‘I did not see his lordship as the marrying kind,’ Isaac said.
‘Neither did I,’ Lady Penrith said.
‘Then why?’
‘We are both older, and neither of us wants to be on their own.’
‘Malcolm Grenfell was never on his own,’ Isaac said, unsure of her Ladyship’s reaction.
‘The women who kept him entertained were there for a good time, not him. He will never have reason to doubt my motives.’
‘What are your motives?’
‘To be with Malcolm, of course.’
‘And the title?’
‘I appreciate it, but it is not the prime motivation.’
‘In the thirty years since you first slept with Malcolm Grenfell, were you ever unfaithful to Bob Hampshire?’ Wendy asked.
‘No. I loved Bob.’
‘And Malcolm?’
‘I loved him as well.’
‘Complicated.’
‘I don’t see why. It is possible to love more than one person, difficult to live with them both. I chose Bob because he was reliable and able to provide for Kevin. Malcolm was Malcolm, and he was not reliable or the father figure that I wanted. Malcolm always knew that. We both knew that one day we would be together.’
‘We need to talk to you separately,’ Isaac said.
‘Malcolm is waiting for you.’
***
Isaac and Wendy were ushered into a room at the back of the house.
‘It used to be the smoking room. In the past, the men would retire here to smoke cigars and talk about business. The women would stay in the other room discussing needlecraft,’ Lord Penrith said. He stood erect and was wearing a suit.
‘Thank you for seeing us, your Lordship?’ Isaac did not know why he had respected the man’s title. Grenfell had self-indulgently wasted his life, yet now he looked worthy of the title; almost too good to be true.
‘It’s Emma. She’s changed me.’
‘She told us that you and she always had a belief that you would be together one day.’
‘More hope, although I don’t regret my past life. It was full of fun and no responsibility. Now I am involved in God knows how many charities. They even want me to judge the best vegetable of the year at the local agricultural show.’
‘What do you know about vegetables?’ Wendy asked.
‘Not a lot. What do you want, by the way?’ Lord Penrith asked. ‘You’ve arrested the people who killed Montague.’
‘We have reason to believe that Albert murdered Garry Solomon,’ Isaac said.
‘Preposterous. Poor old Albert wouldn’t hurt a fly,’ Penrith said.
‘Are you aware of his time in the army?’
‘Pushing a pen for Queen and country.’
‘He never told you?’
‘He was older than me. We had different mothers. Our conversations were few and far between.’
‘Your brother was not in an office. He was undercover.’
‘A spy?’
‘Yes.’
‘Are you saying that Albert was behind enemy lines, spying?’
‘Our source is good.’
Malcolm Grenfell sat down and let out a sigh. ‘Albert, a regular James Bond, licensed to kill.’
‘That is correct.’
‘Hard to imagine Albert with a bevy of women.’
‘I don’t believe that is the reality, do you?’ Isaac said.
‘Not really, but I have to give him credit. All those years pretending to be a stuffy aristocrat, and there he was with a story worth telling. And you believe he killed Garry?’
‘Our evidence points to that conclusion.’
‘Are you saying that because he killed in the army, he could have killed Garry?’
‘Yes.’
‘Murder! What is so significant that would justify that course of action? Unless it was maintaining the family name.’
***
Isaac could not fault Malcolm Grenfell. His brother Albert had been in his twenties when he had been born, so it was very possible that there was little communication between the two men.
Emma Hampshire’s reason for marrying Malcolm Grenfell appeared relevant. Isaac and Wendy found her in a conservatory at the back of the house.
‘We have reason to believe that your first husband was murdered by Albert Grenfell,’ Isaac said. He waited to see the reaction.
‘My brother-in-law, Malcolm’s brother?’
‘Yes.’
‘Can you prove it?’ Lady Penrith asked.
‘The witnesses are all dead, as is the accused,’ Isaac replied.
‘And the motive?’
‘I am not at liberty to discuss that.’
‘Why not? Is it a big secret?’
‘It may become relevant at a later date.’
Isaac thought that the former Emma Hampshire was on edge.
Wendy had questions of a more personal nature.
‘Why did you marry so quickly?’ she asked.
Lady Penrith took one step back, unsure of what to say. ‘I told you before that I loved him.’
‘You have been able to marry him since Bob Hampshire died,’ Isaac reminded her.
‘I was not ready.’
‘Not ready or was it because Malcolm Grenfell had no money and no title.’
‘That’s an outrageous statement, Chief Inspector.’ Isaac had his reaction. He had the measure of the woman.
‘I put it to you that you were glad to be rid of Garry Solomon because he had no money. And then Bob Hampshire comes along.’
‘You are accusing me of prostituting myself to the nearest rich man.’ Lady Penrith was on her feet and shouting.
‘And as long as Bob Hampshire kept you and your son in luxury, you stayed with him. Did you sleep with Malcolm Grenfell while you were with Bob Hampshire?’
‘How dare you accuse me of this. I was faithful to Bob.’
‘And once he died, did you resume your relationship with your current husband?’
‘No, yes, sometimes.’
‘What’s the answer?’ Isaac persisted.
Wendy looked at Isaac, uncertain where he was heading.
‘We sometimes went away together for a few days.’
‘While he was seducing young women?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did you agree with his behaviour?’
‘I was not willing to marry him until he stopped.’
‘Are you saying that you did not marry him for his title?’
‘Yes.’
‘But you were sleeping with him before. Why?’
‘I’m a woman. I need a man in my bed.’
‘Lady
