“Well, we shall naturally have to talk to him, if he and his boat have not fled from the area, that is. And if he really did commit this heinous deed, we’ll find his fingerprints on the knife and around the house. I must say he took a heck of a risk in a house full of servants.”

“It’s a very large house, Inspector,” Belinda said. “There is one wing that is not used at all these days.”

“Why is that, do you know?”

“It’s where Jonquil Trefusis used to have her rooms. Her nursery and her bedroom and also the bedroom where she and Mr. Summers used to sleep. Her death was such a horrible shock to everyone that those rooms are not touched any longer.”

“There seems to be an awful lot of death associated with this house,” the inspector said. “First the girl’s parents die, then she has a tragic accident and then the new master of the house dies. What do you make of all that?”

“I couldn’t tell you, Inspector,” Belinda said. “As I said, I had not been back to this area since I was fourteen, and that was twelve years ago. Some people might tell you the house is cursed. I believe I did hear that once as a child.”

“The curse of Trewoma, right?” He chuckled at this. But at that moment a great gust of wind struck the windows, flinging one of them wide open. The inspector jumped to his feet. “Bloody hell,” he muttered. He went over to the window and wrestled it shut again.

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask us tonight, Inspector?” I said, “because I think Miss Warburton-Stoke needs to rest.”

“I’m going to need fingerprints from everybody in the house but that can wait until morning. I can’t think of anything else at the moment,” he said. “Naturally you are not to leave this house. You are not to go into your room, miss. The constable will remain on duty.”

“But all my clothes and things are in my room,” Belinda said. “How am I going to dress in the morning?”

“You’ll have to wait until the room has been dusted for fingerprints and photographs have been taken. I hope to have an inspector down from Scotland Yard by tomorrow evening. Then it will be up to him when he lets you have access to any of your belongings. In the meantime I expect your young royal friend can lend you some of hers.”

Belinda shot me a glance that seemed to indicate she didn’t think my clothing choices would be suitable for one so fashionable. She stood up and stalked ahead of me out of the room.

Chapter 19

OCTOBER 18

TREWOMA, CORNWALL