‘If your whereabouts has no bearing on this enquiry, then certainly you can.’
He looked relieved. ‘I told Verity that I had an engagement, but in fact I dined at my club and was then with a lady. It would have been hard for me to think of a reason to go out again if I’d dined at home, you see. Anyway, I can provide you with her address and she will confirm it. I left her at gone eleven o’clock and returned directly home.’
Riley thanked him after he’d given the lady’s particulars and Salter had made a note of them. ‘Just one last question. Were you aware that your mother had offered to finance a sporting club that Ezra was thinking of opening?’
‘Had she?’ He blinked. ‘News to me, but don’t underestimate the old girl, Lord Riley. She wouldn’t have offered to do so out of the goodness of her heart, no matter how attached she was to Ezra. Not many people know this, and she’s too modest to mention it herself, but Mother has a shrewd business brain inside her head and knows a good opportunity when she sees one. I happen to know she’s increased her personal fortune quite substantially by making wise investments, sometimes in stocks and bonds, but also in private enterprises that she hears about.’
‘Your father didn’t say anything.’
Gideon smiled. ‘Father is the opposite. Give him a thorny political problem to wrestle with and he’ll find a solution that evades everyone else. Give him a guinea, on the other hand, and he’ll turn it into a shilling in less than no time. His mind is above such mundane matters as money and paying the bills, which is why Mother kept control of her fortune, I’ve always thought. Anyway, if you think that I bumped old Ezra off to avoid being embarrassed or because Mother had offered him a loan, then you’re quite wrong.’
‘Thank you,’ Riley said, standing to indicate that the interview was at an end. ‘Is your sister or brother here yet?’
‘Not sure. I’ll check and have some refreshments sent in while you wait.’
‘My sergeant will be much obliged for your thoughtfulness,’ Riley replied, smiling.
Chapter Four
The promised refreshments were delivered and Salter barely had time to do them justice before an attractive young woman sailed through the door on the arm of an exceptionally tall gentleman. They proved to be Ida’s daughter Sarah and her husband, the commodore, Mark Heston. He introduced them both, displaying faultless manners and the quintessential stiff upper lip generally inherent in gentlemen of a certain class during times of upheaval.
Riley was unable to decide if Heston was relieved by the violent demise of his mother-in-law’s lover or completely indifferent to the event. His amiable expression gave little of the true nature of his thoughts away, but Riley imagined that if Ida’s behaviour became common knowledge, it would have some ramifications upon an ambitious man’s career prospects.
‘This would be frightfully exciting,’ Sarah said as she took a seat, showing the same uncontrived smile and effervescent personality as her mother, ‘were the circumstances not quite so beastly. I have never been grilled by a Scotland Yard detective before. Shall you get the thumb screws out, Lord Riley?’
Riley laughed. ‘I doubt whether that will be necessary,’ he said.
Her husband seemed equally relaxed as he took the chair beside her, looking affectionately amused by Sarah’s comment.
‘Not quite what you were expecting from the evening, I suppose,’ Riley said.
‘Verity will have something to really complain about now,’ Sarah said with relish.
‘Sarah,’ her husband replied in a mildly castigating tone.
‘Well, it’s true. We all find her tedious, and I dare say Lord Riley’s brief meeting with her was sufficient for him to reach the same conclusion.’
‘I couldn’t possibly comment,’ Riley replied, smiling again.
‘Well, of course you couldn’t. Anyway, I expect you’re trying to decide which of us bumped off Mama’s friend.’
‘Delicately put as always, Sarah,’ Heston said.
‘I’m sure the officers are aware of the true nature of their friendship.’ Sarah gave a careless shrug. ‘Lord Riley wouldn’t be much of a detective if he was not, and everyone says he is the best there is. Anyway, everyone else beneath this roof knew, and no one other than Verity could give two figs about it.’ She grinned. ‘In fact, were I not blissfully happily married, I might even be just a touch jealous.’
Heston smiled, shook his head and sent Riley a what-can-I-do-with-her look.
‘Do you know of anyone who bore Ezra a grudge?’ Riley asked, thinking that this personable young woman was the type whom people would confide in. And one who was perfectly capable of ferreting out secrets for herself.
‘No one in this house other than Verity,’ Sarah replied immediately. ‘And I very much doubt whether she would lower herself to go down to Clapham and do away with him. She will tell anyone who listens—which I do not, by the way—that she has standards. Besides, a strong gust of wind would blow her over and Ezra was a tall, very well built young man.’ She pouted. ‘Shame, that. I would really like it to be Verity. You would be doing Gideon a huge favour if you took her into custody, Lord Riley, even if you have to let her go again. Her dignity would never recover.’
‘I’m afraid I would need a little more evidence than your dislike of your brother’s wife,’ Riley replied, smiling.
‘Botheration!’
Everyone laughed, even her long-suffering husband.
‘I need to ask you where you both were last night,’ Riley said.
‘Of course you do, Lord Riley. I quite understand, and I am very glad that you did ask. Then I can tell all my friends that I was a murder suspect—if only very briefly, I hope.’ She smiled
