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Judith felt an unwelcome tightening in her chest. “Has he been injured?”

“I do not believe so.”

She glanced towards the corridor leading to the dining room, while the gentlemen were sitting over their port. The servants were clearing away the remains of dinner, their movements outwardly ordinary, although she noticed two footmen standing near the service door who had no apparent business there.

“Very well,” she said. “I shall speak to Colonel Renforth.”

Simmons stepped aside with visible relief.

Judith proceeded towards the study, resisting the temptation to run. She had managed Blackthorn through emergencies ranging from chimney fires to a collapsed stable roof, and she would not permit a few suspicious noises and an unusually secretive butler to reduce her to panic.

Nevertheless, she walked rather faster than dignity required.

The study door stood ajar. She heard her uncle’s voice before she reached it.

“Good God, Renforth, the fellow has been in my house for a fortnight!”

“And he may have been doing considerably more than polishing Lord Cranford’s boots,” Manners replied.

Without knocking, Judith pushed open the door.

Sir Lionel occupied the chair behind the desk and looked unusually pale. Renforth stood before the hearth, while Manners leaned against the bookshelves, and Fielding stood near the window.

Baines was nowhere to be seen.

“Uncle, what has happened?”

Sir Lionel turned towards her. “Judy, my dear, I thought you had gone to the drawing room.”

“I had. I changed my mind.”

Renforth rose. “Miss Finch, I had intended to speak with you shortly.”

“Then I have saved you the trouble. Where is Major Baines?”

“He is attending to a matter in the western passage.”

“What matter?”

“A gentleman who had no business being there.”

Judith looked from one face to another. “Who?”

“Mallory,” Fielding answered, “Lord Cranford’s valet.”

For a moment she could only stare at him. “Mallory?”

“Yes.”

“In the concealed passage?”

“He was attempting to leave it when Stuart and I intercepted him.”

Judith glanced towards Renforth. “Then the noise I heard during dinner⁠—?”

“Was probably the sound of Mallory discovering that Captain Fielding is considerably less accommodating than he appears,” Manners said.

Fielding looked mildly offended. “I was perfectly accommodating. I asked him to stop.”