‘But they knew, your husband and children?’
‘Philip certainly did and, as I just made clear, he couldn’t have cared less. In fact, he once told me that he was pleased I had found a harmless way to amuse myself that didn’t require me to leave the house. I believe poor Philip was quite excited by the concept in his own way. As to the children…’ She shrugged. ‘Gideon is as serious about politics as his father. He’s working his way up through the ranks of the civil service too and his wife Verity is very ambitious for him. She is pushing Gideon to stand for a safe Tory seat. I know Gid isn’t keen, and I’ve advised him to put his foot down. Life is short and one shouldn’t be forced to do things that one would find unfulfilling in order to satisfy the expectations of others.’
‘You do not like your daughter-in-law?’
Ida smiled through her tears. ‘I think it’s more a case of her not liking me, or to be more precise, not approving of my behaviour. I have never done anything to deliberately embarrass either of them, but I’m afraid my reputation precedes me.’
‘And would no doubt hold your son back if he did decide to stand for Parliament,’ Salter suggested.
Ida blinked up at him, but spoke to Riley. ‘Oh dear. Yes, I suppose it would. Anyway, there’s nothing to be done about my past and Verity was aware of it before she married Gideon, so she has no cause for complaint.’
Riley knew that she was right, and also suspected that she had taken to amusing herself with her household staff in an effort to play up to the reputation in question. Oh yes, he thought, Gideon and his disapproving wife knew all about Ida’s predilections, but as long as she restricted her activities to within her own four walls, he failed to see why either of them would feel the need to resort to murder. Even so, they would have to be questioned, as would Philip Randall.
‘Your daughter?’
‘Sarah married five years ago and is settled in Portsmouth. Her husband Mark is something terribly important in the Navy. A commodore, I think, although he never seems to be at sea. He complains that he spends all his time sailing a desk, but he does look frightfully dashing in his uniform.’ Riley smiled at Ida’s vagueness but wasn’t deceived by it. It was a ploy she had utilised ever since he had known her. Her laissez faire attitude disguised regrets about youthful indiscretions that had altered the course of her life. From the odd unguarded remark he had heard her make, he suspected that she actually had an astute brain but went to great lengths to disguise the depth of her intellect. ‘I see a lot of Sarah. She knows…’ She paused and swallowed down a surge of emotion. ‘Knew about Ezra and teased me about him being so much younger than me.’
Salter cleared his throat and licked the end of his pencil. Riley knew that he must be aching to issue some sort of moral lecture and admired his restraint.
‘There now, we have upset your sergeant again, Riley. But really, as I told Sarah, Ezra was such a beautiful young man. Strong and virile and the best possible fun. And he was here beneath my roof.’ She spread her hands. ‘We weren’t doing anyone any harm.’
Riley nodded. ‘I understand that Dawson was in his early twenties.’
‘I would imagine so.’ Ida gave an airy wave. ‘We did not waste our time discussing such inconsequential matters.’
Riley very much doubted whether Ida would allow a gap of over twenty years to concern her. She was still a lovely woman, who took care of her appearance and turned heads wherever she went, even though she was now in her late forties.
‘What of your younger son?’
‘Patrick? He is very clever. He will start his last year at Oxford after the summer recess and is bound to walk away with a first. Everyone says as much. He’s staying with friends in the country for a few days, but he was here last week. He was rather fond of Ezra too. Well, as you not so gallantly pointed out, Riley, Ezra was closer to Patrick’s age than he was to mine. Ezra was technically a servant but Patrick still enjoyed his company. That boy is very much like me. He doesn’t worry too much about the distinction of rank and makes a point of enjoying his life.’ She flashed a watery smile. ‘Verity could learn a thing or two from Patrick’s example, instead of disapproving of everything that’s even remotely fun.’
‘Why did you ask the chief inspector to get involved, ma’am?’ Salter asked. ‘I should have thought that keeping track of the household staff was your butler’s duty. And a missing servant is hardly a police matter, surely? I imagine they wander off all the time.’ He sent a quizzical glance at Riley, who shrugged and nodded.
‘I gave Ezra the day off yesterday to visit his ailing mother.’
‘What the…’
Riley waved at Salter to keep him quiet. ‘Go on,’ he said softly to Ida.
‘Well, my sweet boy was so very close to his mother—and anyway, I couldn’t refuse him anything. We were out last night, Philip and I, so I had no idea that he hadn’t returned at the agreed time until…well, until we retired. I expected Ezra to come and tuck me in,’ she said with a sly smile. ‘When he didn’t materialise, I just assumed that he’d been held up and I fell asleep. But when Gregg told me this morning that
