“Let me double-check for you.” There was a pause, then he said, “It is Glenbrae Lodge, Perthshire.”

I didn’t think that sounded like the sort of address that could easily be found on a map and I doubted that a telegram would reach it within days, but I replied, “Thank you. I will send the telegram immediately.”

“I do hope it’s nothing serious concerning Miss Belinda. She always was a high-spirited young girl, wasn’t she?”

“It’s very serious, I’m afraid,” I said. “She has been accused of murder.”

Then I hung up. There was nothing more to say.

I went back into the post office and composed a telegram. “Belinda in trouble. Accused of murder. Truro, Cornwall.” I was going to add “Return home immediately” but I decided those words were obvious and would cost more. So I handed the telegram to the postmistress and watched her face as she read the words. “Miss Belinda?” she asked. “Well, I never did.”

“And neither did she,” I replied, my nerves now close to snapping point. “She’s innocent and we have to find a way to prove it.”

Having done what I could with Belinda’s family I made a second telephone call to my own house. Mrs. Holbrook answered and I explained that I was staying at a house called Trewoma in Cornwall and that I was in a spot of bother. If Mr. Darcy telephoned or returned home would she ask him to come immediately? I gave her the address, directions and telephone number.

“Of course I will, my lady. Is there anything I can do? Has someone been taken ill?”

“No, it’s worse than that, Mrs. Holbrook,” I said. “There has been a murder and the police think that Miss Belinda is guilty.”

“How terrible for you. Why don’t you come home right away and let us take care of you?” she said.

“I can’t leave Belinda. She needs my help,” I said.

“Of course. But don’t you worry. The moment Mr. O’Mara telephones, I’ll send him straight to you.”

I felt a little better as I put down the telephone. Just hearing a friendly voice was somehow reassuring. Darcy would telephone, I thought, and come racing to my side. Unless . . . unless he was currently on a steamer heading for Argentina or in the wilds of Siberia. Or in danger somewhere himself, my mind added, unbidden. One never knew.

“Drat the man,” I said, fighting back tears that threatened to come.

Chapter 26

OCTOBER 19

HEADING BACK TO TREWOMA BUT NOT SURE THAT I WANT TO STAY . . .

I seem to be getting nowhere. There is nobody I can turn to for help and yet Belinda is counting on me. Should I even go back to Trewoma? What if I am in danger now?