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“It went well,” she said, unwilling to let him hear a complaint pass her lips. “I wonder if I might say hello to Mr. O’Flannagan?”

Horace raised his eyebrows. “What do you want with the boss?”

“Just to meet him,” she said. “Since I’m working on his staff now.”

Horace shook his head. “Well, you just missed him,” he said. “He was in a rush to get somewhere, and he only stopped in for a few minutes tonight.”

Astrid’s heart sank. “I missed him?”

“Don’t get so worked up. He’ll be in tomorrow. Talk to him then.”

She nodded. He was right. But she supposed a part of her had been holding out hope for a miracle, that perhaps she would be able to get the information she needed from O’Flannagan tonight and spare herself even one more day of this place.

She made her way home in the dark, feeling distraught and fearful as she negotiated the streets leading back to Middleborough Manor. Her father would have been appalled to see her out alone at night like this.Conor wouldn’t like it either,she thought.

And she could see, now, why it was something her father had tried for so many years to keep her from. There was no one around—rightnow. But it felt as though someone could jump out from around a corner at any moment and threaten her life.

Turning onto the drive that led up to the manor’s front door felt like a long exhale. Doing her best to keep to the shadows in case anyone was looking out any of the windows, Astrid ran up to the front door.

It swung open as shed climbed the stairs. Betsy was waiting for her in the foyer, an anxious look on her face.

“Oh, Betsy!” Astrid flung herself into her maid’s arms.

“We have to get upstairs, My Lady. Quickly.”

Astrid followed Betsy without another word, racing on tiptoes up the stairs and into her chambers. Once the door was shut, she looked up at Betsy anxiously. “Did anyone notice I was gone?” she asked.

“No one,” Betsy reassured her. “Here. I saved a sandwich from the kitchen for you. I’m afraid it’s not as nice a supper as you could have had if you were here. I had to eat your chicken pie so that I could return the dishes and make the kitchen think you’d eaten it.”

“You did right.” Astrid accepted the sandwich and took a big bite. She hadn’t realized until that moment just how hungry she was. “You were right about that place, Betsy. It was horrible.”

“Did you find what you need?”

“I’m afraid not,” Astrid admitted. “I’m going to have to go back and try again tomorrow.”

Betsy frowned. “I wish you wouldn’t,” she said quietly. “I’ve been thinking about it, My Lady, and I don’t think Lord Middleborough would want us to do this. He would want me to convince you to stay home, where it’s safe.”

“I know he would,” Astrid said. “But I can’t be convinced, I’m afraid.”

Betsy bit her lip.

“Don’t worry, Betsy,” Astrid reassured her maid. “It isn’t at all your fault. There’s nothing you can do to stop me. But I won’t be able to rest until I’ve cleared his name. I have to keep visiting the Angry Boar until I speak to Killian O’Flannagan and hear from him personally what he thinks about Lord Hayward’s murder.”

* * *

The second day was shaping up to be just as bad as the first, with one minor exception—Vivian seemed marginally less irritated by Astrid’s presence. It would take a little more time, Astrid thought, but it was possible that the veteran barmaid could be convinced that Astrid was up to this job after all.

In a way, it’s too bad I’m not planning on staying here for long,she thought to herself.As soon as I win Vivian’s favor, I’ll be leaving, and she’ll feel she was right about me all along.

She turned to gather more mugs from the table behind her—

And was startled by the sight of her father’s face in the crowd.

She very nearly dropped all the mugs in her hands. What washedoing here, of all places? He had been Conor’s solicitor. He would surely know about the bad blood between Conor and O’Flannagan. Had he really been coming to the Angry Boar the whole time? Could he have betrayed her like that?

Then another thought, a much more frightening one, slammed into her mind, and she turned and bolted for the kitchen, letting the swinging door shut behind her.

I can’t let him see me!