SPOILERS!!!
Even though the postmortem is inconclusive, Louisa is still determined to find out the truth about Mrs Hoole's death and Joan's disappearance twenty-five years ago. When she has the opportunity to talk to Charles, he is quite open about the past. He tells her that he remembers Joan. He was just a boy and she was pretty and the only who treated her kindly. What he remembers is that one day he walked on her and his father when they were together. Back then he didn't understand and thought his father was killing her. Yet, now he realises that his father was on intimate terms with Joan. Shortly afterwards, Joan went, and his parents moved to Canada, leaving him alone in England. Charles is quite bitter about it, and he also explains to Louisa that there is a reason why he drinks. Adele, his wife, has had several miscarriages; they can't have children and that is why he is so sad.
Louisa then starts thinking that maybe Joan was with child, and that is why she had to leave. The day of the funeral of Mr Hoole, and Dr Dunn is there. During the service Louisa asks him about Joan, and he admits that he saw the woman when she was seven months pregnant. When Louisa asks him about seeing his notes, he demurs. Then after the service, Louisa goes to the doctor's home and persuades his wife to show her the notes. Dr Dunn catches her red-handed and is not pleased. In any case, Louisa has read that Joan was supposed to go to Canada, where her employers were also going, but Louisa does not know if Joan did go or not.
Louisa hasn't spoken to the Dowager yet, and she is the one who may have the answers. Louisa talks to Guy about the case as he comes to Chatsworth to spend Christmas, and then he leaves again. Louisa is to stay in the house until the New Year. Then she and Nancy read that Hammersmith has been bombed, so she is worried about Guy. After calling to hospitals, they discover that Guy has been injured but he is okay. When Louisa talks to him, he tells her that he wants to go to her.
There are a few characters that are suspicious for me. First, there is Captain Nesbit, who Louisa discovers has been talking to Unity in German. Could he be a spy? And is there any connection to Mrs Hoole and Joan? I also suspect Lucie, the French teacher. She spends too much time with the Dowager and I wonder if she has an ulterior motive. We don't know how old she is. But could she be Joan's baby? If so, was she adopted? And what happened to Joan?
In the Hunting Tower of the property Nancy and Debo arrange to have a picnic. Lucie brings Rosie, the Dowager's dog, which starts exploring. At some poing the dog appears with an old cloth covered in blood. Louisa keeps the cloth and asks DI Tucker to have it tested. Louisa wonders if maybe Joan gave birth in the tower.
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