‘I’ll hover at your shoulder,’ she said. ‘The handwriting is my own and difficult to decipher. Can you tell me for whom you are searching?’
‘I’m looking for a name which is here on your first list but not on the lists the Branch men made of arrivals at the ball.’ Lily took two sheets from her handbag. ‘Here’s the cast in order of appearance. And here’s another list, with superb efficiency, giving the same names in alphabetical order.’
The princess sighed. ‘Two hundred names to consider! But you were right to come to me. I can shorten the task, I believe. The evening was very well attended. It was the society event of the year in the highest circles and there were few indeed who failed to make an appearance. And I am aware of all of them. Two gentlemen, two ladies. Now … the Duke and Duchess of Sunderland … here they are, you see, on my list … did not attend. Elderly couple. He fell off his horse last week and is confined to his estate. Here we have Miss Millicent Gregory (Ludmilla Gregorovich back home in Russia) who found herself unavoidably detained in Paris.’ The princess sniffed her disapproval.
‘By an Italian tenor?’ Lily enquired sympathetically, remembering her aunt’s list.
‘You have it,’ said the princess. ‘My word! The Yard is all-knowing.’
‘Can you describe Miss Gregory?’
‘Pretty as a peony, with half the intelligence. Wet as a worm.’ She paused for a moment. ‘Ludmilla couldn’t brew up a cup of tea let alone administer a dose of cyanide. If it’s a poisoner you’re looking for in the cracks in these lists, she’s not the one.’
A beringed finger pointed to a name near the end of the page. ‘And, lastly, here you see the Spanish envoy to the Court of St James. Ah, now there’s a handsome villain! He could kill anyone. He’s cut a swathe through Europe. Those that don’t fall to his charm fall to his knife. I was looking forward to meeting him. But he was envoyed back home last week for bad behaviour more blatant than usual. Can you tell me more precisely what you have in mind?’
‘As you suppose, we’re looking for the man or woman who poisoned Gustavus, by design or by mistake.’
‘But you fear the Prince of Wales was the target? My dear Lily, you’ve taken leave of your senses. Your prince was never in danger. He was among friends and subjects. He could have raised a squadron of admirers and protectors amongst this company — there was no safer place in England for him to spend the evening. He was as safe as the Pope surrounded by his Swiss Guard! And Edward knew that. That is why, against all advice from your secret services, he felt able to accept the invitation. No — whoever the assassin, I would say he got his man. Though I could wish he hadn’t chosen my party as the scene of his crime. Aren’t there dark alleys enough in London? So inconsiderate!’ The princess gave a grating laugh. ‘ Mais, quand même — good luck to him!’