Murder Most Royal

‘What did you want to know?’

‘I was looking through some of my mother’s letters recently and they mentioned that Baroness Mundy went through a particularly difficult moment. It was when the children were quite young. Valentine had just gone to hospital, I think. And you looked after Lee.’

Moira stiffened again. ‘Yes, I did, briefly. Why?’

The Queen ignored the question. ‘Since her death, a lot has happened. But I think it all goes back to that moment. Lee was a good friend of my mother’s. Sadly, I can’t ask her about it, so I’m asking you.

’

Moira pursed her lips. ‘I can’t quite believe I’m saying this, ma’am, but I can’t help you. I made a promise to Lee at that time. Her secrets were her secrets. I haven’t told a soul.’

‘I believe you,’ the Queen said. ‘I think I know what those secrets might be and I haven’t heard any talk to that effect, so she protected them well. She trusted the right people.’

‘I like to think so.’

‘It’s all very admirable, but there’s a murderer at large.

I believe we should all do what we can for the sake of justice. Can I tell you what I suspect?’

Moira agreed that she could.

Moira gave the Queen a steady look and didn’t say anything. The Queen carried on.

‘I’ve always liked Hugh, and I’m sorry to think he was so unkind to the boy, but what if he suspected that the real father was his cousin, Ned? Valentine looks like a typical St Cyr – he has the height and hair, the distinctive profile. Who else could have given him those features? I wonder if Valentine himself saw it, too, at Lee’s funeral, when Ned attended.

That was the first time he had met him in person, as far as I know. There is something about meeting a relative in person that’s different from seeing them in photographs. One can have an extra sense of them that can’t always be explained. I’ve often had that feeling myself.’

Moira looked down, considering what to say. ‘And Hugh suspected an affair, you mean?’ she asked eventually. ‘That Lee had been unfaithful with his cousin?’

‘It seems an obvious conclusion,’ the Queen said.

‘Lee knew Ned first. I can imagine that would be very difficult for a man to come to terms with. Very difficult indeed.’

Moira tipped her head back and regarded the Queen speculatively through half-lowered lids. ‘It would be, wouldn’t it?’ Then she got up, went to the kitchen and came back with her handbag. She took out a slim, black pen-like object and held it up.