“We’re taking these young ladies away from here. It’s not fitting they should see this,” Jago said. “They’ve had enough distressing things happening to them recently. You’ll find them back in Truro if you want a statement from them, Inspector,” Jago said. “Royal Hotel.”

He took Belinda firmly by the arm and steered her to the Rolls-Royce. “You’re very bossy, aren’t you?” Belinda demanded.

“When I want to be,” Jago said and bundled her into the front seat.

Chapter 33

MONDAY OCTOBER 21, AND THEN TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22

BACK IN TRURO AND THEN, FINALLY, AT HOME

Darcy and I didn’t speak at all until we were seated in Brutus and driving away. I kept thinking about Mrs. Mannering up in that tower, waiting for the flames to reach her. I didn’t need to look back but I knew in my heart that she had fallen to her death just like Jonquil. Either way I was glad Darcy had prevented me from seeing that spectacle.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked. “You didn’t do anything stupid this time like trying to apprehend that woman?”

“No, I didn’t. I merely told the inspector what we had found out and in fact Mrs. Mannering was so taken aback that we knew about Colin she sort of capitulated. She killed Jonquil Trefusis and Tony Summers and poor old Harry.”

“For revenge?”

“It’s complicated,” I said. “I’ll tell you later. But weren’t you taking a big risk being seen here?”

“Absolutely not. Jago had to run an errand and saw the fire engines, then decided to follow them in case we could be of help.”

“So you’ll be going back there?” I asked.

“Just for tonight. Mr. Panopolis is chartering a yacht and sailing for ports unknown after this.”

“I thought you were going to Ireland.”

“Change of plans. I have to go up to London right away. I might be home with you in a couple of days.”

“I can’t tell you how happy that makes me,” I said. He reached across and squeezed my hand, then swore under his breath as a farm cart was coming toward us and he had to swerve into the hedge.

BELINDA AND I were left at the hotel in Truro while Darcy took the London train and Jago went back to Trengilly. We settled down for a quiet cup of coffee and a biscuit.

“Goodness.” Belinda put down her cup. “It seems so long since one has had a meal that isn’t fraught with danger.”

I agreed. “And we thought this would be a nice little break from boredom,” I said. “At least we were never bored.”

“Imagine that it was Mrs. Mannering,” Belinda said. “I always felt that she was spooky, didn’t you?”