I tried to study her face. Did she perhaps want me in the house? Did she suspect Rose? Given the way she seemed to know exactly what was going on all the time, did she want me to get at the truth?

“I have nothing suitable to wear for dinner,” I said. “I brought no black dress with me.”

“Please do not concern yourself,” she said. “We will not be dining formally tonight. Only a simple meal.”

I hesitated. The thought of a meal with Rose and her mother was not appealing, but I had told my housekeeper I was staying at Trewoma. If Darcy came looking for me, he’d expect to find me here. Also Belinda’s father might show up. Then I decided that I could always telephone my house again when I’d found a hotel or boarding house. I just wanted to be away from this place. “You have been very kind,” I said, “but now that Mrs. Summers’s mother is here, I feel I should go to Truro to be close to Miss Warburton-Stoke. Please thank Mrs. Summers and explain to her that this situation has made me feel most uncomfortable.”

She nodded. “Of course. If you feel you must leave. And I hope for your sake that your friend is not found to be guilty in this matter.”

I wanted to ask her about the wagon, about the mess in Tony’s bathroom, but I felt those were questions better coming from the police. So I collected the bags and had James carry them to Brutus for me. The rain had proved to be just a squall and had now settled down to a drizzle. The light was fading and I began to regret my impulsive decision. I was not looking forward to driving all the way to Truro in the dark along the precarious Cornish lanes. I turned on the headlights and windscreen wipers and gripped the wheel as I negotiated the narrow lane. I just prayed that I didn’t meet any large vehicles coming the other way. I wasn’t sure I knew how to reverse!