Belinda chewed on her lip, something she did only in moments of great anxiety. “Because a few years ago I bumped into him in London. We were both gambling at Crockfords. We had a drink together. It turned out his father had lost his fortune in the great crash of twenty-nine. Tony was articled to a chartered accountant and hated it. Bored to tears. Anyway, there was this instant spark between us and . . . and we had this wild little fling.” She paused. “That was before the time we went to Hollywood and I met . . . you know.”

I nodded. I did know. She had fallen in love and been betrayed there.

“Tony would have been a good match for you, even without all his money,” I said. “Why didn’t it last?”

“Because we’d been together for a couple of weeks when he let it slip out that he was engaged. I didn’t realize at the time but it must have been to Jonquil. Anyway, I told him that I wasn’t going to go on seeing him if he was engaged to another woman.” She paused, as if the memory was painful.

“You did the right thing,” I said.

“I suppose so. But afterward I asked myself if he might have broken off the engagement and married me instead if I’d kept on seeing him.”

“You really liked him, then?”

“It was the residual effect of that adolescent crush, I expect. But we did have fun together. I can’t believe he married Rose. What did he see in her? She must be the least exciting person in the universe. Utterly boring.”

“You don’t know that. She may have improved since you knew her. And anyway, she provided him with a shoulder to cry on after he lost his wife. Presumably he was in love with Jonquil?”

“Maybe.” Belinda shrugged, staring out past me to where a small passenger ferry was chugging to the jetty. “Maybe he saw a good opportunity by marrying a rich heiress,” she said. “He always was a risk-taker. Not exactly the reliable type, as he proved by not telling me about his engagement for two weeks that we spent mostly in bed.”

“Oh dear,” I said. “So this stay at Trewoma will be doubly awkward for you?”

Belinda gave an exasperated smile. “You can say that again!”

Chapter 8

OCTOBER 16

HEADING FOR TREWOMA HALL, CORNWALL

A change of fortune at last. No more sleeping on the lumpy, creaky bed with the chamber of horrors in the cellar. We’ll be in great comfort for the rest of our stay but unfortunately Belinda is not too happy about it. Oh dear. I hope it will be all right!

“We don’t have to stay long,” I said as we walked back to Belinda’s motor. “We can always claim we’re needed back in London.”