‘I am told that Gregg wields absolute control over all the servants in that household. That I know is the duty of a butler, but there are ways of going about it. Ruling by fear is not, in my view, advisable. It implies weakness of character or lack of self-confidence.’
‘Yes, I got the impression that he’s a law unto himself. I didn’t take to the man. Anyway, if Sir Philip had wanted rid of Ezra, I’m sure he could depend upon Gregg to see to the matter,’ Riley said pensively. ‘Thank you, Stout. You’ve helped a lot.’
‘Glad to oblige, my lord.’
Over dinner, Riley told Amelia about Maureen Salter’s hat design being chosen to feature at the big charitable event.
‘Olivia and I are attending that show,’ Amelia said. ‘Olivia is on the committee. I am sure Sergeant Salter must be very proud of his daughter’s achievements.’
‘He is, but Maureen needs someone significant to model her design. Do you think Cabbage would oblige?’
Amelia laughed. ‘It’s precisely the sort of thing she would excel at.’
‘That’s what I thought. Mother won’t approve, of course.’
‘It’s a charitable affair, and the height of respectability. She cannot possibly object. Give me details of Maureen’s workplace and I will take Sophia to meet her.’
‘Thank you.’ Riley briefly covered Amelia’s hand. ‘I knew I could depend upon you.’
‘Always, my love,’ Amelia replied, regarding Riley with an expression of such utter adoration as to turn his mind along a very different path than that of murders, milliners and multifarious misdeeds.
Chapter Seven
Riley was at his desk early the next morning, using the lull before the others arrived to complete outstanding paperwork—which appeared, as always, to have multiplied overnight. He then read the reports that his detectives had completed before leaving the previous evening, shaking his head over Soames’s atrocious spelling. He had barely put his pen aside before Salter arrived, rainwater dripping from the brim of the hat that he held in his hand.
‘Morning, Jack. Didn’t know it was raining.’
‘It started the moment I got off the omnibus, just like always,’ Salter replied gloomily.
‘A little rain won’t hurt you. Besides, we need it.’
‘Worried about your garden, are you, sir?’ Salter asked. ‘Would be nice to have nothing more serious to be concerned about.’
‘Careful, Sergeant,’ Riley warned mildly.
‘Sorry, sir, not feeling myself this morning. My lad wants to go to sea. Goodness alone knows where that idea came from, but we had a right set to last night as I disabused him of the notion. He’s probably been sold a romantic version of the brutal truth, and now he’s got this idea firmly planted in his head that he wants to see the world. His mother’s beside herself, which means I get no peace either.’
Riley offered up a sympathetic smile. ‘Being a father is clearly not easy.’
‘Well, you won’t have to worry about your offspring struggling to make their way in the world, will you, sir?’
‘I will pretend I didn’t hear that, Jack.’
‘Sorry guv’nor.’ Salter threw back his head and sighed. ‘Children are supposed to respect their parents. Says so in the good book, but my lot obviously didn’t pay proper attention in Sunday school.’
Riley leaned back in his chair and motioned Salter to the one in front of it. ‘I can give you some good news that might cheer you up, Jack. Amelia is taking Sophia down to Clapham today to see your daughter. I think it safe to say that Maureen has found herself a very willing model, so something has gone right for you.’
‘Much obliged to you, sir. Lady Sophia’s input will make all the difference, I’m sure, and Maureen will be delighted.’
Riley chuckled. ‘Beware what you wish for. Anyway, to other matters. How did you get on with Bishop and his daughter?’
‘Bishop had heard rumours about a new club, but he didn’t know Ezra was behind it. He was surprised that anyone would be stupid enough to move in on Lane’s territory. His words, sir. He knows Lane, of course. He occasionally drinks in the Plough, but Bishop reckons he steers well clear of him. Says he doesn’t want to know his business, and I believe him.’
‘What of Sally?’
‘Ah, now she’s an interesting kid. Head over heels for Ezra, if you ask me, and right upset about his death. So is my Maureen, come to that.’ Salter chuckled. ‘Half the gals in Clapham will be wearing deepest black for the foreseeable. Anyway, Ezra spun Sally a line about being on the brink of getting rich and how she could help him.’
‘A job in the club?’
‘Right. She didn’t know much about her duties but I can tell you she’d have done absolutely anything the scoundrel asked her to. She insists her father knew nothing about it, but like with Sam, we can’t be sure about that. Anyway, that’s all I got out of her.’
Salter looked shocked when Riley related the substance of his conversation with Buckingham.
‘So Ezra was in cahoots with Lane.’ Salter scratched his ear in a bemused fashion. ‘That makes sense. I couldn’t understand why Ezra would be daft enough to put himself up against the man, especially since he was obviously anything but stupid. It didn’t occur to us that they might be in partnership with Clapham’s sporting king.’
‘No, it didn’t, Jack, but if any of the Randall children discovered that their mother was going into partnership with a lowlife like Lane, then we have yet another motive. And if that weren’t enough, with Ezra out of the way, it
