Page 54

He smiled. “Perhaps I enjoy hearing you say it.”

“Cranford, Sir George, Sir Lionel, The Marwoods; Pembroke, I think; Colonel Bosworth, and myself.”

“Miss Finch?”

She paused. “Judith?”

“Yes.”

“She was there with Sir Lionel, yes.”

Had Judith not been there, it would have been too easy. Baines disliked the little twist in his stomach.

“Did she hear the conversation?”

“Everyone did.”

“Servants?”

“Several.”

“And afterwards?”

Lady Beckenham frowned. “I do not follow you. What about afterwards?”

“Did anything unusual occur?”

“That depends upon what you call unusual.”

“At a house-party? Anything involving firearms, clandestine meetings, missing persons, or married women climbing out windows.”

She laughed. “Nothing so dramatic, I am afraid.”

“Pity.”

She looked thoughtful. “Lady Marwood’s necklace broke.”

Baines had no reason to attach importance to it. “And?”

“Her maid took it away.”

“Where?”

“To be repaired, I assume.”

“By whom?”

Lady Beckenham looked amused. “Major, I am not in the habit of interrogating other ladies about their jewellery repairs.”

“Tut tut.”

Her smile widened. There was no more to be gained without becoming obvious, so Baines stood up. “One last question, if you will.”

“I should be astonished if it were.”

“Do you trust everyone here?”

Lady Beckenham looked around the empty morning room as though the absent guests might overhear. “No.”