‘May I sit down?’ Riley asked politely.
‘Please.’ Gideon indicated the visitor’s chair situated on the opposite of the desk to which he was standing and simultaneously resumed his own chair.
‘To answer your question,’ Riley said, once he had settled himself as comfortably as he could manage, ‘our visit would not have been necessary if you had told us the complete truth about your whereabouts.’
Gideon’s shoulders slumped. ‘I hoped you wouldn’t check,’ he admitted with a wry smile.
‘We would be sorry excuses for policemen if we did not. It might surprise you to learn that witnesses make a habit out of lying to us.’
‘And you did so because you were out murdering Ezra Dawson, who’d become both an embarrassment and an impediment to your career,’ Salter added in his customary down to earth manner.
‘No, Sergeant,’ Gideon said, shaking his head. ‘Sorry to disappoint you, but it wasn’t anything nearly so bloodthirsty that made me hesitate to tell you the truth.’ He managed a mirthless smile. ‘Well, no blood was actually spilled in the place where I went, but I cannot discount the possibility of that situation arising in the future, albeit metaphorically.’
‘Have the goodness to explain,’ Riley said crisply.
‘There is a sea of discontent in political circles about the current Liberal government.’
‘Gladstone was elected with a substantial majority.’
‘And is making a wretched job of the Irish problem. However, there are certain powerful people who feel the opposition as it stands lacks the courage of its convictions and want to form a new political party that looks to the interests of the people, putting their affairs first. There have been a number of top secret meetings and I have been asked to attend, more or less as a note-taker, but my card has been marked.’
He sat a little straighter, pride in his modest achievement evident in his demeanour. Riley wanted to tell him that it was one thing plotting the downfall of governments but entirely another having the courage and strength to bring those plots to fruition. He could have added that the Machiavellian powers-that-be were almost certainly aware of their fledgling rebellion, and would be ready to crush it if it developed teeth. But he refrained. Gideon would discover in due course that he’d been the architect of his own thwarted ambitions.
‘I’ve been noticed by people who matter, and will take an important role in the future government of this country, you just mark my words.’
Riley resisted the urge to tell him that he sounded unpardonably pompous. ‘Your wife knew where you were?’
‘Good heavens, no! And I would keep it that way. She has no vision or patience, and doesn’t understand the way these things work. She thinks I was dining with friends.’
‘Actually,’ Riley said casually, ‘she told us that you spent the evening with your mistress.’
‘She said what?’ Gideon sat forward, looking terrified. ‘She knows?’
‘You arrive home smelling of cheap perfume, apparently,’ Salter told him with relish.
‘Hardly cheap.’ Gideon’s lips turned down at the corners. ‘I should know. I paid for it myself. Ah well, I don’t suppose she’ll make a fuss. She isn’t interested in that side of our marriage. Better she thinks that than knows the truth.’
‘I will need to know where you met and the name of someone who can independently attest to your presence.’
‘Can I depend upon your discretion? Sorry,’ Gideon added hastily when Riley sent him an icy look. ‘Anyway, Lord Rothsmere will tell you that he held a small reception that evening and will confirm that I was amongst the guests. Will that be satisfactory?’
‘Perfectly so in respect of your own whereabouts, although I would have appreciated it if you’d saved me the trouble of finding out by being truthful in the first place.’
‘Sorry, but the fact of the matter is that I panicked. Didn’t want Verity to know about Arabella or Rothsmere. Since I didn’t kill the damned footman, it didn’t seem that important where I was.’
‘As I was saying,’ Riley continued, ‘if your account of your actions is confirmed.’ He paused. ‘This time. In that case you can be excluded from our enquiries. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for your wife.’
‘Verity?’
‘Do you have any other wives, sir?’ Salter asked.
‘Don’t be facetious, Sergeant. What can this possibly have to do with Verity? She was at home all the evening. Besides, I understand the man met his end in Clapham and was whacked over the head. Verity wouldn’t lower herself to set foot in that area again.’
‘Again?’ Riley and Salter asked together.
‘Oh.’ Gideon glanced up, a surprised look on his face. ‘I thought you knew, which would explain your ridiculous theory. Verity’s father was a master cooper with a business in Clapham. Verity grew up in the district and was very anxious to leave it behind the moment she was in a position to better herself.’
‘Thank you, we were not aware of that. She neglected to mention the fact to us.’
‘Well, she wouldn’t shout about it. She pretends that part of her life didn’t happen.’ Gideon rolled his eyes. ‘She wouldn’t go back, and certainly not alone at night. But even if for some inexplicable reason she did decide to do so, how could a little thing like her possibly reach high enough to clout a huge chap like Dawson on the back of the bonce?’
‘Perhaps she didn’t do it alone,’ Salter remarked.
‘Now you’re being ridiculous.’ Gideon spread his hands. ‘Look, I’ll be the first to admit that my wife has pretentions, and she definitely didn’t approve of my mother’s relationship with the hired help. She doesn’t approve of anything enjoyable, now I
