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returned home and said it was very urgent.” Hart’s impassive expression never changed, but sitting beside him, Francesca could feel the tension coiled up in him. She could not help herself, and she reached out to cover his hand with her own. He glanced at her with a slight smile that failed to reach his gold-flecked eyes.
    â€œAnd do you have any clue as to what could be so urgent?” Newman asked.
    Hart did not hesitate. “I felt certain the matter was a financial one.”
    Newman glanced at Francesca, his cheeks becoming a bit pink.
    Francesca was willing to let him off the hook. “I am well aware of the fact, Inspector, that Daisy was Calder’s mistress.”
    He blushed. “I am sorry, Miss Cahill, to bring up such a delicate subject. You spoke as if the affair had ended?”
    â€œIt ended the day Francesca agreed to become my wife,” Hart said flatly. “The morning of February 24.”
    Francesca looked at him in real surprise. He recalled the exact date she had accepted his proposal? He turned to smile at her, when Rick Bragg walked purposefully into the room.
    Francesca leapt to her feet, very relieved to see him. Calder’s half brother was a very handsome man, but the two men shared little resemblance. Bragg had tawny hair and a golden complexion, as did most of the Bragg men, while Hart was as darkas midnight. He glanced between Francesca and Hart as he approached them, his expression grim. Hart’s face settled into an unreadable, emotionless mask.
    Francesca was aware of the new currents of tension swirling in the room as she clasped both of Rick’s hands. “I am so glad you are here! Calder was just giving his statement, Rick. Of course, you know that Daisy is dead.”
    â€œSo I have been told,” he said, kissing her cheek. “Are you all right?”
    She nodded. “Yes, of course. But Rose is devastated.” She hesitated, then dared to add, “Calder is upset, too.”
    Rick clearly did not believe that. “What are you doing here, Francesca? You are a witness to the murder?”
    â€œNot really,” Francesca said quickly. She realized Bragg had not released her hands and that Hart watched them like a hawk. She gently disengaged herself. “Rose found the body and sent a note, asking me for help. It appears that Rose discovered Daisy first, and that Calder found her while Rose was sending me the note. When I got to the house, Rose was with Daisy and Calder was looking for the killer. He had just spoken with some of the staff.”
    Bragg turned to Hart. “Don’t let me interrupt your statement.”
    Hart shrugged as if he had not a care in the world.
    Bragg leaned over Newman’s shoulder and scanned his notes. As he did so, Newman said, “He received a note from Daisy requesting a meeting, sir. That would have been about nine o’clock.”
    Bragg nodded, straightening. His aloof gaze met Hart’s. “So you rushed off to meet your mistress?”
    Hart sent him a cold, unpleasant smile. “You know damn well I broke off the affair when I became engaged to Francesca.”
    Newman looked startled. He said, “Sir, she was living in Mr. Hart’s house.”
    â€œI am aware of that. So, you rushed off to meet Daisy as she requested?” Bragg asked again.
    Francesca walked over to stand beside Hart, dismayed that Bragg had instantly gone on an attack. Hart, who remained sitting rather indolently, did not give any sign of being shaken. “No, I did not rush off anywhere. It had been a long day and I had a drink, perhaps two. It was some time later when I decided to call on Daisy and conclude whatever affairs were bothering her.”
    Bragg made a mocking sound. “And those affairs were?”
    â€œI assumed they were financial matters,” Hart said, slowly rising to his feet, “as the only connection left between me and Daisy was financial. I continued to