‘I’ve fought duels before,’ he told her, ‘and I’ve always emerged from them without a scratch. Why are you so upset? Don’t you want Lord Hendry to be killed?’
‘Yes!’ she said with sudden rage. ‘Cut down without mercy.’
‘Leave it to me.’
‘I hate him. I don’t know why I ever got involved with George.’
‘You were dazzled by his title and his wealth.’
‘The title, perhaps,’ she confessed, ‘not by his money. He always seemed to be prosperous but I found out that he’d run up sizeable debts. It’s the reason he’s staking so much on the Derby. George believes it will help him pay off his creditors and still leave him with a substantial amount.’
‘Then he’s in for a massive disappointment, Kitty.’
‘Is there no way that Odysseus will win the race?’
Fido smirked. ‘Not if I have anything to do with it.’
‘George thinks the result is cut and dried. He’s so confident that his horse will be first that he’s even had a portrait of Odysseus painted. It’s already hanging somewhere in his house, I daresay. He said that I’d share in his triumph,’ she recalled with a cynical smile. ‘After the race, George promised to take me to Paris with the proceeds. Instead of that, I end up getting beaten across the head with his cane. Yes, I
Admiring her spirit, Fido kissed her impulsively. Then he walked across to a side-table and poured two glasses of brandy out of a crystal decanter. He handed one to Kitty and became pensive.
‘Tell me about this portrait of Odysseus,’ he said.
A heavy drizzle was falling when he arrived at the house in Camden. As she let him in, Madeleine Andrews sounded a note of mock reproof.
‘This is the second time you’ve brought rain, Robert.’
‘I’d hate you to associate me with bad weather,’ he said with gallantry, ‘because you always bring sunshine into my life.’
She laughed, thanked him for the compliment and accepted his kiss. Then she hung his damp hat on a peg behind the door. Sitting down beside each other, they held hands.
‘Have you been at Epsom all day?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ he answered. ‘There were more people there than ever.’
‘You did say that I might get to see the Derby this year.’
‘And I hope to honour that promise, Madeleine.’
‘What happened today?’
He told her about the attempted poisoning of Merry Legs and about his meeting with Brian Dowd. Shocked by news of the crime, she reserved her main interest for the comments about John Feeny.
‘He and Mr Dowd parted on friendly terms?’ she said.
‘That’s what Dowd claims.’
‘Well, it’s not what Bonny Rimmer told me. She heard it from Feeny himself and he had no cause to lie to her. He had to leave Ireland because he’d no chance of finding another job there. Mr Dowd said he’d make sure of that.’ She pulled a face. ‘Is that what he calls parting on friendly terms?’
‘I suppose there’s been no word from Bonny,’ said Colbeck.
‘Not yet.’
‘Do you expect to hear from her?’
‘I’m depending on it,’ said Madeleine. ‘When I spoke to her on Sunday, she was very emotional. She still hadn’t resigned herself to the fact that she’d never see John Feeny again. She wanted time to collect her thoughts. When she’d done that, she said she’d be in touch with me. I told her how vital that was.’
‘Did you give her this address?’
‘Yes, Robert, and I gave her the directions to get here. At first she was frightened at the idea of coming to a big city but I managed to still her fears. Since I knew she’d worry about the cost of travel, I took your advice and gave her the money you provided.’
‘It was the least I could do for her,’ he said.
‘That was typical of you.’
‘She’s a key witness, Madeleine. Bonny Rimmer knows things about John Feeny that nobody else could tell us. I’ll pay any travel expenses that she incurs.’
‘Has the superintendent given you
‘No,’ replied Colbeck dolefully. ‘I have to find the killer before Mr Tallis will refund my expenses. He still claims that my visit to Ireland was largely a waste of time.’
‘That’s ridiculous!’
‘Try telling that to him.’
She giggled. ‘After listening to some of the things you’ve said about him,’ she recalled, ‘I’ll avoid him like the plague.’
‘Even though he’s a colleague of yours?’
‘I don’t work for the Detective Department.’
‘Not officially,’ he said, ‘but you work for me and that amounts to the same thing. You’re the most charming assistant I’ve ever had.’
‘What about Sergeant Leeming?’
Colbeck laughed. ‘Even his wife wouldn’t dare to call Victor charming. Nature decided that. However, he’s everything a policeman should be and that’s all that matters in the long run.’
‘Where will you be tomorrow?’
‘Back at Epsom with Victor.’
‘Have you heard any talk about the Derby?’
‘We’ve heard little else, Madeleine. Everyone is talking about the prospects of Lord Hendry’s Odysseus – except Hamilton Fido, that is. He is as certain as can be that the favourite will be beaten. The odds may not reflect this but, in his heart – if a bookmaker can be said to possess such a thing – he believes that Merry Legs will win.’
‘Father is tempted to back Princess of Fire.’
‘Mr Fido says she’s only in the race for experience.’
‘Who will you be backing, Robert?’
‘I really don’t know,’ he admitted. ‘I’ve been trying to separate the horses from their owners in my mind and I’m finding that difficult. The horses are all fine animals, I daresay, but the owners are a rather unprepossessing trio. Lord Hendry is dry and aloof. Hamilton Fido is as trustworthy as a paper bucket filled with seawater. And Brian Dowd, I learnt today, doesn’t always tell the truth.’
‘So where will you put your money?’
‘I’m rather tempted by Aleppo.’
‘If I come to the Derby, I’ll cheer him to the echo.’
‘Don’t be so hasty, Madeleine. I haven’t decided on a horse yet. As for the Derby,’ he went on, ‘you’ll be there one way or another.’
‘Father will be very jealous. He’s working that afternoon.’
‘Then he should be grateful he’s not driving one of the special trains to Epsom. We travelled on one today. It was packed to capacity.’
‘But at least the trains do go to Epsom now.’
‘Yes,’ he agreed with a nod. ‘In the old days, you had to take the train out of Nine Elms Station, courtesy of the Brighton and Southampton Railway. When you got out at Kingston, the cab drivers charged you the most exorbitant fees to drive you the few miles to Epsom. All that’s changed now. You can catch a train at London Bridge Station and go all the way.’
‘I hope to do exactly that on Wednesday, Robert.’
He responded to her smile. ‘You will, Madeleine,’ he said fondly. ‘I just hope and pray that Bonny Rimmer comes to see you before then. We need her help. And there’s something else we need as well.’
‘What’s that?’
‘A period of calm before the Derby is run,’ he told her. ‘We’ve had enough crimes to deal with already. What
