Cornish Castle Mystery Collection: Tales of murder and mystery from Cornwall

But though handsome he was a prickly personality and had exchanged a settled life, the golden spoon of his birthright, for uncertainty and adventure. Not exactly the man a down-to-earth, practical type like Leah might be looking for.

Leah wrung her hands again. ‘I don’t believe your father did it. But Kensa was so sure in her accusations last night.’

Oliver said, ‘Kensa might have every reason to divert suspicion from herself.’

Leah stared at him. ‘So you know?’

‘Know what?’

‘That my father was after the B&B? He had been over there several times to talk her into selling it to him.’

‘Are you sure?’ Oliver glanced at Guinevere. ‘Why would a shrewd businessman like Haydock be interested in a B&B on a small island?’

Guinevere asked, ‘Was this in relation to the open-air museum he wanted to start on Cornisea? Meraud mentioned something about that when I was at the bookshop just now.’

She pointed at Vivaldi, who was lying with his nose in a bunch of flowers. His fur was full of short stems of cut off grass. ‘When I picked up Vivaldi, Meraud mentioned that your father was interested in buying all of the businesses on the island. That he wanted people to move to the mainland and come to the island to act out everyday life for the sake of the tourists.’

Leah said, ‘I don’t know about that. Just that he wanted the B&B. But Kensa refused to sell.’

Oliver seemed puzzled. ‘Why would Kensa not want to sell? The B&B belonged to her late husband’s parents, not to hers. She was never eager to take over. She has even been complaining about the workload when it’s busy and the slow times when it brings in too little money. I thought she would have jumped at an offer to take it off her hands. Her refusal doesn’t make any sense. Do you know from Kensa personally that she had an offer from your father and refused it?’

Leah shook her head. ‘No. But her neighbours saw my father come and go. At her house on the mainland. As he left and walked to his car, his expression was contorted, and he almost banged the front door out of its hinges. Kensa had clearly not given him what he wanted.’