Murder on the Rocks (A Lady Hardcastle Mystery #13)

There was, indeed, something of a throng in the library, which had clearly been designed not just as a place to hold a very pleasing selection of books from JB’s extensive collection, but as a comfortable, informal gathering place for companionship and conversation.

The Hungarian looked a little the worse for wear and JB asked after his health, but the man scuttled off without answering, leaving Lady Hardcastle to explain in her customary cheerily blithe manner that the poor fellow had taken a tumble on the stairs and we’d been helping to straighten him out.

This much was, at least, partially true – he had taken a tumble and we had most emphatically ‘straightened him out’ – but obviously she kept things suitably vague and her explanation contained nothing that would see us fall foul of the Official Secrets Act.

JB was clearly enchanted by Lady Hardcastle – that happened a lot, to be honest – and he invited us to dine with him ‘and a few friends’. We’d been part of that ever-widening circle of friends ever since.