She found the Marquis with a glass of champagne in his hand staring up at the portrait of her father that hung on one of the walls.
As Idona came slowly towards him he said,
“Now I understand who you get your good looks from!”
“I think actually I am more like my mother.”
“I believe she too is dead.”
“Yes. Mama is dead, but Papa was alive, until you – killed him!”
She had not meant to say it, but somehow it came out before she could stop herself.
There was an uncomfortable silence before the Marquis asked,
“Are you really accusing me of killing your father?”
“If you had not tempted him with that absurd ridiculous gamble,” Idona answered, “he would be alive today.”
“It was a game of chance that anybody might have taken part in.”
“But most people would not have staked everything th
