‘There was no time for friendships. We were here to work.’
His answers were stiff, formal and rehearsed, Riley thought. He decided to play a hunch. ‘Did you resent him for taking your place in your mistress’s affections?’
‘What the devil…’ The mask fell away and his shoulders slumped. ‘Don’t know what you mean.’
‘Oh, I think you do, sunshine,’ Salter said. ‘Lady Randall’s an attractive woman, and she likes to flirt with the help. You’re a strong, handsome cove and I’m betting she took a liking to you. She favoured you and you loved every minute of it while it lasted. She could do things for you, help you to get on in life, give you little gifts. Then Ezra came along and you were history. How did that make you feel?’
James snorted. ‘I have no idea where you got that idea from.’
‘Answer my sergeant’s question honestly,’ Riley said in a mild tone imbued with a wealth of authority. ‘At present we don’t suspect you of killing Ezra, even if you resented him, but if you continue to be evasive, we shall have to take a more thorough look at your affairs.’
‘All right, I’ll admit that I was upset. Her ladyship is fun. She enjoys life and she don’t put on airs. She talked to me, asked me about myself and took a genuine interest. She had me running little errands for her without bothering to tell Gregg, and sometimes she insisted that I go with her when she went out, which got right up his nose, but there was nothing he could do about it. It might not have been normal behaviour, but it was perfectly innocent.’
‘You thought it would develop into something more?’ Riley suggested. ‘Or hoped that it might.’
‘We’d all heard stories about her ladyship’s wild behaviour, even though Gregg forbade us from speaking of it below stairs. But yes, if I’m honest, I hoped I might…anyway, it doesn’t matter. The moment Ezra rescued her and she brought him into this house, she didn’t have eyes for anyone else. She forgot I was alive.’
‘Did he flaunt his situation?’ Salter asked.
‘He made sure we knew about it—and so did Sir Philip. Gregg was furious. He thinks Sir Philip walks on water and that he would be embarrassed, but I watched him and he really didn’t seem to mind. He lives for his work and doesn’t much care what Lady Randall gets up to.’
‘Where were you last night?’ Riley asked.
‘It was my afternoon and evening off. I spent it in Kentish Town with a young woman, Molly Briggs. She’s a chambermaid at the Corner House Hotel. I took her to the playhouse and got back here by ten o’clock.’
Salter noted down the young woman’s details. James’s whereabouts would have to be checked.
‘Thank you, James. Please send the maids in now.’
They spoke to all the female members of staff, none of whom had a bad word to say for Ezra. He was fun, handsome and always had a smile for them, they were told several times over. They all seemed genuinely upset, and Riley was satisfied that none of them had anything to do with Ezra’s demise. Quite apart from anything else, the man had been six feet tall, young and strong. Even taken by surprise, he doubted whether a woman would have had the strength to hit him hard enough to kill him, even if she could reach the back of his head without standing on a box.
‘What now?’ Salter asked, as the cook left the room, sniffing into a handkerchief and shaking her head at the state of the world. ‘Why didn’t you ask any of them about Ezra’s relationship with Lady Randall?’
‘Because I don’t think any of them aspired to become Mrs Ezra,’ Riley said, grinning. ‘I am getting the picture of a handsome scoundrel who charmed every woman on the planet, but didn’t single out any particular one for the sort of attention that would give her expectations. Besides, they were all here last night, tucked up in the servants’ quarters and can vouch for one another.’
‘Aye, right enough.’ Salter sniffed. ‘What about Gregg? Shouldn’t we ask him about his argument with Ezra?’
‘We should, but not yet. I don’t want to get Albert into trouble for telling us. We’ll leave it for now and come back to it when we’ve thought of a way to have come by the information that won’t implicate Albert. We have yet to speak with Sir Philip’s valet.’
Salter perused his notes. ‘A man by the name of Meldew.’
Riley nodded. ‘Let’s have him in.’
Meldew proved to be an older gentleman with a pronounced limp that he referred to as a war wound. He’d been with Sir Philip for twenty years, and seemed blithely unconcerned about Lady Randall’s conduct.
‘Sir Philip didn’t mind about it,’ he said, ‘so why should I?’
‘Why indeed?’
Riley dismissed the man, noticing with detachment that it was now past midday.
‘Take a look at Ezra’s room please, Jack, whilst I consult with Lady Randall.’
‘Sure you’ll be safe with her on your own, sir?’ Salter asked, grinning. ‘She has an eye for you.’
‘And any other man younger than she is. She’s always been that way, but I’ll take my chances.’
He found Ida in the morning room, now properly dressed but looking delicate and distraught.
‘Have you found who did it?’ she asked.
‘I wish these things were that straightforward,’ Riley replied, lowering himself into a chair across from Ida. ‘I shall need to speak with Sir Philip and all your children, I’m afraid.’
‘Yes, I suppose you will. Don’t go to Philip at Whitehall please. It will embarrass him. He is due home today by five at the latest, since we have an engagement this evening. Perhaps, if you don’t mind, Riley, you could…’
‘I could and I shall.’
‘Thank you. Gideon and the
