It was just beginning to sink in that there had finally been a death. Several near misses over the course of a couple of days and now someone had actually died. It could, of course, have been an accident. With this kind of weather conditions someone could have been shot accidentally if he’d wandered off from the main group, lost his bearings in the mist and moved into the line of fire. But it was just one accident too many. And why Hugo, was completely beyond me. Not one of our set. Not someone I had even met before.

“All right,” I said. “I don’t suppose I can be of use up here anyway. I’ll do more good making sure that tea is ready by the time the rest of you get back.”

Darcy took my arm and led me away. “There’s something funny going on here,” he muttered to me. “Hugo Beasley-Bottome wasn’t out ahead of the group. I saw him standing over to one side, next to the Prince of Wales.”

I must have turned white and opened my mouth in surprise. “Well, that explains it, then, doesn’t it?” I whispered. “Someone was aiming at the prince and missed and got Hugo by mistake. Or they thought that Hugo was the prince. They both have blond hair and are similarly dressed.”

Darcy looked at me strangely. “You don’t seem unduly surprised.”

“I think one was expecting it to happen eventually.” I stopped walking and turned to look at him. “I take it you are my contact here.”

“Contact? Sweetheart, you know I’m all too willing to make any kind of contact with you at any time, but I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Then if you’re not, who is?” I blurted out. I’d probably have made a rotten spy. I tend to say the wrong thing under duress.

“Do you mind clarifying before I decide you have gone potty?”

“Do you mean to tell me that you weren’t sent here by Sir Jeremy?”

He looked at me warily. “I came up here because I thought you were going to be up here, if you want to know. And I had a chance for some free board and lodging with Paolo and friends. And you know I never turn down a free meal. Or the offer of a bed.” He gave me a wicked grin. “And the only Sir Jeremy I know is head of some boring department of the Home Office.” He was reading my face. “That’s the one? You think I might be a pencil pusher for a civil servant?” He reached out and touched me lightly on the arm. The effect on me was unnerving, even in these circumstances. “Look here, Georgie, what’s all this about? Did you know that someone was trying to kill the Prince of Wales?”