As they walked through the formal gardens, Faro accommodating his loping stride to her more leisurely pace, he discovered that Miss Fortescue was having problems with her light shoes on the gravel. It occurred to him that she was brave to tackle a walk outdoors at all, especially as the one pair of sturdy, sensible shoes even ladies-in-waiting to Grand Duchess might be expected to possess had been lost with her luggage on the night of the accident.
'Shall we keep to the grass, miss? That would be more comfortable for you.'
'It would indeed.' Her smile was grateful.
'What was it you wished to talk to me about?' he asked.
She looked at him wide-eyed. 'How ever did you guess? You are clever.' And as Faro shrugged off the compliment: 'It is such a relief to get you alone. I desperately need to tell you the whole story - as it is coming back to me, quite gradually, of course.'
Her tone warned him not to expect too much. Then halting, she gazed up into his face. 'Quite frankly, Inspector, I am frightened.'
Frightened. He hadn't expected that.
She sighed deeply before continuing. 'I have decided that I must take you into my confidence, Inspector.'
Ah, thought Faro, now we're getting somewhere at last. This could be the break he was waiting for, the thread to lead him through the labyrinth of mystery and misinformation.
' - You see, Amelie wished to keep her journey secret from the President, her husband. She didn't want him to know that she was in fact negotiating with Her Majesty's government to intercede in their problems -'
'May I be permitted to enquire - the nature of these problems?' Faro interrupted.
'I'm not sure...' she began vaguely.
Faro stopped walking. 'Look, miss, if I'm to help you and you have decided to trust me, then it is essential that we go right back to the beginning -'
'The beginning,' she echoed, as if that thought had never occurred to her.
'Yes, miss. I'm told that you have been with the Duchess since you were both children and I expect that means you are very close.' He paused. 'And that you share her secrets?' Silence followed this statement. 'Am I right?' he asked gently.
Miss Fortescue sighed.
'Perhaps you know better than anyone else the reasons for her disappearance. Without being aware of it, you may even hold the key to her present whereabouts.'
It was a bold suggestion, considering the doleful nature of his own suspicions, but he added encouragingly, 'I gather from what I have heard, officially and from private sources, that Her Highness is a lady of spirit and courage.'
Miss Fortescue laughed. 'Indeed she is. Rumour has not lied, Inspector.' She looked up at him earnestly. 'Yes, and I am quite sure she would put her trust in you, as I am doing.'
With a sigh she continued: 'You are right, I probably know her better than anyone else, far better than her husband - that odious man -'
'The beginning, miss, if you please.'
'Of course. Amelie is related to both the Queen and Prince Albert, as you probably are aware. She was born on their wedding day, 10 February 1840, and that made her very special to both of them. Indeed, they regarded her sentimentally as their very first child, rather than a mere god-daughter. Their visits to Luxoria were frequent and she came to Windsor Castle with her parents -'
She paused to sigh sadly. 'She adored Uncle Albert, was distraught when he died, and I do believe she was a great comfort to her Aunt Vicky at that time.' She was silent, staring bleakly at the treetops, as if overcome by the memory.
'And you accompanied her on these visits?'
She looked at him blankly for a moment, still lost in the other sad world. 'Some of them.' She sighed. 'When she was seventeen there was a revolution in Luxoria. Such a thing had never happened in its history before. Her bastard cousin Gustav had himself elected President. He knew that by marrying Amelie he would destroy the final opposition. Amelie scorned the idea. She hated him. But he refused to take no for an answer.'
She was silent, walking faster now at his side, as if to escape that distant sorrow.
'And - ?' said Faro.
'He forced himself upon her.' Her voice rose. 'He got her with child so that she had no other option but to marry him. Three months later, a few weeks after their marriage, she miscarried. There will be no other child now, and Gustav needs an heir.'
He smiled. 'She is young still to give up hope.'
'In years, perhaps. But after fifteen years of marriage it seems highly unlikely. Besides, Gustav has a mistress who has recently presented him with a son.'
She paused to allow the significance of that remark to sink in.
'Are you hinting that your mistress might be in danger?' Faro asked. Here at last was a clue, the one undeniable reason for murder. Royal princes throughout history had resorted to the disposal of barren wives by fair means or foul, when presented with an heir, even an illegitimate one.
'Danger?' Miss Fortescue repeated. 'I don't think that has ever entered her mind. Amelie refuses to divorce him, for by so doing, she would relinquish any hope of restoring the Royal party to power. Besides, she has learned through all these dreadful years that personal interests must never be allowed to intrude where her main duty lies. To her country and her people.'
She looked at him. 'Perhaps it is difficult for you or anyone not of royal blood to understand such things, Inspector.'
Faro smiled and shook his head. 'Not for me, miss. I understand perfectly. I know all about duty. It is, or should be, a policeman's first rule. To his sovereign and to the people he serves.'
Miss Fortescue laughed and put a hand on his arm. 'Why, Inspector, we seem to have a great deal in common.' And eyeing him shrewdly: 'I was right, I am sure. Amelie would approve. She
