The Iron Horse

‘All I want to do is to put money on Odysseus.’

‘Off-course betting was banned last year. Surely, you’re not intending to go to Epsom for the express purpose of being tricked by a bookmaker?’ He saw Leeming shrink back in his chair. ‘I hope you’re not thinking of flouting the law by indulging in illegal betting.’

‘It would never cross mind, sir,’ said Leeming hastily, wishing that he had held his peace. He sought a means of escape. ‘Thank you, Superintendent – you’ve talked me out of it.’

‘At least, some good may have come out of this conversation.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Let’s put the Derby from our minds, shall we?’

‘But this murder is connected to the race.’

‘Inspector Colbeck is the only person who thinks that.’

‘I agree with him,’ said the sergeant loyally. ‘There’s a huge amount of money at stake, sir. Whenever that happens, you’ll always have corruption of some sort or other.’

‘That’s exactly what I’ve been saying.’

‘The inspector wouldn’t have gone to Ireland on a whim.’

‘I reserve my judgement on that particular venture,’ said Tallis coolly. ‘I still fear that it may have been a wild goose. While we’re waiting for Inspector Colbeck to return from his unnecessary visit to Ireland, exercise your mind with this question – what is the name of the bogus Lady Hendry?’

Lord Hendry was not known for his patience. He was accustomed to getting what he wanted when he needed it. Waiting quietly was an alien concept to him. Instead of relaxing in a chair, he paced the room like a caged animal, checked his watch every few minutes and kept pulling back the curtain to look out into the street below. The time arranged for the meeting came and went. Half an hour soon scudded past. His impatience gave way to a cold anger that was, in turn, replaced by a burning desire for revenge. When he saw that it was an hour past the appointed time, he could stand the suspense no longer. Snatching up his hat, he moved towards the door. Before he reached it, however, someone tapped on the other side.

Torn between rage and hope, he flung open the door.

She had come at last.

‘Where on earth have you been?’ he demanded.

‘I was unavoidably detained.’

‘By whom?’

‘If you’ll let me in,’ she said with an appeasing smile, ‘then I might be able to explain.’ He stepped aside so that she could enter the room then shut the door. ‘First of all, let me apologise.’

‘You’re an hour late, Kitty!’

‘Be grateful that I came at all. When I got your letter, my first instinct was to burn it along with all the others. It was only after calm reflection that I felt you deserved the right to see me.’

‘I told you how important it was.’

‘Important to you, George,’ she said with mock sweetness, ‘but not quite so important to me, I suspect. Before we go any further, let me make one thing crystal clear. If the purpose of this meeting is to make overtures to me, then I may as well leave immediately. After what happened between us, I could never countenance a return to our earlier situation.’

Kitty Lavender glanced around the room with mingled distaste and nostalgia. They were in the London hotel where their romance had first started and it aroused mixed emotions in her. She was a graceful woman in her twenties with a startling beauty that was enhanced by exquisite clothing. Her blonde ringlets hung around the flower-trimmed edges of a poke bonnet. Kitty Lavender had the bearing and assurance of an aristocrat even though she had been born much lower down the social scale. In spite of himself, Lord Hendry felt the pull of an old affection.

‘You look positively divine,’ he said, appraising her with a smile.

She stiffened. ‘I need no compliments,’ she said frostily.

‘At least, take a seat while you’re here.’

‘I’ll not be staying.’

‘Doesn’t this room bring back memories?’

‘Ones that I’d prefer to forget.’

‘Have it your way,’ he said, reverting to a subdued fury. ‘I asked you here for one reason only. What happened to that hatbox I bought you in Jermyn Street?’

‘Hatbox!’ she echoed with a splutter. ‘You brought me all the way here to talk about a hatbox?’

‘Yes, I did – and you won’t leave until I know the truth.’

Kitty bridled. ‘You can’t keep me against my will.’

‘I’ll do as I wish.’

‘Stand aside,’ she ordered as he put his back against the door. ‘If you don’t do so at once, I shall call for help.’

‘Answer my question, Kitty – or would you rather have it put to you by the police? I’ve already had them banging on my door.’

‘The police?’

‘Two detectives from Scotland Yard.’

She was mystified. ‘And they asked you about my hatbox?’

‘It’s taken on a gruesome significance,’ he told her. ‘It was found at Crewe railway station with a severed head inside it.’

She opened her mouth to emit a silent scream of horror then she slumped onto a chair. Seeing her distress, he tried to put a consoling hand on her shoulder but she waved him away. Kitty Lavender pulled out a delicate lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. It was some time before she was able to collect herself.

‘Can this be true, George?’ she asked.

‘Unfortunately, it can.’

‘But how did they know it was my hatbox?’

‘The milliner’s name was inside. Inspector Colbeck visited him and discovered who purchased it. That brought the inspector to me.’

‘What did you tell him?’

‘The same as I told that posturing ninny Elijah Swinnerton – that I was buying the hat and hatbox for my wife. To get rid of him, I said that it had been stolen from that hotel in Cambridge.’

‘Supposing that he checks your story?’

‘There’s no chance of that,’ he said confidently. ‘Besides, I made sure that I didn’t give him the name of the hotel. But the fact remains that your hatbox was responsible for the police visit. It was highly disturbing, Kitty. Had I not been there, Caroline might have spoken to them and discovered what I had been doing in Jermyn Street. That would have been a catastrophe.’

‘It’s your own fault for buying gifts for another woman.’

‘You wanted that hat.’

‘I did – it was perfect for me.’

‘At the time, I was happy to get it for you, Now, however,’ he went on, ‘I wish I’d never gone anywhere near that confounded shop.’

‘Near the shop – or near to me?’

Their eyes locked and he felt a surge of affection. Though they had parted acrimoniously, he had not forgotten the intimacies he had once shared with her in that very room. He tried to read her thoughts but could no longer do so. Uncertain whether she was teasing him or flirting with him, he dared to believe that it might be the latter. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the bed in which they had spent their first night together.

‘I never regretted being near to you, Kitty.’

‘That’s not what you said the last time we met.’

‘I was provoked, as you well know.’

‘So was I, George.’

She held his gaze a little longer then stood up to walk past him. Whatever lingering fondness he felt for her, it was not requited. All that Kitty could think about was the hatbox.