‘I do not frequent taverns in poor parts of town, or indeed in any part of town for that matter.’ Her denial lacked conviction and she was unable to look Riley in the eye. ‘I was at home the entire evening, and my servants will confirm that fact.’
‘One of my officers is talking to them at this moment,’ Riley replied, ‘reminding them that giving a false alibi will land them behind bars right alongside you. Let’s see how loyal they are when that truth hits home.’
‘What…what time was I supposedly at this tavern?’ she asked.
‘A little before eleven,’ Riley replied, sure he knew what she intended to say and content to allow her to condemn herself with her own words.
‘Then whoever the woman was, it cannot have been me.’ She wore a smile of condescending relief. ‘My husband can verify that I was here. Presumably his word will be sufficient for you. He is, after all, a gentleman.’
‘And gentlemen don’t ever lie,’ Salter muttered. ‘Everyone knows that.’
Verity glowered at him but said nothing.
‘Think very carefully, madam,’ Riley said in a mordant tone, ‘before you dig yourself into a deeper hole.’
‘Ask Gideon.’ There was a desperate edge to her voice. ‘He will tell you.’
‘Do you sleep in the same room as your husband?’ Riley asked.
‘What on earth is that to do with the matter?’ Verity looked scandalised. ‘Besides, it’s none of your concern.’
‘Did you wait up for your husband to return from his engagement?’
‘Certainly I did,’ she replied, sounding a little less sure of herself.
‘What time did he arrive home?’
‘At about ten o’clock.’
‘Another lie, Sergeant,’ Riley said, sighing. ‘I will ask you one more time, madam. Do you and your husband occupy the same bedchamber?’
‘We do not. My husband is an early riser and doesn’t like to disturb me, but it doesn’t signify since he saw me here in this very room when he arrived home, and we went up together.’
‘Arrest her, Sergeant,’ Riley said shortly.
‘Arrest?’ She finally appeared to understand the gravity of her situation. ‘On what charge?’
‘Lying to a police officer, giving false witness and murder.’
She looked unnaturally pale, and the bluster had disappeared. ‘I did not lie about Clapham. I was not there, I swear that on my life. I said Gideon was here because I was protecting his career.’
‘You know where he actually was?’ Riley asked.
‘He was not killing his mother’s lover, if that’s what you mean to imply. I dare say he was too busy enjoying the comforting embrace of his own paramour,’ she added bitterly. ‘In fact I know that he was. I always know when he has been with her. He comes home reeking of cheap perfume. I didn’t tell you because I feared it would get out and ruin his career prospects.’
Riley took a moment to consider her statement. She had told the truth about Gideon but failed to realise that it left both of them with the vital hours between nine and eleven unaccounted for; ample time for them to get to Clapham and back.
Verity, he understood, had called upon Ida on the afternoon of Ezra’s death and would probably have known that he’d gone to Clapham because she would have noticed his absence and made some acerbic remark about it. Even so, could Gideon have been persuaded to take the opportunity to whack Ezra over the head, send Verity home and then calmly visit his mistress? He was far from stupid and would have seen the need for them to account for one another’s whereabouts, so it seemed implausible—yet stranger things had been known to happen.
This was clearly a loveless marriage held together by mutual ambitions of a political nature. Verity wanted to be accepted and have her husband admired for his astute political brain. Riley had met women like her before; women who had risen from humble origins. They were tenacious and didn’t allow anything to stand in their way.
‘You were seen, Mrs Randall,’ Salter said, ‘in that tavern, arguing with Ezra.’
‘Not I,’ she said with so much self-assurance that Riley began to doubt whether it had actually been her. ‘You have been misled.’
‘You disapproved of Lady Randall’s behaviour, yet you appear to tolerate your husband’s infidelities,’ Riley said.
‘I don’t approve, but men will be men, and Gideon is at least discreet. Lady Randall was carrying on with a footman.’
‘Your father was a cooper, I understand,’ Salter said, grinning when the reminder caused Verity to flush. ‘Seems to me you ain’t in no position to put on airs.’ He glanced around the small room to emphasise his point.
‘I won’t apologise for aspiring to better things, Sergeant,’ she said haughtily.
‘We shall leave matters there for now, Mrs Randall, while we continue with our enquiries. However, I think it only fair to warn you that I am not satisfied with your explanation and fully intend to discover the identity of the woman seen arguing with Ezra. If it was you, now is the time to tell me and explain what you were doing there.’ He paused to fix her with a gimlet gaze. ‘This is your only chance.’
‘I have nothing to say to you, Lord Riley. You will not be able to prove that I was in that tavern, so I have nothing to fear and shall wish you a good afternoon.’
She rose to ring the bell. Peterson emerged from the back of the apartment and the three of them left the premises.
‘She was lying, wasn’t she, sir?’ Salter said belligerently. ‘She said that we wouldn’t be able to prove she was there, but she didn’t say that she wasn’t. She thinks she’s cleverer than we are. You should have let me arrest
