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Looking up, she realised she was expected to answer whatever question their guest had posed.

‘I have no objection,’ she murmured hesitantly, with absolutely no idea as to what it was she had no objection to.

Whatever it was, her father frowned slightly, clearly taken aback by her answer, and Beatrix bit her lip, looking over at her twin. Even Bernie looked a bit surprised. Bloody hell, what the devil had she agreed to?

‘I think it best if we simply arrive at Grainger and Holt without a prior appointment,’ Rob was saying. ‘They may not give us an appointment to meet with the firm’s partners, but I think we might well learn more by putting them on the spot. They won’t be expecting two visitors from Australia to turn up without warning asking questions about a missing child. Surprise, I believe, is our ally here.’

Rhys nodded slowly. ‘I don’t think they are likely to make a connection between what happened in Bristol today and a solicitor only just arrived from the other side of the world,’ he agreed.

‘And you’re right, it may also give us further insight into what’s happened to Tom,’ Ben added. ‘Sticking to the truth of why you’re actually here is the best way forward.’

‘But if they’re going to pretend to be married, aren’t they going to need to spend a little more time together to avoid tying themselves up in knots?’ Alex argued.

Beatrix blinked. Married… She opened and closed her mouth like a fish.

‘Oh, I have every faith that Beatrix will rise to the occasion.’ Charlotte’s brisk comment was made with her customary sniff. ‘After all, we’re talking about the same young lady who only a couple of weeks ago rebuked a client out loud for contemplating giving us the boot.’

Bea gasped, glaring at her two older sisters. Which one of them had let it slip? ‘It wasn’t quite like that,’ she protested. ‘I don’t believe that Mrs Pettigrew had any interest at all in discovering who had taken her necklace – in fact, she probably already…’ She paused, her eyes widening as she finally realised what had been bothering her. Sitting forward, she breathed, ‘The Lovelaces.’

CHAPTER 10

Ben looked over at her, and leaned forward, his face suddenly intent. ‘What about them?’ he quizzed.

‘They are a thread left dangling,’ Bea answered, ‘When you and Bella visited their house, you were certain that Mrs Lovelace at least knew more about the missing jewellery, and you said yourself that she looked terrified when you mentioned Margaret Finch had been murdered.’

Ben nodded slowly, his mind replaying the meeting.

‘Since Castel-a-Mare, we’ve been overtaken by events - your forced transfer, Benedict; Robert arriving from Australia; Billy’s discovery of Muriel’s whereabouts. So, by necessity, the Lovelaces have been put to one side – especially as their possible involvement in the thefts was conveniently forgotten by the official version of events.’

‘But what if they were not simply involved in the jewellery thefts, but the wider conspiracy?’ She turned to Arabella, adding, ‘Bella, you said their house rivalled that of Washington Singer. It must have cost them a pretty penny. Where has their money come from? Are they titled? Do they have connections?’ She paused before finally asking, ‘Were they the ones who played the crooked cross on Margaret Finch?’

Benedict sagged back at her words, silent for a moment before thumping a fist into the palm of his hand, his frustration palpable. ‘I’ve made a damn dish-up of it,’ he acknowledged through gritted teeth. ‘We may have been overtaken by events, but that’s no excuse. I was content to believe the Lovelaces simply part of the thefts and nothing more.’

‘Don’t berate yourself, Ben,’ Henry told him sternly. ‘You’re a damn good policeman, but you’re not omnipotent. There are simply too many threads for so few of us to deal with. This was bound to happen sooner or later.’

‘You’re barking at a knot, Benedict,’ Charlotte added brusquely. ‘Naturally, we need to look further into Mr and Mrs Lovelace. I suggest that while Robert and Beatrix are in Exeter, Bernice and I pay them another visit while Rhys and Alexandra see if they can find any information about their financial dealings.’

‘I should come with you,’ Ben growled, clearly not yet ready to let his self-recrimination go.

‘That will not serve,’ Charlotte retorted. ‘If the Lovelaces are involved, they could well report that you’re sticking your nose into matters you’ve already been warned not to. Jacob White may well decide not to wait until your journey to York.’

‘I take your point,’ Ben conceded, ‘but you may well be placing yourselves in danger by asking more questions concerning the thefts and Margaret Finch’s murder.’

Charlotte snorted. ‘Please don’t concern yourself, I’ve been inventing Canterbury tales since before you were born.’

Henry gave a bark of laughter. ‘Can I have that in writing, Lottie?’ he asked drily.

Charlotte’s response was a flat stare, which naturally didn’t bother her sibling.

‘I have arranged to have a cup of tea with Mrs Wiggins and Muriel Pemberton’s landlady tomorrow afternoon, Bernie declared, so if you wish me to accompany you, it will have to be the day after.’

‘I could come with you,’ Arabella offered, after a concerned glance towards Benedict.

To her surprise, Ben shook his head decisively. She found herself bristling slightly at his high-handedness until he went on to remind her that since she’d been present with him on their previous visit, it would be nigh on impossible for her to turn up again in a completely different capacity.

‘I’ll come with you,’ Henry declared. ‘You might be good at devising Canterbury tales, Lottie, but I believe I am a little more practical than you. My attendance will ensure that you don’t talk us into something we’re unable to extract ourselves from,’ He paused while Charlotte frowned, stuck out her ample bosom in outrage and opened her mouth to protest.

Henry merely raised his eyebrows and said two words. ‘Mabel Peabody…’