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“Yes, you know him? Good friend, Skippy We met earlier today at the Cock Pit, must have lost it then”

“Ah, yes, I was there myself…and saw you there Indeed, perhaps you dropped it when you ith the viscount,” Sir Owen htfully

“What does it ed “I don’t see that it matters”

“It matters, or it hen the authorities arrive tomorrow and ask us all to produce the notes we had from Miss Brinley,” Sir Owen replied curtly

“Devil fly aith such nonsense It has naught to do with…”

“Indeed,” Mandy put in “I don’t see this point of questioning It brings us no closer to understanding who could have killed our cousin or why”

Ned’s face brightened as he produced a crumpled piece of paper and held it up, “Here is theme to come!” He sounded almost triumphant and Mandy understood Thus far, the questions both Alfred and Sir Oere shooting in her brother’s direction felt almost accusatory

She took the crumpled paper from him and perused it, “Here, indeed, she asks Ned tomore”

Sir Owen put his hand out for the note and Mandy eyed him quizzically but did finally hand it over Why shouldn’t she, she thought She and her brother had nothing to hide

He looked at it only a moment and said, “This is in a different hand than the one that I have”

Mandy turned to Ned, “Who brought you this note?”

“Her

Mandy went directly to the bell pull and gave it a hard tug A moment later, a lackey appeared, and she requested him to ask Celia’s ladies’ maid to present herself in the library

While they aiting Sir Owen said quietly, “I believe the doctor will have more news for us tomorrow You see, Celia confided in me earlier this week She told me she was in a bit of a predicament because she ith child but she wouldn’t tell me who the father was” He looked at Ned “Did you know anything about this?”

Ned’s eyes opened wide and he turned to his sister and said, “I swear, I have never been with her…not like that…”