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“Alix most certainly shall not waltz with that man,” said the Queen.<br />
“But don’t you see, Granny?” Ella said, stopping at last and facing the settee. “All this<br />
contrivance, this ridiculous theatricality, only serves to prove that the killer is anyone on earth except<br />
Konstantin.”<br />
“The Grand Duchess is most likely correct,” Trevor said. “Not only is the costume a rather<br />
extreme gesture, but we have narrowed the time frame during which Mrs. Kirby might have been<br />
placed among the ship rigging to a mere twelve minutes and Antonovich has an alibi for that period.”<br />
He lifted his eyes to Ella. “You said you had seen him in the costume. If I bring it here, to your<br />
apartment, will you be able to confirm it is the same one you have seen before? That no parts of it are<br />
missing?”<br />
She frowned. “I suppose so. But why do you suggest that parts of it might be missing?”<br />
“We don’t know for certain that any are. There is a loop on the hip of the sort where men often<br />
place a sword or a dagger, but no weapon was found on the person of Mrs. Kirby. Do you perhaps<br />
recall if some such was part of the original costume?”<br />
She hesitated, but only for a moment. “There was a rather large knife and it hung, just as you<br />
say, from a loop on his hip. He was to climb the rigging and use it to release a flag at the climatic<br />
moment of the scene.”<br />
“Then the knife is missing,” Trevor said. “And since we are speaking of the rehearsals, I must<br />
ask you one other thing, Your Imperial Highness, if you will kindly grant me just one more minute of<br />
your valuable time.” He was aware that his courtesy was exaggerated, a behavior he sometimes<br />
unconsciously adapted when speaking to someone he did not truly admire, and hoped that it would not<br />
be seen as sarcasm. Ella seemed accustomed to such sugary speech and the Queen was too deep in<br />
thought to notice. But Alix, of all people, regarded Trevor with a certain acuity. Do not mock my<br />
sister, her expression seemed to say. No matter who you are or what news you bring, you shall not<br />
mock my sister.<br />
“Of course,” Ella said. “Mrs. Kirby was my lady in waiting, after all. I shall do all I can to<br />
assist you.”<br />
“What is the pattern of the day in the ballroom? Especially now, with so much preparation for<br />
the ball?”<br />
“Private lessons begin around noon and go to generally five in the afternoon. The Winter
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