“Not really. It was all because of Georgie’s skill that we won.”

This wasn’t true and we all knew it. I was again glad when the evening came to an end and we bid each other good night.

“I’m going to get some hot cocoa after all this excitement,” Rose said. “Does anyone else want some?”

“Won’t Cook have gone to bed?” Tony asked.

“I can make my own hot cocoa, Tony. I did fend for myself for several years,” Rose said. “Are you sure I can’t bring some for the rest of you?”

We declined. Rose headed off in one direction, toward the kitchens, while Belinda and I went upstairs together.There was no escaping the dreaded Mrs. Mannering, lurking to help me undress, but I did refuse her offer to brush my hair again. I thought of taking a bath, as there was a lovely large tub in the bathroom at the far end of the hall, but tiredness overcame me so I made do with a wash in the basin in my room. I had just been down the hall to the lavatory when I passed Belinda’s room. Her door was slightly ajar and I heard voices. Belinda’s voice, high and strained: “Tony, what are you doing? Are you mad? You have to leave immediately.”

I knew I should not be listening in to other people’s conversations but I wouldn’t make myself move.

“Oh come on, Belinda. Don’t be a spoilsport. I thought you and I had something special going once, didn’t we?”

“I wasn’t the one who was engaged to someone else and forgot to mention it,” Belinda said.

“I know. It was stupid of me. I realized later it was you I really wanted. I allowed myself to be seduced by all that Jonquil offered. My own father had lost his fortune. I was in a boring, mindless job that I hated. And here was Jonquil, with Trewoma and properties around the world. An heiress. I knew it was a mistake the moment I married her.”

“A mistake? I thought you were madly in love with her? You were grieving when she died.”

“The truth, Belinda, is that she was a foul person. Completely self-centered. Didn’t care a hoot about me. Invited her lovers down here. Can you believe that? Some chap moored his boat to our dock and Jonquil disappeared down there for the night. But she knew I couldn’t divorce her. I couldn’t give up all this.”

“So it was rather convenient when she died?” Belinda asked.

I held my breath. She was treading on really dangerous ground.

“Convenient? It seemed like a miracle. I couldn’t believe it. I was free.”

“And yet you went and married Rose so quickly. You didn’t come looking for me,” Belinda said.