The dining hall at the manor was thronged with people. Mr. and Mrs. Arkwright had the vicar cornered. Gertrude was surrounded by several ladies I recognised from the Holy Trinity service.

Eliot Dell stood by the window, talking earnestly to two men. He acknowledged me as I passed by. “Good investment,” I heard him say. “The deepest mine in the country.”

Milly circulated with a tray of sandwiches, Raynor with a tray of drinks. “My rock and friend,” Mrs. Dell had said. “I have Maggie. Benjamin Brockman has Raynor.”

Had Raynor been beside Benjie when he was shown the drawing of the unfortunate Harry Aspinall?

“Drink, Mrs. Shackleton?”

“No thank you. I’m hoping for a word with Mr. Brockman.”

“He has paid his respects and retired to his study, madam, asking not to be disturbed.”

“Thank you.” I went into the hall, and along to Benjie’s study. He did not answer my knock. Knowing he was there, I opened the door.

He was at his desk, and looked up as I entered. “Benjie, excuse the interruption but I shall be going soon.”

“Ah Kate, come in, come in. I’m just puzzling over my coins. You know when you have to count twice, and then count again.” He scratched his head. “Is everything all right?”

I took the seat opposite the desk. This room had an air of calm, oak desk with baize top, brass lamp, and row upon row of bookshelves.

“Benjie, something’s come up that I want to ask you about.”

“To do with coins? Stamps?”

“To do with Harry Aspinall.”

“Aspinall?”

“Your fellow trustee for the Bluebell Home.”

“Ah, that Aspinall. I’m not well today, Kate, not well at all. Dislike funerals. And she was a good old soul, Mrs. Farrar.”

I placed the drawing of Harry Aspinall on the table. “You were shown this and asked if you recognised him. You said no.”

Benjie picked up his magnifying glass and looked at the drawing. “And I’d say no again. I’ve no great memory for faces, unless it’s someone I know well, like you.”

“If there’s anything you know about his disappearance, please tell me now.”

“Disappearance? Chap never appeared so he couldn’t very well disappear—unless you’re talking about long ago, when he took up with a French woman.”

“More recently than that.”

He shook his head. So that was how he intended to be, slightly dotty, forgetful, unaware that he knew the murdered man. As deputy to the Lord Lieutenant of the County, he might just get away with it.

“I’ll leave you to your counting.”

I went back into the hall, just in time to see Eliot saying goodbye to Gertrude. He gave me a wave, and left.

“Where did you get to, Kate?”

“I took Mrs. Dell home.”