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quite agitated.
    Alexandra stood instinctively to comfort her. “You’re right, of course.” She placed an arm around her shoulder. “The poor boy had no idea to what he was confessing. One would hope the courts will take his mental condition into consideration.”
    “ To what end?” Polly seemed near tears. “To be found guilty, but his life spared only to live out a miserable life in an asylum?”
    “ Is there no hope that his confession will be discounted?” Nancy asked.
    “ There is always hope,” Alexandra said without much conviction. She dropped her arm from Polly’s shoulder with a sigh. “But it would take a barrister with uncommon skill to accomplish that, the likes of which I’m afraid—”
    “ The likes of Nicholas Forsythe of London,” Nancy said.
    “ We know very little of Mr. Forsythe’s expertise in these matters,” Alexandra said.
    “ He’s the only barrister we know.” Nancy was emphatic.
    “ Hardly a recommendation.”
    At the same time Polly asked, “Who is Nicholas Forsythe?”
    Nancy opened her mouth to explain, but Alexandra interrupted her before she could say a word and reveal more detail about Mr. Forsythe than was necessary.
    “ A London barrister whose acquaintance I made a year or so ago when he was visiting the late Earl of Dunsford at his country estate here.”
    “ I know the place,” Polly said. “A rather grand country house about four miles from Newton.”
    “ Precisely,” Alexandra said.
    Polly gave her a curious frown. “And I gather you doubt the capabilities of this Mr. Forsythe.”
    “ I don’t doubt him at all,” Alexandra said a little too defensively. “It is simply that I am not privy to his reputation except on a very limited scale.” She was dismayed to find herself blushing. “To contact him seems impractical anyway. As you know, it would take some time to get a letter to London requesting his services, and then, of course, even more time for him to arrange his schedule to travel here.”
    “ There is always the telegraph,” Nancy said, which made Alexandra glare at her.
    Alexandra was not certain why she was working so hard at keeping Mr. Forsythe away, except that his combination of masculinity and boyish charm sometimes made her feel as flustered as a schoolgi rl.
    “ The telegraph. Of course,” Alexandra managed to say, in spite of her chagrin. “Perhaps I should take advantage of that.” She was admittedly slow adapting to modern technology.
    “ Certainly we must do something to keep the poor boy from accepting the blame.” Polly sounded accusative, as if she thought Alexandra’s reluctance was directed against helping Lucas.
    “ Of course you’re right,” she said, chastened. “I shall write the message out, and Nancy can see that it’s transmitted first thing in the morning.”
    “ Oh yes.” Nancy said. Her enthusiasm, for some reason, made Alexandra uneasy.
    “ Very well,” she said, trying to push her unease aside. “And since we all have work to do tomorrow, I suggest we all go to bed and try to get as much rest as possible.” She turned to Polly. “I also suggest you stay here, Polly. We all three know the killer is still out there, and it’s not advisable for you to be out so late alone.”
    “ Oh, but I couldn’t…”
    “ You can have my father’s room for the night,” Alexandra said before the woman could protest more.
    Polly seemed in no mood to protest with any earnestness, however. She acquiesced easily, and they were soon all three upstairs in separate rooms. Alexandra found it difficult to sleep at first, and when she did sleep, Zack, who alwa ys slept on the floor beside her bed, woke her once with a nervous bark, as if he’d had a bad dream. She was able to quiet him only by allowing him to sprawl his massive form on her bed, covering her feet.

Chapter Four
    Alexandra was dressed and downstairs by six the next morning, knowing she needed to get an early start. Besides her usual rounds to visit