The Missing Duchess by Alanna Knight Page A

out. She will be more comfortable with us, and now that her memory has returned she does not feel she can impose any further on Sir Hedley. Although, of course, his place is more adjacent to Holyrood.'
    Her frown indicated that the decision had been difficult. Faro thought that it was all too obvious to anyone who had ever set foot - or nose - within the walls of Solomon's Tower.
    As she spoke she opened her reticule, but instead of the photograph Faro now hoped was the reason for her visit, she took out a dainty lace handkerchief and patted her nose.
    'Fortunately, I can provide her with items from my wardrobe, we are of the same size - until her luggage arrives -eventually,' she added, but Faro felt there was little hope in the word or in her expression as she said it.
    'Miss Fortescue still has no idea of what might have happened to her mistress?'
    'Not the slightest. We do try to keep her spirits up, Inspector, we try to get her to look on the bright side. But it is extremely hard, very hard indeed. She is prone to the most gloomy thoughts.' She paused before adding: 'She could, of course, have gone to Holyrood. I think that was on her mind at one point. But as you see, that would not do at all. She is most anxious that there is no fuss, as she calls it. The Grand Duchess would be most distressed when she, er, arrives.'
    'But, surely - look, Lady Lethie, I have it on good authority that the Queen is on her way down from Balmoral. Once she arrives, then Miss Fortescue must go and tell her what has happened.'
    'Oh, so Her Majesty is coming,' Sara Lethie smiled. She looked oddly relieved by this information. Terhaps you will let us know immediately she arrives. I do hope it will be very soon as we are due to go to France for a family wedding -'
    And Sara Lethie stood up and drew on her gloves. Conscious of her air of relief, he decided to spare her the painful details of his interview with the Prime Minister.
    'I do hope you will forgive me intruding upon you in this way, Inspector. I'm sure you are a very busy man, but as I was coming to Edinburgh today - one of my committees, you know - I decided I must try and see if there was any further news I could take to Miss Fortescue.' She paused for breath.
    'She really is most anxious. In fact, we all are. Everyone is pretending that there will be a perfectly logical reason for the Grand Duchess not arriving, but after the accident -' She shuddered.
    'How well did you know Miss Fortescue?'
    Sara Lethie looked startled by the question, but only for a moment. She managed a nervous laugh. 'Not at all really. But the Fortescues have been friends of ours for - oh, generations. Roma's father is a court official in Luxoria. They have served the Grand Duchy since the eighteenth century when they followed Prince Charles Edward Stuart's father into exile.'
    She looked at him earnestly. 'You will keep us informed, Inspector - when you have any further news.'
    'Immediately, Lady Lethie.'
    At the door she turned. 'Do you think this could be the work of, well, some foreign conspiracy?'
    'That thought had not occurred to me.' So she wasn't aware of the unsound marriage and the possibility of a romantic assignation. 'Are you suggesting that the Grand Duchess might have been kidnapped?'
    If only that were true, he thought. That she was still alive, and in one piece.
    'Something like that, perhaps.'
    'I'm sure you're mistaken, Lady Lethie. However, it would be a great help if you had a photograph of Her Highness -solely for our purposes. You can rely on our discretion.'
    Sara Lethie frowned. 'I think there might be one, taken a long time ago. Possibly Miss Fortescue will have one of a more recent date.' She smiled. 'I'm sure she'll be best able to help you. They have been together since childhood. Very close, you know, grew up together. Why don't you talk to her?'
    That was precisely what Faro intended. A personal talk with the lady-in-waiting would better suit the purpose of his enquiries than any