Bella giggled, then shivered a little and I slipped out of my coat.
«Allow me.»
She took the coat and draped it about her shoulders. «Perhaps you would care to paint me one day?»
«You wouldn’t prefer the Duke to photograph you?»
«There’s no beauty in chemicals and paper, Lucifer,» she murmured.
«Indeed not. I would… I would consider it a very great honour to paint you, Bella. How would you like it done?»
«Perhaps I could be Jeanne d’Arc… or Helen,» she said, thrusting her shoulders back and lifting up that fine, proud head.
«In Troy? Or being ravished by Zeus? Oh no, that was Leda wasn’t it?»
I moved just a fraction closer to her. A tiny pulse was beating in her throat.
«I think I should like that,» she said quietly.
«To be painted or to be…»
«Ravished?» She laughed her charming, tinkling laugh. She did not move away as my arm brushed hers. «Zeus was fond of all that, was he not? Forever appearing as swans or showers of gold…»
«I know so little about you,» I said suddenly, «but I do not wish to pry.»
«Pry away.»
«You really are
«I really am. I was engaged once. To a count, would you believe?»
I looked at her in the starlight. Her eyes glittered like fragments of amethyst. I could believe princes, kings and emperors might lose their wits over her.
«I must confess that I have posed for a portrait before.»
«Oh yes?»
«Yes. The Count. He paid for a portrait.»
«How did it come out?»
«Indifferently.»
«And what about the Count? How did he come out?»
«Equally indifferently.»
«My dear,» I began, taking her hand, «I am distressed beyond measure to have to go away.»
«To Italy?»
I nodded.
«Business or pleasure?»
I looked down and contemplated her delicate, gloved hand. «Oh, business only. Nothing but the most vital business would take me away from you at this juncture.»
«You would rather stay in London?»
«I would rather stay with you,» I said quietly. «And continue your… instruction.»
I reached out and took her hand in mine. She turned, the curve of her cheek illumined like a crescent moon. Her lips parted and I could feel the warmth of her breath.
All at once, there came the crunch of running footsteps on the gravel below and a figure lolloped towards the terrace. Both of us turned at the sight of him, his handsome face flushed, his cravat all askew. It was Christopher Miracle!
He clattered up the steps and stopped, swaying slightly, when he clapped eyes on me.
«Box!» he cried.
«Miracle! Where the devil have you been? Lady Constance has been manfully holding the fort»
«Thank God you are here! You must help me! Dear God, it is terrible! Terrible!»
I laid a hand upon his arm. «My dear Christopher! What is it? What has happened?»
He shot a glance at Bella.
«Miss Pok,» I said calmly, «perhaps it would be better if you returned to the party»
She shook her head. «I would far rather be of assistance, if I can.»
Miracle gripped my arm. «She’s vanished and they think I have something to do with it!»
«Who has vanished?» asked Bella with a concerned frown.
«Come, Christopher. Let’s get you somewhere warm. Bella, would you check there’s no one observing?»
We slipped him back through into the ballroom and, by sticking close to the heavy curtains, managed to steer him into a panelled corridor without anyone seeing us.
I tried a door and we found ourselves in a darkened study.
Bella lit a lamp as I settled Miracle into a chair and pushed a tumbler of Scotch into his shaking hands.
The glass clattered against his teeth. «They say I was the last person to see her. Now she is missing and — the police don’t say it but they suspect some foul play I’m sure of it!»
«Miracle! Calm yourself! Who has gone missing?»
He looked at me with a puzzled expression. «Have I not said? Why, Mrs Knight, of course. Mrs Midsomer Knight.»
«Who?»
«The woman I told you of. Remember? You must remember.»
«What, the veiled creature?»
Miracle nodded, his head drooping between defeated shoulders.
«Come along, sir,» said Bella gently. «Drink up and tell us all about it.»
Miracle nodded and rubbed his tired face. «Yesterday. It was time for my usual drawing class. I arrived early and so, for the first time, did she. Mrs Knight, that is. That spectre of a husband of hers was just dropping her off.»
I nodded. «And then?»
«I escorted her up the steps of the Institute. She said her husband had some urgent business out of town and so had brought her before her usual time, was this acceptable? I said of course it was, as long as she didn’t mind busying herself until the other ladies arrived.»
«What time was this?»
«Nine-thirty. As soon as we were inside, she excused herself and disappeared into the… er
«She didn’t come back into your room?»
«I went about my work and forgot all about her! At ten, the other ladies came. The Misses Fullalove were at each other’s throats. My mind was elsewhere…»
«Did none of the others notice her absence?» I asked.
He shook his head. «No. At least, none of them remarked upon it.»
«And when did the business begin to assume a more sinister aspect?» said Bella.
«Well, at the end of the lesson when the husband arrived. Of course, I had no idea where she might be. There was the most frightful row and the police were called. A glove was then found, unquestionably belonging to Mrs Knight. A blood-stained glove, Lucifer. In the ladies’ conveniences!»
«And the peelers suspect foul play?»
«We were alone in the building for half an hour before the others arrived. Knight himself saw us on the steps of the Institute. I don’t know where the devil she is but I had nothing to do with it. God help me! I am sworn on my honour not to leave town.»
I exhaled noisily. «Well, this is a pickle.»
«They’ve questioned me over and over and only recently released me. I have nothing to tell them!»
«But they haven’t arrested you!»
«Not yet. But it can only be»
There was some kind of commotion in the corridor beyond. Lady Constance’s voice chuffed in indignation, then there were footsteps on the carpet. Bella looked at me with a fearful expression as we heard first one, then another door being opened and then firmly shut.
Miracle shuddered, his eyes wide with terror.
The door to the study opened admitting a lively little ball of a man with great shaving brushes of hair projecting from his ears and nose. The rest of his face was concealed beneath a derby hat and a pair of massive,