“I’m getting worried about you, darling,” she said. “I hope you’re not turning into me. Poor Darcy.”

“Don’t worry. All is well, Belinda,” I said. I had realized, on the way to Truro, that I could not tell her that Darcy was in the area, nor could I risk her seeing him. If I told her he was undercover, she’d probably forget or wave or say something like “nice disguise.” I couldn’t compromise his safety. I was just pondering these things as we walked down the steps from the county court when Belinda gave a little gasp—“Oh, look who’s here”—and I looked up, expecting to see a distinguished lawyer or even her father. Instead, Jago was taking the steps two at a time toward us.

“They let you out,” he said, beaming at her. “Have they decided you’re not the guilty one?”

“It seems so,” Belinda said. “So what brings you into town?”

“I had to drive one of the party to the station unexpectedly so I thought I’d pop by and see how you were doing and if there was anything I could do, as a local, you know.”

“How very kind of you,” she said. “As you can see, new evidence has come to light and I am free.”

“So you’ll be returning to London, I suppose, after all this unpleasantness,” he said and I could hear the disappointment in his voice.

“No, I’m not allowed to leave the vicinity yet,” she said. “And I’m still not sure that I want to abandon my plans for White Sails. It could be made into quite a charming little place, couldn’t it? If I could shut off those stairs from the cave, that is.”

He gave a cheeky grin. “Yes, you’d probably need to do that. I think the builder can do a good job for you. He’s a reliable man. And I can keep an eye on things if you want to go back to London at some point.”

“So you’ll be staying down here?” she asked. “You don’t have to go with your employer when he travels?”

“Some of the time,” he said. “It depends where he’s going and why. But I like it down here. If you don’t want White Sails, I’d be happy to buy it from you.”

“Your own little smuggling retreat,” she said.

He looked at her and laughed. “Is that what you’ve pegged me as? A smuggler?” He shook his head. “I have to admit my ancestors did very well from the trade. But I assure you I’ve chosen a more honorable route. So where are you heading now?”

“I have to find a hotel room so that I can meet my solicitor when he arrives. Somewhere near the station. Do you know Truro at all?”