‘No, I’m sorry. There are things I have to check with you before I talk to anyone else.’

‘Yes, of course there are. I wasn’t thinking. This has all come as such a shock.’ She took a deep breath, steadying her emotions. ‘Everyone out there is looking to us for direction. What do we have to do first?’ 172

‘Will you tell Lee to send the staff back to their duties and take the guests to wait in the dining room until I can come and speak to them? All except Alex Fielding – I’ve got a job for him, so ask him to wait behind. As I said, Mrs Hartley is welcome to go back to her room or stay where she is, whichever she prefers. I’m sure Josephine and Marta will be happy to stay with her until you and I have finished here.’

‘Very well. What about Miss Dietrich?’

‘She must stay with the rest of the guests, whether she likes it or not. I don’t want her wandering round the castle on her own until we have a better idea of what’s going on. I’m sure she’ll understand.’

‘Do you think Richard’s death has anything to do with her being here?’

‘I can’t see any connections at the moment, but I’m not ruling anything out. Did the Lancasters turn up for the service?’

‘No, I haven’t seen either of them yet this morning.’

‘Then ask Lee to send someone to their room and fetch them. If they’re not there, I want to be told immediately. Do you have a doctor on the island?’

‘No, I’m afraid not. We have a midwife, who does basic nursing, but if you were thinking of a death certificate, that will have to wait.’

‘All right. Is there any news on the boats or the phones?’

‘Yes. Pendean called up on the house telephone – that line’s still working, thank God – but there’s no chance of a crossing, at least until later today. It might be possible for three or four men to walk across at the next low tide if they rope themselves together, but they’d be taking a risk.’

‘When is the next low tide?’ 173

‘Around two o’clock this afternoon.’

‘All right, but I’ll take your man’s advice on that. We’ve got enough tragedy here already, without adding to it by recklessness.’

‘Haven’t we just?’ She looked at him, then put her head in her hands. ‘Oh Archie, how on earth can this have happened? Poor Richard – he was such a good man. Who on earth could have wanted to do this? It’s all down to me, isn’t it? If I’ve invited this evil onto the island, I’ll never forgive myself.’

Penrose put his hand on her shoulder and spoke gently. ‘Go and give Lee his instructions,’ he said, knowing that staying busy was the only thing that would keep her sane. ‘Then come back and tell me everything you know about your guests.’

She gave a scornful laugh. ‘Well, that won’t take long. Inviting a load of strangers into the house! How could I have been so stupid? It was asking for trouble. How on earth am I going to tell my father what’s happened? He’ll be devastated.’