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Tessa stifled a shocked cry.“This is every single person I’ve been in contact with. My cook, housekeeper, maid, assistant, Dante… Wait, what is the Queen doing on this list?”

“That was Angela’s addition. She feels the Queen doesn’t like you all that much, and might have gotten it into her nut to have you bumped off. Her words, not mine.”

“She thinks the Queen wants to make your death look like an accident,” said Chase.

Tessa shook her head.“I don’t believe this. The Queen has been nothing but kind to me. I can’t believe she’d want to have me crushed or poisoned.”

“Who’s Damien Card?” asked Odelia, indicating suspect number five.

“Dante’s oldest friend. I guess the logic is that Damien thinks I stole Dante from him. And in a sense that’s true. Ever since we got married Dante hasn’t spent as much time with his old chums as he used to. But that’s not my fault. That’s because Dante has been busy with other stuff. Like becoming a father for the first time. And it’s a little weird for a father to drink himself into a coma or to get arrested for stealing a constable’s helmet and tie it to a church spire.”

Odelia gave the Duchess a questioning look.“Boys will be boys?”

“Apparently that’s the kind of stuff Dante was up to before we met. Before he turned into a responsible husband and father.”

“Which is why Damien is upset with you,” Chase said.

“I guess. But it’s hardly a reason to try and kill me. Though I suppose it could be true. Damien is a spoiled rich kid. Very immature and peevish.”

“I talked to Suzy,” said Odelia. “She said Cook speaks very harshly of you. Doesn’t like you meddling with her cooking.”

Tessa nodded.“I know. She hates it. I’d fire her and do everything myself—it would spare me the aggravation of having to deal with her grumpiness and her constant badgering. Unfortunately I just don’t have the time.”

“You could always hire another cook,” Chase suggested. “One that doesn’t try to kill you.”

Tessa smiled.“Carolyn may not like me very much, but I hardly think that’s a reason to kill me.”

“She did make the tea that was poisoned,” Odelia reminded her.

“And Suzy brought me that tea,” said Tessa. “After it had been standing on the kitchen counter for God knows how long. It was almost cold by the time I got it.”

“Which means anyone with access to the kitchen could have dumped in the Belladonna,” said Odelia.

“We need to talk to this Carolyn person,” said Chase.

“Oh, this is all so frustrating,” Tessa groaned with an irritated shrug. “If only we could have this out in the open, so the police could come in and properly question everyone. Look for potential witnesses. That sort of thing.”

“Why don’t you?” asked Odelia.

Tessa threw up her arms.“Mom’s idea, and she does have a point. There’s thisthing going on in the media right now. A regular shit storm. And I’m right in the middle of it. They invent story after story, making me look like evil incarnate. They’d probably claim I invented this whole murder story just so I could get attention. It would be amazingly awkward and embarrassing to the royal family, and put Dante in a really tough spot.” She shook her head. “No, we need to be very discreet about this. Nothing can leak to the media or the Queen will kick me out of the family for good, royal baby or not.”

“So the cook, the maid, the best friend… How about your housekeeper? Does she have a reason to want to get rid of you?”

“I suppose,” said Tessa. “She claims I stick my nose where it doesn’t belong. But it’s my household, after all, and I have very particular ideas about what I want and don’t want.”

“And so does she.”

“So does she,” Tessa confirmed. “Which means we don’t always see eye to eye.”

“And what does Dante think about all of this?”

“He doesn’t get involved. He’s actually used to this sort of thing. His mom had very particular ideas, too, and so does his grandmother, obviously. He’ll always back me up, but he doesn’t want to come across all heavy-handed either. He likes to keep the peace, and hates to make a big fussover things.”

“Tough spot to be in, for you,” said Odelia.

“You have no idea,” said Tessa, crinkling her brow. “It’s been a tough couple of months. Everything I say is misinterpreted, whatever I do is wrong, and wherever I go I’m gawked at as if I’m some kind of circus freak.”

“At least the people still support you. Angela says you’re popular.”

“Yes, but for how long? Their minds are poisoned and they’re being set up against me. And who are they going to believe? The media that writes garbage about me every single day, or me, who can’t say a word in my own defense? Dante says I shouldn’t take it personally. He says it’s a kind of hazing thing the English press do with every single person who marries into The Firm.”

“The what?”

She smiled.“The royal family, also known as The Firm.” She sighed. “I’m not so sure, though. I talked to Dante’s aunt the other day, and she says she’s never seen it being played so rough and so vicious. She thinks it might have something to do with the fact that I’m not English born.”