She was blinking fast. Her breathing settled. Ling Ling was already at her side, talking without drawing breath. She turned Peng’s head from left to right and peered into her eyes. She looked at me, gave me a small nod and continued to speak fast to Peng.

‘What’s going on? Is Minister Peng all right?’ Frederick appeared next to me.

‘She had an allergic reaction. There must’ve been nuts in her food.’ I added, ‘We need an ambulance.’ For a listening Geraint’s benefit.

Ling Ling approached me. ‘Minister Peng is very grateful you English are so good with your health and safety.’

‘It’s what we’re here for. Always prepared.’

Wycombe was fussing next to Peng, horrified that the caterers had apparently poisoned the guest of honour. There was a lot of gesticulating in between holding Peng’s hand.

The MP arrived back at the table and looked a little confused that so many people were now crowding round his seat. He hovered next to us, clearly contemplating whether he could reach over and get his wine glass.

Ling Ling continued, ‘We want to get her back to a London hospital.’

‘Of course. An ambulance is already on its way.’

Geraint crackled in. ‘The ambulance we had on standby will be there in three minutes. Hattie says to meet him outside now.’

I motioned to Frederick to watch Peng and walked out.

*

Hattie was waiting for me at the castle entrance, his mouth set in a thin line.

‘How did you know it was going to happen? Geraint told me you asked him for an EpiPen from the van’s medical kit.’

‘I had a hunch and it just paid off.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘If I was the Coyote I would’ve used her nut allergy.’

Hattie frowned. ‘But her nut allergy isn’t severe enough to kill her. You saw the medical records.’

‘Yes but it’s bad enough it has to be treated with an EpiPen—’

‘And an EpiPen is easily tampered with,’ Hattie finished.

‘Peng’s bodyguard and Ling Ling both carry an EpiPen in case she has an attack. We need to get hold of them and get them tested.’

‘I talked to the caterers out by the service entrance and they were fully aware of Peng’s nut allergy. They said they even took care with cross-contamination by preparing her food in a separate area.’

‘So someone would’ve had to spike it. Don’t suppose there are any cameras inside the kitchen?’

Hattie shook his head. ‘There are no internal cameras in the whole castle. It could’ve been anyone.’ We both turned to the sound of the ambulance arriving down the drive.

*

I retrieved my bag from my room and was heading back outside just as Peng was carried out by stretcher. She grabbed my arm as she passed.

‘Thank you,’ she mouthed. I patted her hand.