‘I have no idea. As far as I am aware, she and Ezra were still on the best of terms right up until the day of his death.’
‘Did you see him on the day he died?’
‘I did, Lord Riley. I sent a message, I’m ashamed to say, pretending that it was from his mother. He knew it was from me, and that I selfishly needed to see him. He came at once. I was feeling low, you see. Verity had been conducting a vengeful campaign by post. Hardly a day went by without a threat arriving from her, and it was starting to get me down. I knew the threats would magically disappear if I gave her a share of her brother’s estate—to which she was not entitled—but the stubborn part of me refused to crumble beneath her bullying.’
‘Do you still have any of the letters?’ Riley asked.
‘Only the latest one that came the day before yesterday. I have burned the others. Why? Is it important?’
‘Possibly. Do you mind if I take it with me?’
‘Not in the least.’ Mrs Wendall got up, went to her writing desk in the corner of the room and extracted a letter from one of the pigeonholes. ‘You may keep it, Lord Riley. I have no desire to look at it again.’
‘Thank you.’ Riley tucked the letter unread into the inside pocket of his coat. ‘What did Ezra say about her threats?’
‘He had already told me to leave her to him; that he would deal with her.’
‘Do you know what he meant by that?’
‘He said it would be better if I didn’t. He wanted to protect me and I was content to let him. In was a heady feeling to have a man who actually cared about my welfare, and upon whom I could depend. What Ezra and I had was something truly special, Lord Riley, hard as that might be for you to believe, given his past misdemeanours. But I know he loved me and that we were destined to spend the rest of our lives together, until someone so cruelly snatched him away from me.’ Tears glistened on her lashes. ‘Find that person, Lord Riley. If anyone can, it is you.’
‘I will do my very best,’ he assured her. ‘What time did Ezra arrive here?’
‘About four in the afternoon. He had briefly called in to see his mother and then came directly to me. He left at eight, saying he had some business affairs to conduct here in Clapham. We arranged to meet again next week but alas…’ She dabbed at her eyes. ‘That was the last time I saw him.’
‘He was seen in the Plough, arguing with a woman. Do you know who it could have been?’
‘No, unfortunately I do not.’ She shook her head emphatically. ‘It could have been anyone. Ezra was acquainted with a large number of ladies before me, and I’m sure some of them took his attentions too seriously. I didn’t leave this house for the rest of the evening after his departure. My servants will verify the fact, although they are loyal to me so I don’t suppose you will take their word for it.’
‘You mentioned when we arrived that you were expecting us,’ Riley said. ‘May I ask why you didn’t get in touch as soon as you heard of Ezra’s death?’
‘It’s only been a day. I haven’t had…’
‘It makes you look as though you have something to hide, I’m afraid. We only found out about you by chance, and had we not done so, the insights you have given us into your family’s affairs that can greatly assist this investigation might never have come to light.’
‘I am truly sorry, Lord Riley,’ she said. ‘I would have spoken up once I was able to think straight. I hope you will accept my word for that.’ She paused. ‘You are aware that Ezra had someone else helping him to establish the reputation of his club amongst the upper classes.’
‘Mark Buckingham?’
‘Yes, I introduced him to Ezra as a matter of fact. He is a friend of the family.’
‘We have already spoken to him, but he failed to mention your name.’
‘He was being discreet, I expect.’
‘Very well.’ Riley stood. ‘We shall need to speak with you again, Mrs Wendall, but that will be all for now.’
Mrs Wendall stood too and rang the bell. ‘Thank you, Lord Riley, for your discretion and for your honesty. I don’t suppose it matters now who knows about my relationship with Ezra. Gordon is dead and I have no close family of my own left alive. But even so, it would make something beautiful sound tawdry if it were to become common knowledge.’
‘Unless something compelling requires us to make your association with Ezra public, you can depend upon our keeping the facts to ourselves,’ Riley assured her as the butler materialised to show them out.
‘Well, sir,’ Salter said, plonking his hat on his head and fanning his face with his hand as they returned to the pavement and made their way towards the spot where they had agreed to meet the others. ‘I didn’t see that one coming.’
Riley chuckled. ‘Nor me, Jack.’
‘That Ezra wasn’t going to stay a footman for long, was he? And we have definite reason to suspect Verity now,’ Salter said with relish. ‘I always thought it had to be her.’
‘Or Ida, I’m afraid,’ Riley said pensively. ‘She was very attached to Ezra, but his feelings were not engaged. She always entered into these affairs without thought of their continuing for long and was usually the one to end them. Mrs Wendall is twenty years younger than Ida and still in the full bloom of her beauty. Jealousy might have caused her to seek the ultimate form of
