She held out her hand, determined to give his a brief shake and move out to the waiting carriage as quickly as possible. But he held her hand in a firm grip. ‘You must stay and take some refreshment. Ah, here is my wife. Mrs Tremaine, do take the ladies indoors.’

‘I am afraid we really must go,’ said Rose, trying to extricate her hand. ‘Our carriage is waiting.’

He turned round. ‘I do not see any carriage.’

Rose stared across in dismay. ‘I told him to wait. No matter. It is a fine day for a walk. Come, Daisy.’

‘Now, you cannot walk,’ said Mrs Tremaine. ‘Do but step inside the rectory and our carriage will take you.’

She looked her normal friendly self I’m imagining things, thought Rose.

‘Very well. Just for a few moments. Most kind of you.’

Harry was telling Kerridge about the murder of Will Hubbard. ‘That’s too much of a coincidence,’ said Kerridge. ‘We’ll go down there and sweat it out of those servants after we arrest the Tremaines. If they see the master arrested, then I think they might talk.’

Judd entered and said lugubriously, ‘Lord Hadshire has just called. He wishes Captain Cathcart to attend him immediately.’

‘I am busy at the moment. Is all well with Lady Rose?’

‘He says his daughter has disappeared. The staff believe she left during the night by climbing over the garden wall.’

‘Now what?’ Harry looked at Kerridge in dismay. ‘Where would she go?’

‘I hope it’s anywhere but Apton Magna.’

‘Oh dear. I have an awful feeling that’s just where she would go. She wanted to come here this morning and I wouldn’t let her. Lady Rose, being as stubborn as a mule, has probably decided to investigate the Tremaines for herself He turned to Judd. ‘Tell Lord Hadshire I am sure I know where his daughter has gone. I am going to collect her. Kerridge, we’ll take my car. It’s faster.’

‘I’ll phone the Oxford police to get out there.’

‘No,’ said Harry. ‘If the Tremaines are guilty, something might happen to them if the police go crashing in first. We’ll call on them in Oxford and get them to follow us.’

‘How kind of you to visit us again,’ twittered Mrs Tremaine over the teacups. ‘Such an honour.’

The rector and his son said nothing.

‘Most kind of you,’ said Rose, ‘but we really must leave.’

‘Our carriage will be here shortly. Have another cake.’

Daisy’s green eyes were wide and frightened. Why did I come here? thought Rose desperately. No one knows we are here. But what can they do? I am not now going to ask Jeremy about his prison visits.

The rector spoke at last. ‘Who were you visiting in the neighbourhood?’

‘We weren’t really visiting anyone,’ said Rose. ‘The countryside here is so pretty, and after London, we felt in the need of fresh air.’

‘I am surprised’, said Mrs Tremaine, ‘that a great lady such as yourself should travel into the country in a hired cab with only your companion.’