious ramifications if the news leaked out. Pirin was a powerful man in my country. It was only his influence at court that kept a whole province from breaking away. If word gets out that he’s been murdered—why, we could have a civil war on our hands by the end of the week, or, worse still, Yugoslavia could decide this would be an opportune moment to annex our Macedonian province. So I would prefer it that the true circumstances not be made known outside of this room.”

“In that case we should let it be generally thought that he died of a heart attack,” Darcy said. “We can’t bring him back to life but I presume it was well known that he liked his food and drink, so his death will come as no great surprise.”