She was climbing into a cab. Bernie hailed another cab and followed her. He saw her entering her home. He moved a little way around the square where he could observe the house without being obvious.
At noon, when he was beginning to feel thoroughly bored, he saw a smart motor car drive up and a handsome fair-haired man descended and went into the house. Bernie groaned. If the young man had come to take Lady Rose driving, how could he follow?
The square was deserted. He strolled past the car, looking to right and left. When he came abreast of the car, he leaped into the rumble – that rear seat for luggage and finding a carriage rug, pulled it over himself. If he was discovered, he would need to rely on his boss to get him out of trouble.
After ten minutes, he felt the car dip and the man’s voice say, “I thought we would take a spin down by the river.”
Rose’s voice answered, “What a lovely day!”
Bernie lay for what seemed to him a long time. The couple did not talk much because of the sound of the engine.
At last, the cab stopped. “I believe this is quite a good place for lunch,” he heard the man say. “We can have lunch in the garden.”
She answered something as their voices faded away.
After a few minutes, Bernie cautiously lifted his head. He recognized the Star and Garter at Richmond.
Some people were passing, so he ducked down again. Then he tried again. No one around.
He nipped out of the rumble and strolled into the pub. He went to the bar and ordered a half pint of beer and then carried it to a table where he could look out into the garden.
He felt a pang of envy. They looked such a handsome, carefree couple. He took out his notebook and began to write.
His stomach rumbled after half an hour but he did not want to order any food and then lose them if they suddenly decided to leave. He regretted his decision after an hour.
Just when he thought they meant to spend the whole afternoon in Richmond, he saw the man calling for the bill and Lady Rose adjusting her driving veil.
He left quickly, getting a sour look from the bar-keep, who obviously did not favour customers who only ordered one drink and stayed for a long time.
Bernie went outside, looked around, and jumped back in the rumble.
As the couple approached the car, he heard the man say, “Are you going to the masked ball at the Twenders tonight?”
“I believe so.”
He laughed. “I have a secret. I have already asked your parents’ permission to escort you.”
“How delightful,” he heard Lady Rose say. “I must thank you for lunch.”
“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.”
The car drove off. Bernie planned to escape when they stopped outside Lady Rose’s home. He knew if he stayed in the rumble, he might end up locked in a garage somewhere.
He waited when he heard them descend, waited until he heard them mount the steps to the front door. He poked his head up. The man was kissing Lady Rose’s hand. He quickly jumped down from the rumble, glad the enamoured couple had eyes only for each other.
¦
When he was back in the office, he went in to see Harry and delivered his report. Bernie was not yet up to the mark in society gossip and did not know of Harry’s on/off engagement to Rose. So he was taken aback by the blind fury on Harry’s face when he delivered his report.
“Have I done something wrong?” asked Bernie plaintively.
Harry pulled himself together with an effort. “No, you have done very well.”
“Would you like me to follow Lady Rose to this masked ball?”
“No, I shall be going myself I would like you now to go to Bart’s Hospital and visit Mrs Becket and ask her if there is anything she or her husband needs.”
When Bernie had gone, Harry telephoned Lady Glensheil. “That man who left your tea party with Lady Rose yesterday,” he said. “Who is he?”
“Oh, that must be the catch of the Season, the Honourable Roger Sinclair, Lord Cherm’s eldest son. Captain Cathcart, I am sending you a cheque for finding my jewels and exposing that dreadful woman.”
After Harry had finished talking to her, he replaced the receiver and sat staring bleakly into space. He had an awful feeling he was losing Rose.
¦
Becket had gone to survey the new apartment. Daisy lay listlessly in her hospital bed. She was grateful to the earl and countess for having got her a private room, but at that moment she would have welcomed the company of a general ward.
The door opened and a nurse said, “Visitor for you.”
Bernie entered the room. Daisy looked at this stranger. He was tall and thin with black hair and a sallow, clever face and a beaky nose and long humorous mouth.
“I’m Bernie King,” he said, drawing a chair up to the bed. “I work for Captain Cathcart. He asked me to call on you and see if you need anything.”
“I would like some books,” said Daisy. “The ones Lady Rose has left for me are a bit too clever. I would like some romances.”
“I’ll get them to you. Now, how are you?”
“Pretty awful. I keep thinking about the baby.”
“You’ll have others.”
Daisy shuddered. “Not if I can help it. Don’t let’s talk about me. Let’s talk about the case. What’s been happening?”
Bernie told her all about Thomson, the lady’s maid. Then he told her how he had been asked to follow Lady Rose and keep an eye on her. He described the trip to Richmond and how he had hidden in the rumble.
Daisy began to look animated. She pulled herself up higher on her pillows. “Oh, Gawd,” she said. “The poor captain. Rose does get tired of him not turning up to take her places.”
“They’re going to a fancy dress ball tonight. Don’t worry. The captain’s going as well.”
“Wait a bit. Does he think this lady’s maid might have done those murders?”
“Could be.”
“But where would her brother have come into it?”
“This Thomson might have persuaded the brother somehow. Say, he called on Dolores for money and she got tired of him and threw him out. Thomson hears about the will leaving everything to him. She encourages him to call again. But this time he finds his sister dead. Stunned, he does what Thomson tells him, takes some jewellery. Thomson then tells him later that they can pin the murder on Lady Rose. She finds out about Madame de Peurey. They both go to Paris. Jeffrey is sent out to follow Rose. Madame de Peurey is killed and Thomson herself, maybe dressed as a man, maybe not, tries to push Lady Rose in the Seine and leaves that note.”
“I wish I were out of here. I used to be Lady Rose’s companion before I got married. I miss being with her. What about you? How did you come to be working for the captain?”
“I was in the police force. I was getting bored pounding the beat and saw the captain’s advertisement. He liked me and got Mr Kerridge to intercede so that I could quit the force immediately. They weren’t bothered. I was only an ordinary copper.”
“You’re obviously a Londoner.”
“That’s me. Brought up in Whitechapel.”
“Me too,” said Daisy. “You’ll never believe it, but I used to be a chorus girl at Butler’s.”
“Gosh, I used to go to Butler’s.”
They began to reminisce about places in Whitechapel and people they had known. Daisy was happy for the first time in a long time. Then the door opened and Becket came in.
Daisy introduced them. Becket glared at Bernie.
“Got to go,” said Bernie. “I’ll bring you those books.”
“What books?” demanded Becket after Bernie had left.
