‘I thought you’d at least get some sort of hint out of him,’ she said. ‘We need to know about the bequest, Michael. Your brother was comfortably off. When he sold his house, he made a pretty penny and, when he lost his wife and child, the railway company set up a fund for him. Because everyone was shocked by the tragedy, money poured in from everywhere.’
‘Five pounds of it was ours,’ he said ruefully. ‘We had to contribute.’
‘Joel was always so careful with money.’
‘He had nothing to spend it on, Lavinia.’
‘Then why didn’t he give some of it to us?’ she said, waspishly. ‘I think that you should tackle his solicitor again tomorrow.’
‘We don’t want to appear too money-grubbing.’
‘You’re his brother, Michael. You’re entitled to it.’
‘Yes, I am,’ he said, relishing the thought. ‘I did my duty at the funeral and I’m ready to reap the reward. Now that it’s over, I don’t feel any regret and even less guilt. Joel got what he deserved. When I go to that memorial service, the expression on my face will be grim but I’ll be laughing triumphantly inside.’
It had been a gruelling day for Dorcas Hope. Though she’d tried to concentrate on her work, her mind was at the funeral. She’d seen passengers arrive in mourning wear to attend the event, then watched some of them leave late in the afternoon. Dorcas was slow, distracted and clumsy. At one point, she even broke a cup. Timothy Vesey, the new manager, made allowances for her but Woodford was less understanding. He’d been jumpy all day and Dorcas had put it down to his own sense of bereavement. It had not affected the sharpness of his tongue. When he saw Dorcas making mistakes in the refreshment room, he was as critical as Mrs Rossiter.
‘Be more careful, girl,’ he snapped as she dropped a tray.
‘I’m sorry, Mr Woodford.’
‘Pick it up again.’
‘Yes, yes, I will.’
‘And try to keep your mind on what you’re doing. That’s why we pay you.’
She retrieved the tray and took it apologetically to the counter. Woodford had made frequent visits to them throughout the day and found a reason to castigate her each time. His final comment was the most hurtful.
‘You’re in a world of your own,’ he said with asperity. ‘At this rate, you’ll end up in the County Asylum with Mrs Rossiter.’
The wounding remark had brought tears to her eyes but she’d soldiered on. At the end of the working day, Dorcas more or less ran home, anxious to get away from the station and its association with a man she’d loved. Where his successor was sarcastic, he’d been more forgiving. Where Woodford used his authority like a stick with which to beat people, the old stationmaster had simply led by example. Dark days lay ahead for Dorcas. She’d lost the two colleagues who’d been fixtures in her life — Agnes Rossiter and Joel Heygate. Eager to get to work when she was under their aegis, she now went with great reluctance.
Arriving home, she was surprised that there was no chirpy greeting from Peter. The canary welcomed everyone to the house, yet it was eerily silent now. Dorcas went into the parlour where her mother was in her accustomed place beside the cage. She saw why there’d been no greeting from the canary. Peter’s cage was covered in a black cloth. Maud Hope was subdued.
‘He’s been quiet all day,’ she explained. ‘He knows about the funeral.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Victor Leeming had an unusual experience. He could never bring himself to like rail travel — and he’d already endured one long train journey that day — but the return trip to Exeter had a bonus for him. He shared a carriage with an elderly couple on their way to Teignmouth and discovered that they had an interest in the concept of the atmospheric railway. Leeming was in his element, speaking with the airy confidence of someone who knows only a little more than his listeners and undeterred by the fact that he had a very unsure grasp of the technicalities involved. He told them about his recent visit to Starcross, one of the places where the experiment had been tried out.
‘Robert Stephenson called it a rope of air,’ he said, knowledgeably, ‘and it was, in essence, a very clever idea. Apart from anything else, it might have saved money and reduced the amount of smoke that locomotives generate. Alas,’ he went on, quoting Colbeck, ‘it must be put down as one of Mr Brunel’s rare failures.’
The elderly couple had been pleasant companions, unlike the man who’d sat beside him on the journey to London. Arm in a sling, Tallis had been as friendly as a wounded bear and as talkative as a deaf mute. Leeming had only been able to stand the sheer boredom of it all by thinking of the brief reunion he’d have with his wife and children. That insulated him against the superintendent’s tetchiness. An hour with his family had revived him. He returned to Devon with his energy restored.
Knowing his time of arrival, Colbeck was waiting to greet him at the station.
‘Welcome back, Victor,’ he said, shaking his hand. ‘How was your journey?’
‘There were two of them, sir, and as different as black and white. The trip to London was as enjoyable as having my teeth pulled out one by one.’
Colbeck laughed. ‘Mr Tallis was in a churlish mood when he left.’
‘The journey here went much more quickly because I was actually allowed to talk this time. It was a welcome novelty.’
‘Did you deliver my letter?’
‘Miss Andrews was pleased to receive it and sends you her love.’
‘How were Estelle and the children?’
‘They gave me a marvellous welcome,’ recalled Leeming with a broad grin. ‘Fatherhood is the most wonderful gift — as you’ll soon discover.’
‘Don’t get ahead of yourself,’ warned Colbeck. ‘There’s the small matter of the wedding to come first.’
‘Estelle showed me the dress she’s been making for it.’
‘Then you hold a distinct advantage over me. I’m not allowed to see the bridal dress beforehand.’
‘Miss Andrews will look beautiful whatever she wears, sir.’
Colbeck smiled. ‘You don’t need to tell me that, I assure you.’
He was delighted to find Leeming in such a positive frame of mind and was amused to hear that he’d set himself up as an expert on the atmospheric railway. On the cab ride into the city, he brought him up to date with events in Exeter. Leeming was astounded at one piece of information.
‘Bagsy Browne was
‘As large as life,’ said Colbeck. ‘I’d put money on it. As a matter of fact, I did just that but I couldn’t collect my winnings because the sighting hadn’t been verified by Superintendent Steel. I could
‘He was taking an unnecessary risk.’
‘His whole criminal career has been a compendium of unnecessary risks, Victor. That’s what animates the man. It isn’t enough for him to evade the law. He has to taunt us with his devilry time and again.’
‘Superintendent Tallis deserved a medal for standing up to him.’
‘We’ve never doubted his bravery. He was a military hero, after all. It’s his other qualities that are more questionable.’
‘Browne did us a big favour by getting rid of him for us.’
‘I hope you didn’t say that to him on the train journey.’
‘I wasn’t allowed to open my mouth, sir. Every time I cleared my throat, I got a cold stare. Anyone would think that
Colbeck lowered his voice. ‘We’re equally guilty on that score, Victor.’
Instead of heading for their tavern, the cab turned down a side street.
‘Where are we going, sir?’ asked Leeming.
‘I thought that we’d pay a call on Woodford,’ said Colbeck. ‘You’ve seen Michael Heygate in his domestic
