‘That is what I intend to find out,’ Riley assured her.
‘Everyone loved Ezra. He was universally popular and wouldn’t have hurt a fly.’
Everybody bar one, Riley thought. Three grown children anxious that their mother’s antics would harm reputations and career opportunities. They had to be the first line of enquiry.
‘How did the rest of your servants feel about your favouritism?’ Salter asked.
Riley thought it a very intuitive question and nodded his approval.
‘How would I know?’ Ida replied indifferently. ‘I rather think that Ezra was as popular below stairs as he was with me, but I have no way of actually knowing. I believe the maids took to him, and I wished him well in whatever he got up to with them. I’m not really in much of a position to act the jealous harpy. I can assure you that he was charming and impossible to dislike.’
‘Why did you offer him a position, Ida?’ Riley asked.
‘Why?’ She blinked at him. ‘I’m not sure what you mean.’
‘You have a lovely home with valuable contents. Dawson, I think I am right in saying, came to you with no references. Now I know you are partial to a pretty face, but I doubt whether you concern yourself with the hiring of junior footmen.’
‘Well, of course you are aware of my preferences, Riley dear,’ she replied, fluttering her lashes at him. Salter choked on another cough and fixed his attention on the tips of his boots. ‘Not that my efforts did me any good in your case. Your disinterest was insulting.’
‘I was far too young and naïve to appreciate your wealth of experience,’ Riley said, somehow managing not to smile. He knew that Salter would be highly offended by Ida’s behaviour, but Riley had always found her attitude entertaining. She was how she was, and made little attempt to pretend otherwise. There were many others within the ranks of the elite who shared her enjoyments in private but projected airs of prim respectability to the wider world, effectively living a lie. No one could accuse Ida Randall of being duplicitous.
‘How is your lovely wife?’ she asked.
‘She thrives, thank you for asking.’
Ida twitched her nose. ‘And I suppose you are still devoted to her.’
‘Alas, yes.’
‘Foolish boy!’
‘Sergeant Salter, does that cough of yours require medical attention?’ Riley asked, sending his sergeant a mildly castigating look. ‘I’m sorry, Ida. You were telling me how Dawson came to be offered a position in your household,’ he prompted.
‘Oh yes, that. Well my dear, it was the most dreadful thing. I was returning from making a call one afternoon when the heavens opened and my poor coachman could barely see the hand in front of his face. It was winter, and the deluge turned the roads to quagmires. The carriage was reduced to walking pace and I was set upon by vagabonds keen to relieve me of my valuables. It was utterly terrifying.’
‘I can imagine.’
‘Then, from out of nowhere, Ezra appeared and came to my rescue. He wasn’t deterred by the odds. There were three of them and just one of him but he dealt with them magnificently!’ Ida sighed. ‘Anyway, I asked him how best I could reward him, expecting the usual coarse request and thinking I might even oblige him, handsome devil that he was. But he told me that he was unable to find gainful employment because of youthful indiscretions; brushes with the law that he now regretted. Well naturally, I knew all there was to know about being led astray when one had no idea of the perils that lay in wait for the inexperienced, so I didn’t hesitate to offer him a position. After all, were it not for him, I could well have been dead. Or worse.’
Riley and Salter shared a glance. They were both aware that it was the oldest trick in the book. Dawson clearly didn’t want for intelligence and had done his homework. Anyone looking for a gullible lady of means would have no difficulty in unearthing the particulars of Ida’s colourful past. The newspapers had been full of her outrageous behaviour in her younger days when she had scandalised society by running amok with unsuitable male companions. The three attackers had probably been in Dawson’s pay, and the rain had been an added bonus. But still, it appeared that he had given good service, in more than one respect, and made Ida happy at least for a while.
‘Well, Ida, we had best speak with your servants, if you don’t mind.’
‘Of course I don’t mind, although I cannot think what they can tell you that I haven’t already covered.’
‘Even so.’ Riley smiled at her as he stood up. ‘I am sorry for your loss.’
‘Damn it, Riley,’ she replied, dabbing at her eyes. ‘He obviously meant more to me than I realised. And now I can’t even help him to…’
‘Help him to what, ma’am?’ Salter asked sharply.
‘Oh, it doesn’t signify now. It’s just that I was supporting his efforts to set up his own business.’
‘What sort of business?’ Riley asked, seating himself again.
‘He had identified the need for a sporting club in Clapham that working men could afford to frequent. At
