‘You will have more suspects than you know what to do with, my lord,’ he said calmly. ‘How can I help narrow them down?’
‘Gregg, the butler, is a figure of interest. He is very much Sir Philip’s man, and could barely disguise his disapproval of Ida’s behaviour.’
‘And you imagine that he would take it upon himself to remove the embarrassment, regardless of the fact that Sir Philip claims not to mind about it?’
‘The thought crossed my mind, Stout. There’s something about Gregg’s superior attitude that rankles. I admire his loyalty to Sir Philip, but his disdain for Ida was insulting, especially since he must be aware that she pays his wages. I didn’t take to him and I am convinced that he’s holding something back.’
‘I don’t think I’ve ever laid eyes on the man, but I dare say I can find people who know of him. I assume you would like me to see what I can discover.’
‘Good man, Stout. Get on it first thing.’
‘I will go out and put enquiries in hand immediately, if you don’t need me until later.’
‘Better yet.’ Riley straightened his tie, slipped his arms into the coat that Stout held out for him and made his way downstairs, arriving in the hallway mere seconds before Norris opened the front door to admit his family.
His mother swept into the drawing room in her customary manner, her nose in the air and her eyes sweeping the room for something to criticise. She was a stickler for standards, but Sophia, Riley’s beloved niece who now spent a great deal of her time with her grandmother and was as natural as sunshine, was having a beneficial effect upon her.
‘There you are, Riley,’ his mother said, proffering a cheek for a kiss. Riley duly obliged, wondering who else it was that she had expected to see.
‘Good evening, Mother. Cabbage.’
He opened his arms to his niece and gave her an affectionate squeeze when she threw herself into them, wondering if the time had come to be a little less demonstrative with the girl, who was no longer a child but a young woman on the brink of her first season. But if Sophia was embarrassed by Riley’s blatant preference for her, she didn’t appear to mind and flung her arms around his neck in her usual abandoned fashion. Riley heard his mother tut, but also noticed a quick smile disturbing her otherwise stern expression.
Riley greeted his brother and sister-in-law less effusively. His sister Martha was present with her husband, Daniel, the Viscount Gaston, and they were both welcomed with open affection.
‘Have you spent your day investigating gruesome murders, Uncle Riley?’ Sophia asked when they were all seated and drinks had been served.
‘Really, Sophia,’ Riley’s mother scolded. ‘I cannot imagine where you acquired such a bloodthirsty streak.’
‘Oh, I expect it runs in the family, Grandmamma.’ She glanced at Riley, who couldn’t help laughing.
‘Don’t encourage her, Riley,’ his mother said, failing to sound severe. ‘She will never find a respectable husband if she doesn’t learn to behave with more decorum.’
‘I am not sure that I want a husband, Grandmamma,’ Sophia replied, her eyes sparkling with mischievous disobedience. ‘And certainly not a respectable one.’
Everyone laughed, even Riley’s mother.
‘Amelia and I have news,’ Riley said. ‘We have decided to establish ourselves outside of London with our growing family.’
‘You’re always welcome at Chichester Hall,’ Henry said without hesitation, either not noticing or ignoring his wife’s scowl.
‘Does this mean you are giving up that ridiculous occupation of yours? It rather lowers the tone,’ his mother asked, brightening considerably.
‘Thank you, Henry. And I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mother, but no. We have found a modest estate in Bromley, a convenient distance from London, and I am in the process of purchasing it.’
Amelia answered the barrage of questions thrown her way with diplomacy and grace. Once his relatives had run out of things to ask, Riley took Amelia’s hand.
‘You none of you picked up upon my comment about a growing family,’ he remarked, smiling at his wife.
The penny dropped and everyone expressed their pleasure, taking turns to embrace Amelia. His mother, Riley noticed, looked positively delighted. Even Celia managed the suggestion of a smile that had no spite behind it.
‘You don’t let the grass grow under your feet, I’ll say that much for you,’ Henry said, pumping Riley’s hand.
After dinner, Riley sat with Henry and Daniel. Deciding to follow Amelia’s suggestion, he raised the subject of his current investigation.
‘Ida Randall, eh?’ Henry chuckled. ‘She was a spry little thing in her day.’
‘She hasn’t changed a bit,’ Riley replied.
‘Do I know her?’ Daniel asked.
‘I doubt it,’ Henry said. ‘Not in our circle, but her husband, Sir Philip Randall, makes himself indispensable at Whitehall.’
‘Ah, politics.’ Daniel lost interest and applied himself to his port.
‘Ida and the footman who met an unfortunate end—and this is strictly between us,’ Riley said, ‘were very good friends.’
Henry chuckled. ‘Somehow I’m not surprised. Rich as Croesus, Ida’s father was, and it all went to her. She could have taken her pick from the cream of society, being beautiful and wealthy, but there was a blot on her reputation. Not sure what it was all about. If she’d been one of us, I don’t suppose it would have mattered and it would’ve been swept under the rug. But coming from the middle classes as she did, she couldn’t expect to join our ranks with anything other than a pristine reputation, no matter
