“Apology accepted,” he said. “So I expect you’ll be hightailing out of here as fast as you can?”

“Not at the moment,” Belinda said. “I’ve a builder coming to see White Sails. I need to put in a proper bathroom with some privacy.”

She put a hand on my arm. “Come, Georgie. Let’s go and see if that builder is ready yet.”

When we were out of earshot she turned to me. Her face was red with anger. “Did you see him. He was so disappointed I wasn’t languishing in a jail cell. Odious man. I’m going to make sure the builder puts in good doors with good locks at White Sails. I can’t believe I ever considered giving him the cottage.”

As we came back to the road a large car was approaching. It was the Rolls-Royce with Jago driving. It slowed when it saw us and Jago wound down the window. “I was told to give you this note, my lady,” he said and handed me a letter, before speeding off again. Belinda stared after the car. “Wasn’t that Darcy in the backseat with another man?” she asked.

“Don’t be silly,” I said. “Darcy is abroad. I suppose all Irishmen look the same to you.”

“What is the note, then?” she asked. “And since when has Jago been handing you notes?”

“I had someone looking into a few details for me,” I said, “in case we needed them.”

“Details about what?” She was truly curious now.

I opened the envelope, praying that Darcy had not signed the note. It simply said,

Colin Huckerbee. Easy to trace. Parents still in area. Both work at Cadbury’s Bournville factory outside Birmingham. Colin was only child. Adopted at birth. They did not know birth mother but, since they are Catholics and the adoption was arranged through the Church, they understood the child came from St. Anne’s Home for unwed mothers in Coventry.

The home cooperated, knowing this was a police investigation. The mother’s name was Alice Mannering.

Our eyes met.

“Mrs. Mannering?” Belinda said. “Someone connected to Mrs. Mannering? Her daughter?”

I shook my head. “Housekeepers always call themselves “Mrs.” even though they are not married. It’s her. She was the only other person who could have pulled it off. Come on, let’s go up to Trewoma and see if any members of the police are still there. We have to stop them from arresting Rose.”