‘Come here and inspire me,’ she said, patting the bed.
He blew her a kiss. ‘I’ll have to postpone that delight until this evening, Kitty. I have too many people to see and too many bets to take. I also need to find a moment to go across to the stables to check on Merry Legs. That attempt at poisoning her scared me.’
‘Do you still think that Mr Dowd was responsible?’
‘I’d put money on it.’
‘You’d never do that unless you were very confident.’
‘My motto is simple,’ he said, coming to sit on the bed. ‘I only back certainties – like Kitty Lavender.’ She gave a brittle laugh. ‘How are you feeling this morning?’
‘Pleasantly tired,’ she purred.
‘Then you can go back to sleep. While you slumber away, I’ll be plying my trade at the racecourse and hoping that Inspector Colbeck will be able to find the villain who put that poison in the water.’
‘What are the chances of that happening?’
‘We shall see. Colbeck is an astute man.’
‘Marcus doesn’t think so. He said you’d outwit him every time.’
‘I’d outwit any policeman, Kitty,’ he said cheerily, ‘ which is why I’ve never seen the inside of a courtroom. But this crime is something I can’t solve on my own. I need an able detective.’
‘What sort of person is Inspector Colbeck?’ he asked.
‘You’d like him – he’s a real dandy. He sticks out from every other policeman I’ve met, whereas his sergeant is more typical of the breed. To be honest,’ he went on, ‘I enjoyed crossing swords with Colbeck. He’s a worthy opponent – unlike Lord Hendry.’
She was uneasy. ‘Do you still mean to go ahead with the duel?’
‘I can’t pull out of it now, Kitty.’
‘But you could be putting yourself in jeopardy.’
‘He’d never get the better of me with a pistol.’
‘If he believes that, George will look for a way to ensure that the duel never takes place.’
‘You mean that he’ll go into hiding somewhere?’
‘No,’ she said, stroking his arm. ‘George won’t run away – that would look bad. He’s more likely to hire some ruffians to break a few of your bones so that you’re frightened off.’
Fido laughed. ‘He’ll need a whole army to get close to me,’ he boasted, tapping the bulge at his waist. ‘Apart from the fact that I carry a loaded weapon, I have a bodyguard watching my back. The moment I leave here, I’m under his protection.’
‘That won’t stop me worrying.’
‘Lord Hendry deserves a bullet between his eyes.’
‘I want you to stay alive in order to put it there.’
‘One of us will finish him off,’ he said with conviction. ‘If some mishap should befall me, Marcus will take my place. From what you’ve told me about him, he’s an excellent shot.’
‘He is,’ said Kitty. ‘Gambling is his first love but, when he takes time off from that, it’s to join a shooting party somewhere. Though he’s desperately short of money most of the time, he somehow manages to maintain a very comfortable existence. He trades on his charm and lives off his wealthy friends.’
‘He’s a silver-tongued social parasite and I admire him for that. It takes skill and daring to do what he does. I was also touched by the way he came to your defence.’
‘I just wish that he hadn’t told you about it.’
‘Somebody must call Lord Hendry to account.’
‘I’d rather it wasn’t you, Hamilton. I know the way that George’s mind works. If the duel did actually take place,’ she warned, ‘he’d be ready to fall back on unfair means.’
Fido grinned. ‘That makes two of us – so will I.’ Holding her by the chin, he gave her a gentle kiss then stood up. ‘When are you going to speak to Inspector Colbeck?’
‘Never – if I can help it.’
‘He won’t give up, Kitty. The longer you keep dodging him, the meaner he’ll be when he finally does catch up with you. It’s only a matter of time before he does that,’ he pointed out. ‘As soon as he sees us together, he’ll know that you’re the lady from the Wyvern Hotel.’
‘There’s no reason why he should see us together – not alone, anyway. I’ve got myself another beau to hide behind.’
‘Oh – and who might that be?’
‘Marcus, of course,’ she said. ‘He told me to avoid the police at all costs or my name might finish up in the newspapers. I don’t want to become a public spectacle, Hamilton.’
‘I rather hoped that you did – on my arm.’
‘When I’ve shaken off Inspector Colbeck, there’s nowhere I’d rather be. Above all else, I want George to see us together. After what he did to me, I want him to writhe in pain.’
‘He’s already been doing that, Kitty,’ he said, reaching for his hat. ‘My guess is that Lord Hendry didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. He’d have been tortured by the thought of fighting a duel against me. He knows how that will end. And if he was kept awake, he’ll have heard the sound of the downpour we had. It rained hard for hours and hours. That means the going will be soft at the racecourse and that won’t suit Odysseus at all.’ He put his hat on at a rakish angle. ‘One way or another,’ he said cheerfully, ‘Lord Hendry must have had the worst night of his life.’
Victor Leeming was making his way through the crowd when he saw the woman. Short, dainty and with a look of sublime innocence on her face, she was accompanied by a small boy. Speaking to an elderly gentleman who was just descending from his carriage, she asked directions from him. He was happy to oblige. He was entranced by her pretty features and beckoning smile. Victor Leeming was more interested in what the boy was doing. When the directions had been received, the woman thanked her guide and led the boy away. The sergeant moved swiftly to intercept them. Fixing the boy with a knowing look, he held out the palm of his hand.
‘Give me the wallet,’ he ordered.
‘What are you talking about?’ demanded the woman haughtily.
‘The wallet that he took from that gentleman while you distracted him. This lad is a pickpocket and you’re his accomplice.’
‘How dare you! I’m David’s mother!’
‘Then you should be ashamed to bring him up in this way.’
‘If you don’t leave us alone,’ she said, putting a maternal arm around her son, ‘I’ll call a policeman.’
‘You’re already talking to one,’ said Leeming, enjoying his moment. ‘I’m Detective Sergeant Leeming from Scotland Yard.’
He waved a hand to a uniformed policeman who stood a dozen yards away. Recognising him, the man came briskly over to him.
‘Good morning, sir,’ he said.
‘Here’s your first arrest of the day, Constable. I caught a pair of pickpockets. The lad has just stolen a wallet from that gentleman standing beside his carriage. Return his property to him,’ said Leeming, ‘then find out what else these two have purloined.’
The woman and her son made a sudden dash for freedom but the policeman restrained them both. Turning on the sergeant, she unleashed a stream of vile abuse and had to be dragged away. Leeming was about to move off when Brian Dowd came over to him.
‘I saw that, Sergeant,’ he said with a complimentary smile. ‘You did very well. I’d never have known what those two were doing.’
‘You didn’t spend as many years in uniform as I did, sir. When you get big crowds, the pickpockets come out in their hundreds.’
‘That boy could have been no more than six or seven.’
‘Children younger than that have been trained to steal,’ said Leeming sadly. ‘They’re corrupted at an early age. I don’t blame the lad. It’s the mother who should take the punishment.’
‘I hope you don’t spend all your time looking for pickpockets.’
‘By no means, sir.’
‘There are more important crimes to solve.’
‘Inspector Colbeck and I are well aware of that,’ said Le
eming, ‘and we have our superintendent snapping at our heels to make us find the killer of John Feeny. Our problem is that we keep getting distracted by related crimes.’
‘Such as?’
‘The attacks on both Odysseus and Merry Legs – someone is determined to keep them out of the Derby.’
‘Don’t forget what happened to me,’ said Dowd. ‘Limerick Lad can win the race but I’m honest enough to admit that he might not do it unless he has Tim Maguire on his back. That’s why my jockey has been the target, Sergeant. Tim is my guarantee of success.’
‘Limerick Lad likes soft going, I’m told.’
‘The more rain we have, the better.’
‘I hope that it holds off for the race itself.’
‘Yes,’ said Dowd. ‘The world and his wife will be here tomorrow. There’s nothing quite like Derby Day. I hope that the sun shines brightly during the races but I’ll be praying for more rain tonight.’
‘Were you on your way to the grandstand?’ asked Leeming, glancing towards it. ‘If you are, I’ll walk with you, if I may.’
‘Please do, Sergeant. I have some friends to meet there.’
Leeming fell in beside him. ‘I’ve arranged to meet Inspector Colbeck,’ he said. ‘Left to myself, I’d rather see some of the sights. There’s a six-legged pig on display and the Smallest Man in England is in one of the booths. Then there’s a huge Polynesian woman who has tattoes everywhere. Duty calls, however,’ he sighed. ‘And the inspector should be back from Lord Hendry’s house by now.’
‘Oh?’ Dowd was curious. ‘What was he doing there?’
‘We had a report of a crime that took place last night.’
‘Indeed?’
‘Lord Hendry’s painting of Odysseus was stolen,’ said Leeming. ‘Other things may have been taken as well, for all I know, but it was the loss of the painting that sent the inspector haring over there.’
‘I’ll be interested to hear what transpired.’
They picked their way through the crowd. Races were not due to begin for a couple of hours yet but Epsom Downs were already submerged beneath a rippling sea of humanity. The noise was deafening and the buzz of excitement was almost tangible. The two men chatted about the races on the day’s card and Dowd recommended a bet on one of his own horses, Quicklime, in the last event of the day. As they got near the grandstand, they saw Robert Colbeck waiting at the appointed place. After an exchange of greetings, the inspector looked enquiringly at Leeming. The sergeant shook his head.
‘There are no problems at the stables, sir. Odysseus is fine.’
‘Thank you, Victor,’ said Colbeck.
‘What’s this about a painting being stolen?’ asked Dowd.
‘It was taken in the night, sir. Lord Hendry is heartbroken.’
‘Don’t look to me for sympathy. It was rash of him to have a portrait of his horse painted before the race was even run. That was tempting Fate. But I’m surprised that anyone was out and about last night,’ he went on. ‘That storm should have kept everyone indoors.’
‘Unfortunately,’ said Colbeck, ‘it kept the dogs indoors or they would have been guarding the house.’
‘It’s not a disaster,’ said Leeming. ‘Lord Hendry could always have another portrait painted.’
‘Only if Odysseus wins the Derby,’ said Dowd waspishly, ‘and you’d have a better chance of doing that, Sergeant.’
‘Then why is Odysseus still the favourite?’
‘Wonders never cease.’
‘Limerick Lad has dropped back slightly in the betting.’
‘That suits me – we get better odds. But you must congratulate your sergeant,’ said Dowd, turning to Colbeck. ‘I watched him catch a couple of pickpockets in the crowd just now.’
‘Well done, Victor,’ said Colbeck. ‘You always had sharp eyes.’
Leeming shrugged. ‘I just happened to be in the right place, sir.’
‘That’s an essential part of policing.’
‘I hope you’re both in the right place when it comes to catching John Feeny’s killer,’ said Dowd earnestly. ‘I want to know who that merciless bastard is.’
‘So do the rest of us, sir.’
‘Well, I must be off – don’t forget what I told you, Sergeant.’
‘Quicklime in the last race,’ said Leeming.
‘Tim Maguire is riding him.’
‘Then I’ll be sure to put a bet on him. Goodbye, Mr Dowd.’ They waved the Irishman off. ‘I’m glad I saw him this morning.’
‘He was in a better mood than when we last met,’ said Colbeck.
‘You didn’t accuse him of lying this time, Inspector.’
‘That’s true.’
‘What happened at Lord Hendry’s house?’
Colbeck told him about his visit and how profoundly depressed the owner had been at the theft of his beloved painting. The piece of information that Leeming seized on was the suggestion that a woman might be implicated in the crime.
‘Did you get her name, Inspector?’
‘Only after a long battle,’ said Colbeck.
‘Who is she?’
‘Kitty Lavender.’
‘Do you have an address?’
‘She lives in London but Lord Hendry was certain that she’d be staying somewhere nearby during Derby Week.’
‘How do we find her?’
‘By speaking to Hamilton Fido,’ said Colbeck. ‘He and Miss Lavender will doubtless be sharing the same accommodation.’
‘Do you think she had anything to do with the theft of that painting?’ said Leeming.
‘I’m keeping an open mind about that. What I do think is that last night’s incident is related to all the others. If we solve one of the crimes, we will effectively be solving them all. The same person is behind them. Who knows? Her name may even be Kitty Lavender.’
‘You did say that a woman might help to unravel this mystery.’
‘I still hold to that view,’ said Colbeck. ‘In fact, we may find that we get help from more than one woman.’
Having packed the food into his satchel, Madeleine handed it to her father. Caleb Andrews thanked her with a kiss then slung the satchel from his shoulder. He was just about to leave the house to go to work.
‘You’ll have to make your own lunch tomorrow,’ she warned.
‘Why?’
‘Robert is taking me to Epsom.’
‘Then you’ll be able to see your father making money,’ he said chirpily. ‘I picked out the winner.’
‘Which horse did you bet on – Princess of Fire?’
‘I was going to bet on her but I remembered that colts always win the Derby so I’ve gone for Aleppo instead at 12–1. I read in my newspaper that he’s the most likely to upset the favourites in the race. Help me tomorrow and shout for Aleppo.’
‘Whoever I shout for, my voice won’t be heard in that crowd. Oh, I’m so excited, Father. I just can’t wait to get there.’
‘You’ll enjoy every minute of it, Maddy.’
‘It’s such a wonderful present for me.’
‘I’m glad to see that Inspector Colbeck is treating you in the way you deserve. The only time you’ve ever been to Epsom was years ago when you were a baby and your mother and I took you on Derby Day.’ He tapped his chest and chortled. ‘I backed the winner then as well. I bought you a new rattle out of my winnings.’
Madeleine giggled. ‘I won’t need one of those this year,’ she said. ‘According to Robert, Aleppo might be a wise choice.’
‘Why?’
‘The three horses ahead of him in the betting are the ones that have been having trouble. There have been attempts to kill two of them and to bribe the jockey riding the third. Robert says he’ll be grateful if he can get Odysseus, Merry Legs and Limerick Lad to the starting post.’
‘Is he anywhere nearer making an arrest yet?’
‘He thinks so.’
‘I’ve told him before, Maddy – the killer is a jealous husband.’
‘You’re wrong about that, Father,’ she said. ‘The victim was a young Irish groom who was walking out with a barmaid called Bonny Rimmer. They worshipped each other. John Feeny would never have looked at another woman, certainly not at someone’s wife in Crewe.’
‘That’s where the inspector should be continuing his search.’
‘The murder has nothing to do with Crewe. Feeny probably had no idea where the place is. Everything that Robert has discovered so far is connected with the Derby. The answers lie there.’
‘I’ll believe that when I see the proof. But I wish I was going with you tomorrow,’ he said enviously. ‘I’m probably the only person in London who won’t be there.’
‘When will you learn the result?’
‘When I get back to Euston.’
‘How?’
‘Carrier pigeons will bring the result to London and it will be posted up in various places. Next day, I’ll collect my winnings.’
‘From where?’ she asked. ‘I thought the only betting that was allowed was on the course itself.’
Andrews cackled. ‘Some rules are made to be flouted.’
‘Do you mean that that you’ve deliberately broken the law?’
‘I’ve just bent it a little, that’s all – like everyone else.’
‘What will Robert say if he knew that my father was a criminal?’ she teased. ‘If you break a law, it’s his duty to arrest you.’
‘Then he’ll have to arrest thousands of other people as well, Maddy. A stupid law won’t stop us putting money on the Derby. It’s every Englishman’s right to have a bet.’
‘Time to go,’ she said, glancing at the clock on the mantelpiece. ‘I’ll come part of the way with you, Father. I need to go to the market.’
He put a hand to his wallet. ‘Do you have enough money?’
‘Plenty, thank you.’
Madeleine went into the kitchen to collect a large wicker basket then they left the house together and strolled along the street.
‘Who was that woman you mentioned earlier?’ he said.
‘Bonny Rimmer? She was Feeny’s sweetheart.’
‘And you’ve met her?’
‘We went to church together last Sunday.’
‘Is that where you and Inspector Colbeck were?’ he said. ‘When he took you off in that trap, I was bound to wonder. What’s so special about this girl, Maddy?’
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