The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

When the duchess questions Maggie about her relationship to Eleanor, Eleanor explains that Maggie, Ethan, and Sir Jasper are her guests. Then, Eleanor turns to Dr. Charles and asks who he is, as though she has never seen him before. Rupert introduces him as Kitty’s friend. Eleanor comments that she could find very little background information on Ethan except that he was born in Germany. At this, Maggie notices that his face changes for just a moment before he reestablishes his smile. Eleanor asks about his past, but Ethan deflects her questions. Maggie reflects that Eleanor seems amused, not just with Ethan but with the entire evening. After the meal, Eleanor excuses herself so that she can go to her study and write. Maggie realizes that not a single person around the table described themselves as Eleanor’s friend.

Maggie cannot sleep that night, so she heads to the library and runs into Ethan. He asks her why she doesn’t like him, and she says that she doesn’t know him. However, he claims that they’ve known each other for five years, and she counters that he couldn’t have picked her out of a lineup until a few months ago. He reacts with incredulity.