Naughty In Nice (A Royal Spyness Mystery)

enough to explain,” I said, trying to sound calm and in control of this situation. “I came home, walked on the terrace, looked down and spotted Sir Toby floating in his swimming pool. I called for help, but nobody came from his house, so I made my way down the cliff to see if I could help him. When I was close enough, I could see that he was dead, so I climbed back up and we summoned the police.”
    He shook his head. “No, mademoiselle. You were seen entering his house by the front entrance.”
    I sighed again. “Yes, of course. I did go to visit Sir Toby earlier in the day. But that was in the morning, when I can assure you Sir Toby was alive and well, and his manservant was also there to let me in.”
    Lafite’s eyes narrowed. “You did not mention this to me when I questioned you earlier. In fact, you gave me to understand that you did not know Sir Toby. And yes, his manservant tells us that not only did you visit him at his house, but you went out sailing on his yacht—just the two of you. This does not indicate to me persons that do not know each other.”
    “I thought it had no relevance to his murder, since there would be plenty of witnesses to confirm that he was alive when I left his boat. And I only met Sir Toby last night. I admired his yacht and he was kind enough to invite me out for a short sail. That was the only time I had any contact with him. I had never been to his house before or after.”
    “But again you attempt to deceive Lafite.” He wagged his finger at me. “You are not telling the truth, I think. You were seen by a reliable witness entering the house of Sir Toby at around three o’clock this afternoon—which happens to be the time that the doctor has estimated for Sir Toby’s murder. What is more, this reliable witness describes your behavior as furtive. He says you crept through the shrubbery as if you did not wish to be seen. And you were carrying something. What have you got to say to that?”
    “I say it is nonsense,” I replied. “At three o’clock this afternoon I was at the villa of the Marquis de Ronchard. He and his servants can vouch for me.”
    “And you left his villa at what time?”
    I frowned. “I’m not quite sure of the time . . .”
    “You are not quite sure of the time,” he mimicked.
    “It was immediately after it started raining,” I said. “I was certainly home by four.”
    “Giving you enough time to pay a visit to the villa of Sir Toby,” he said triumphantly.
    “It was pouring with rain,” I said.
    “Murders can be committed in the rain, I believe. But my witness does not mention rain. I suspect it was a short, sharp shower and it had stopped by the time you paid your visit.”
    “This is absurd,” I said. “Pray, what would my motive have been, given that I had never met Sir Toby until last night?”
    “Who can say? You come to the Riviera and immediately a valuable necklace is stolen from your neck. And the next day you are alone with a man who is murdered. We in the police of France are taught not to believe in coincidences. What do these two events have in common? we ask ourselves, and the answer to both the robbery and the murder is you, mademoiselle.”
    He wasn’t going to get the manner of address right, or else he was being deliberately rude to me. I sighed. “I am a member of the ruling family of England and as such I hardly like to steal the queen’s necklace or to kill a man I had never met before.”
    “We have done a little prying into your affairs, Lady Georgiana.” He was looking even more smug by now. “And we find that, yes, you are related to the king, but that your brother and yourself are in dire financial straits. You have no money, Lady Georgiana. You have no prospect of any money. Maybe you took the necklace, then set up a plan to rob Sir Toby?”
    “Utter rubbish!” I said. “Ask anyone who knows me. They will vouch for my character. I have had plenty of chances to marry for money or to live with a richer family member. I choose to make my own way, living in poverty. I have pride and I have integrity.”
    “Very well. I take your word on this for the moment. So let us then say that it was a crime of passion.”
    “Of passion?” I almost laughed out loud. “I felt no passion for Sir Toby, I assure you.”
    He leaned closer to me. His garlic breath became stronger, almost overpowering in that small room. “I understand that you leaped from Sir Toby’s yacht into the arms of the marquis.