The high-ceilinged, draughty hall was anything but inviting, but no fault could be found with the warmth of the welcome bestowed upon them by their hostess as they entered the drawing-room. Lord Chiltham, too, was urbanity itself, praising his sister-in-law on her charming appearance before introducing her to his youngest brother, Edward, who was at present residing with them and who, Elizabeth noted with a wry smile, was in the gravest danger of continuing the family tradition by doubling the size of his girth by middle age.

Several people had been invited to dine and the sumptuous meal, which included numerous courses and a wide variety of richly prepared dishes, as Lord Chiltham was not famed for his abstinence, was most enjoyable. Afterwards the ladies returned to the drawing-room and Elizabeth found herself seated beside the lady who had accompanied Evadne on her visit to Dartwood Manor two days before.

Apart from the fact that Caroline Westbridge resided in Hampshire, and happened to be Sir Richard’s nearest neighbour, Elizabeth knew absolutely nothing about her. She had seemed rather ill at ease when she had made that visit with Evadne, barely uttering a word, while at the same time watchful.

This evening, however, she appeared far more relaxed and chatted away on a variety of topics before announcing quite unexpectedly, ‘You are nothing like your sister, Miss Beresford.’

Elizabeth had heard this remarked upon too many times in the past to experience the least pang of jealousy. Although she held her sister in scant regard, she had to own that Evadne, even though not in her first flush of youth, was still an extremely pretty woman.

She glanced across the room to where her sister stood conversing with the Rector’s wife and eldest daughter. Considering Evadne had borne two children, her figure was good, and although perhaps her complexion could no longer withstand close inspection, her blonde hair still retained its guinea-gold lustre.

‘No, I bear no resemblance to my sister whatsoever. There’s no denying that Evadne was the beauty in the family, and I must confess she has retained her looks remarkably well.’

‘She certainly has,’ Mrs Westbridge agreed. ‘But I was thinking more of the difference between you in temperament.’

Although she had spoken levelly enough, there was something in the tone which puzzled Elizabeth. She had assumed that Mrs Westbridge was an old friend of Evadne’s, but she experienced the oddest feeling, now, that this was far from the case.

‘Have you been acquainted with my sister long, ma’am?’

‘My husband was Lord Chiltham’s cousin. We became acquainted through our husbands.’

‘Was?’ Elizabeth echoed.

‘I’ve been a widow for five years.’

‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.’

‘One grows accustomed, Miss Beresford. My son is my life now. He’ll be going to university in the autumn, and I must confess I miss him dreadfully when he’s away from home.’

‘I see you two are getting along famously.’

Evadne’s sudden interruption brought the little teˆte-a`-teˆte to an abrupt end. It seemed to bring a cessation to Caroline Westbridge’s friendly and easygoing manner too. Although she added one or two snippets to the ensuing conversation, she appeared to have grown tense quite suddenly, with that watchful, almost wary look returning to her eyes.

Elizabeth was not granted the opportunity to dwell on this rather puzzling circumstance, for a few minutes later the door opened and the gentlemen rejoined them. Evadne was in her element, and it rather amused Elizabeth to discover just how much pleasure her sister derived from playing the hostess.

There was no denying that she was extremely adept at the role, dismissing such mundane entertainments as cards or charades as commonplace, and encouraging most of her guests to join in one of her, now, famous treasure hunts. Only Lord Chiltham, the Rector and his wife refused to be tempted. Names were written on pieces of paper and placed in a bowl, and Richard, his being the first name to be drawn out, found himself partnered with Caroline Westbridge, which seemed not to displease either of them. The Rector’s daughter was teamed up with the very handsome son of the local squire, which left Edward Chiltham to make up the last pairing with Elizabeth.

She was not too disappointed at this. Edward was an amiable enough young man, if a trifle light-minded, but the bright glint in his eyes, which suggested that he had been imbibing rather too freely of his brother’s port, did cause her a moment’s disquiet.

Handing each pair a folded sheet of paper on which was written their first clue, Evadne started each couple off at ten-minute intervals. Elizabeth and Edward were the last to begin and it didn’t take Elizabeth very long to realise that she would be doing most of the searching and solving of clues on her own, as Edward appeared far more interested in reducing the levels in the decanters placed in the various rooms.

By the time she had discovered the whereabouts of the fifth clue, taped to the back of the mantel-clock in the Yellow Salon, Edward had succumbed to his excesses and had fallen sound asleep on the sofa; whereas Richard and Caroline, having satisfactorily completed the hunt in record time, were making their way back along the gallery towards the head of the stairs.

‘Evadne is quite famous for her treasure hunts, and I must say it does make a pleasant change from sitting down and playing cards.’

‘Yes, most enjoyable,’ Richard concurred. ‘But I think someone should drop Lady Chiltham a hint to play her games only during the summer months. Some of these rooms are confoundedly draughty!’

Caroline laughingly agreed. ‘I must say my bedchamber is not the most comfortable of rooms. Fortunately my visit this time is only a brief one,’ she confided, smiling up at his handsome face.

She had been a close neighbour of the Knightleys for almost sixteen years. Richard had been little more than a boy when she had first gone to live in Hampshire with her husband. She had liked his brother very much, and Richard’s sister-in-law had been a particular friend. Their deaths had upset her deeply; but she had never doubted Richard’s ability to take his brother’s place as head of the family. He had inherited the Knightley temperament, steadfast and reliable, and had already won the respect of his tenants and estate workers during the few short months he had been back in England.

‘How long do you intend to remain in Devon?’ His sudden scowl surprised her. ‘I’m sorry, Richard. I didn’t mean to pry.’

‘No, no. I wasn’t thinking that,’ he hurriedly assured her, his attractive smile erasing the lines in his forehead. ‘I really haven’t given it much thought…Another week, maybe two.’

‘Lord and Lady Dartwood seem a charming couple,’ she remarked after a moment’s silence.

‘Yes, they are. I’ve known the Viscount for some time, of course. Before he came into the title he was in the army. We spent several years together out in the Peninsula. But this is the first time I’ve met his wife.’

‘Am I right in thinking that she and Miss Beresford were at school together?’

‘Yes, yes, they were. The Viscountess thinks a great deal of her.’

Caroline paused for a moment before descending the stairs. ‘I had the pleasure of speaking to her earlier and thought her a most charming and likeable young woman.’

She chanced to glance up at him as he opened the drawing-room door for her and caught a look in his eyes, a strange mixture of tenderness and what appeared suspiciously like exasperation, and couldn’t help but wonder whether the Dartwoods’ hospitality was the reason he seemed disinclined to leave Devonshire, or something else entirely.

‘How quick you have been!’ Evadne exclaimed as they entered the room. ‘I can see I’m going to have to make the clues more difficult in future.’