Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death (The Grantchester Mysteries)

for a more affirmative answer.
    At last, the guests sat down once more, helping themselves to the stilton and awaiting Juliette and Amanda’s return. Nigel suggested retiring to the drawing room, where they could all see in the New Year in greater comfort and settle down to some charades but he was interrupted by the return of his wife, in a black silk peignoir, and Amanda, who smilingly challenged them: ‘I hope you’ve all been behaving. I’ve been looking forward to some champagne. Who’s got my ring?’
    There was a silence.
    ‘I don’t have it,’ said Mary Dowland. ‘I handed it to Sidney . . .’
    ‘And I gave it to Juliette . . .’
    ‘I can’t remember what happened,’ said Juliette. ‘I can’t remember anything. I think it was in front of me.’
    ‘Well, I haven’t got it,’ said Jennifer.
    ‘Nor I,’ said Daphne.
    ‘Then where the hell is it?’ Nigel asked.
    His wife looked frightened. ‘Don’t swear . . .’
    ‘Perhaps it fell on the floor?’ Sidney suggested.
    ‘I didn’t see it there,’ said Mary. ‘And we cleared up quite carefully, didn’t we, Daphne?’
    ‘You couldn’t have swept it into the bin?’ Mark Dowland asked his wife. He had not moved from his chair for the whole evening.
    ‘No, of course not. Do you think this is funny?’
    ‘Or could it have fallen between the floorboards?’ Sidney asked.
    ‘Not a stone that big,’ Guy said quickly.
    Nigel Thompson got down on to his hands and knees. ‘It can’t just have disappeared.’
    Sidney tried to be reassuring. ‘Well, we should all look. It must be here somewhere.’
    The guests stood up and paced around the room, looking into the table decoration, under plates and mats, on the sideboard, across the floor and down the backs of chairs. The ring was nowhere to be found.
    Guy Hopkins began to lose his temper. ‘This is ridiculous.’
    Amanda tried to calm him down. ‘It must be here somewhere, darling.’
    ‘But where?’
    The doorbell rang. ‘That will be my taxi,’ said Daphne Young.
    Her host was surprised. ‘You’re going?’
    ‘It must be early . . . .’
    ‘Have we missed the bells?’ Mark Dowland asked.
    ‘I asked it to come for a quarter past midnight,’ Daphne explained. ‘I am expected elsewhere on the half-hour.’
    Mary Dowland was unable to resist the opportunity for sarcasm. ‘Then it was good of you to stay with us so long.’
    Guy pressed closer. ‘And you’re sure you don’t have my fiancée’s ring?’ he asked.
    ‘Of course I don’t,’ Daphne replied. ‘What do you take me for? You can look in my bag if you like.’
    ‘That won’t be necessary,’ said Nigel.
    ‘It will,’ Guy replied. ‘We have to find the ruddy thing.’
    Daphne opened her bag and emptied its contents on to the dining-room table without a word. Inside had been a compact, perfume, a handkerchief, a set of keys, a little diary, an address book and a small purse which she opened in front of all the other guests. Sixpences, threepenny bits and a ten-shilling note scattered across the table.
    ‘You can look all you like,’ she said. ‘You won’t find it there.’
    ‘Amazing,’ said Johnny Johnson. ‘I’ve never seen inside a woman’s handbag before, Daphne.’
    As Guy scattered the objects of the handbag across the table, examined them and then put them back, piece by piece, Daphne returned to her place, picked up her stole, and finished her glass of port.
    ‘Happy?’ she asked.
    ‘It’s not here,’ Guy complained.
    ‘It is very bad form to look into a lady’s handbag.’
    ‘I’m sorry for the intrusion. I was upset.’
    ‘It’s positively boorish,’ Daphne continued. ‘Now if you don’t mind, I will say goodbye to my host and hostess.’
    Johnny Johnson held up his glass of water. ‘Happy New Year, Daphne.’
    ‘I am sure the ring will turn up in the morning,’ said Sidney.
    ‘The morning?’ Guy exploded. ‘I’m going to search this room and everyone in it.’
    ‘If you’ll excuse me.’ Daphne edged past. ‘Would you like a lift, Canon Chambers? I believe I may be going in your direction.’
    ‘Perhaps I should stay, Jennifer . . .’
    ‘It’s all right, Sidney,’ his sister reassured him. ‘I’m sure the Thompsons won’t mind.’
    ‘I would not want to take you out of your way, Miss Young. You’ve been delayed already this evening, I’m sure.’
    Daphne Young accepted his refusal with alacrity. ‘Indeed, Canon Chambers. A Happy New Year to