“That’s good. Look, Georgie, I want you to be careful because I may have to go away for a while.”

“Oh.” My voice obviously conveyed my disappointment.

“I don’t think the local police are going to investigate Hugo’s death,” he said. “Major Padgett has persuaded them to treat it as an accidental shooting, so that the royal party is not upset any further. His thought is that they can’t risk embarrassing a member of the royal family, in case one of them was accidentally responsible for the fatal shot. The police agreed that nothing could be gained by trying to find out who pulled the trigger.”

“I see. So we’re back to square one.”

“So I’m going to have a word with those who might be persuaded to take this further, including your Sir Jeremy.” He saw me about to speak, “Oh, don’t worry, I won’t divulge that you spilled the beans to me.”

“I’m glad you’re doing that. Someone has to. So what has happened to Hugo’s body? Won’t there be a medical examination to determine how he died?”

“There will. But if it just shows that an unlucky pellet struck an artery, then it will only affirm that the shooting was a horrible accident, won’t it?”

“Yes, I suppose it will.”

“Anyway, let’s hope someone will risk rocking the boat and start a proper investigation.” He reached out and touched my cheek. “And in the meantime, please don’t do anything to put yourself in harm’s way. No climbing or shooting or any unsafe pursuit, do you hear?”

“Very good, sir,” I said.

He laughed and ran his hand down my cheek. “I have to go. I’ve a taxi coming to take me to the station. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I nodded. His touch on my cheek made me feel as if I was going to cry. Then he pulled me toward him and kissed me, full and hard on the mouth.

“That’s a first installment,” he said, breaking away rapidly. “More to come later.”

Then he ran down the dock and lowered himself into a rowing boat. I heard the splash of oars as he pulled away.

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Castle Rannoch
August 21, 1932

The piper must have been told that he need no longer pipe in the day because it was fully daylight when I awoke to a tap on my bedroom door. I expected it to be Maggie with the tea tray and looked up, bleary eyed. Instead of Maggie’s sturdy figure in a white apron, I focused on a frock coat and sat up. It was Hamilton.

“I’m sorry to wake you, my lady, but there is a gentleman to see you.”

“A gentleman?” I remembered that he had referred to Granddad as “a person.” So this was someone from the upper class then.