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The viscount stepped forward at this juncture and added his voice, “I must say, sir, that I find your behavior in my home most objectionable You saunter in here with scarcely a by-your-leave, and think to accost a guest in my house? Depend upon it; you are out there, sir!”

Squire Speenha your pardon, but this matter requires some immediate attention”

“Not in my house, it does not”

The squire turned to his nephew and said griht you and your sister’s ine are inadequate to the task of your title and great estate This is what comes of your lax behavior over the years”

“Get out!” the viscount demanded at once “Out…now! I shall not have my dear, very dear friends insulted in my presence and in my home You, as their uncle should be their protector…and instead, I find you are their worst ene out your notions of what are their faults, instead of holding up their many honorable characteristics Your suspicions are beneath the position you hold as their uncle And besides all that, what possiblepoor Celia?”

“I am afraid you don’t understand the seriousness of the situation As it happens, Agatha Brinley found a page that was obviously torn from Celia’s diary It was in the paper bin and clearly states that Edward of Sherborne is the father of her unborn child!” the squire snapped

“Impossible!” Ned retorted his face flushed “We never did more than kiss…”

“And is it all not too convenient?” Mandy stuck in “A torn page? Who would have torn it and left it to be found? Where is the entire diary? Do you mean to insinuate that Ned tore it out of the diary, killed her, and then left it for soht If he was the killer, ould he leave such a thing behind?”

The squire frowned over this but his son aler at Ned from the…”

Mandy pointed her finger at Alfred’s nose, “Don’t say it Don’t you dare say it!”

Skippy stepped forward and touched Mandy’s shoulder, “Cale from a diary does not make sense”

Ned’s face hite and Mandy bit her lip as she looked at hily

“How can she have written such a thing?” Ned murmured and then looked at the squire, “Kindly allow e”

“In good tiood time Noithout further delay, you had better come with us”

“Oh no, oes nowhere with you until I have seen this piece of work,” Skippy said grimly His usual even teht