Death of a Footman (Riley Rochester Investigates Book 8)

by Wendy Soliman

  ‘Did Ezra tell you about his plans for the future?’ Riley asked.

  ‘Nothing specific, but I know there was something in the offing. Something big that I think the mistress was helping him with. He wouldn’t say what, but he did remark once or twice that he wouldn’t be sorry to see the back of old misery guts.’

  ‘Gregg?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘I see. Thank you, Albert,’ Riley said. ‘You’ve been very helpful. Please keep what we have discussed between ourselves and send James in.’

  Albert nodded and took himself off.

  ‘Gregg ain’t been telling us the truth, has he, sir?’ Salter asked, when they were alone again.

  ‘It seems not, Jack, but can you imagine Gregg taking himself off to Clapham to exact such an extreme form of revenge?’

  ‘He’s not that old, but he is fiercely protective of Sir Philip’s interests and he could’ve took it upon himself to get shot of the cause of potential embarrassment, especially since Ezra had challenged his authority. You’d probably know best, guv’nor, but no butler I’ve ever met would have put up with it. He couldn’t dismiss Ezra, her ladyship wouldn’t stand for it, and Gregg must have felt frustrated about that.’

  Riley smiled. ‘I would agree with you, but for the fact that Ida…well, let’s just say that Ezra won’t have been her first and you can be sure that she won’t grieve for too long before she replaces him.’

  ‘Perhaps, but I don’t suppose she’d had it away with a member of her own household staff before. It would have created havoc with the order of things below stairs.’

  ‘You make a fair point,’ Riley conceded, ‘and Gregg’s name stays on our list of suspects. In fact, as things stand he’s our only suspect. If Albert’s telling the truth and didn’t leave the house, he couldn’t have done it. Make a note to follow up on that please, Jack. In the meantime, we need to speak with Ida’s children. They must all have financial expectations, despite what Ida told us. There are also Ezra’s connections in Clapham to be investigated.’

  Their discussion was interrupted by a tap at the door, heralding the arrival of the other footman, James. He proved to be an exceptionally well-built young man with a handsome face, piercing blue eyes and a sweep of thick fair hair.

  ‘Officers,’ he said. ‘How can I be of service?’

  Riley introduced them both and asked James how long he had worked for the Randalls.

  ‘A little over four years,’ he replied, standing to attention, his expression an emotionless mask tinged with resentment.

  ‘You were senior to Albert and Ezra.’

  ‘Not really. We all worked together.’

  ‘How did you and Ezra get along? Were you friends?’

  ‘There was no time for friendships. We were here to work.’

  His answers were stiff, formal and rehearsed, Riley thought. He decided to play a hunch. ‘Did you resent him for taking your place in your mistress’s affections?’

  ‘What the devil…’ The mask fell away and his shoulders slumped. ‘Don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘Oh, I think you do, sunshine,’ Salter said. ‘Lady Randall’s an attractive woman, and she likes to flirt with the help. You’re a strong, handsome cove and I’m betting she took a liking to you. She favoured you and you loved every minute of it while it lasted. She could do things for you, help you to get on in life, give you little gifts. Then Ezra came along and you were history. How did that make you feel?’

  James snorted. ‘I have no idea where you got that idea from.’

  ‘Answer my sergeant’s question honestly,’ Riley said in a mild tone imbued with a wealth of authority. ‘At present we don’t suspect you of killing Ezra, even if you resented him, but if you continue to be evasive, we shall have to take a more thorough look at your affairs.’

  ‘All right, I’ll admit that I was upset. Her ladyship is fun. She enjoys life and she don’t put on airs. She talked to me, asked me about myself and took a genuine interest. She had me running little errands for her without bothering to tell Gregg, and sometimes she insisted that I go with her when she went out, which got right up his nose, but there was nothing he could do about it. It might not have been normal behaviour, but it was perfectly innocent.’

  ‘You thought it would develop into something more?’ Riley suggested. ‘Or hoped that it might.’

  ‘We’d all heard stories about her ladyship’s wild behaviour, even though Gregg forbade us from speaking of it below stairs. But yes, if I’m honest, I hoped I might…anyway, it doesn’t matter. The moment Ezra rescued her and she brought him into this house, she didn’t have eyes for anyone else. She forgot I was alive.’

  ‘Did he flaunt his situation?’ Salter asked.

  ‘He made sure we knew about it—and so did Sir Philip. Gregg was furious. He thinks Sir Philip walks on water and that he would be embarrassed, but I watched him and he really didn’t seem to mind. He lives for his work and doesn’t much care what Lady Randall gets up to.’

  ‘Where were you last night?’ Riley asked.

  ‘It was my afternoon and evening off. I spent it in Kentish Town with a young woman, Molly Briggs. She’s a chambermaid at the Corner House Hotel. I took her to the playhouse and got back here by ten o’clock.’

  Salter noted down the young woman’s details. James’s whereabouts would have to be checked.

  ‘Thank you, James. Please send the maids in now.’

  They spoke to all the female members of staff, none of whom had a bad word to say for Ezra. He was fun, handsome and always had a smile for them, they were told several times over. They all seemed genuinely upset, and Riley was satisfied that none of them had anything to do with Ezra’s demise. Quite apart from anything else, the man had been six feet tall, young and strong. Even taken by surprise, he doubted whether a woman would have had the strength to hit him hard enough to kill him, even if she could reach the back of his head without standing on a box.

  ‘What now?’ Salter asked, as the cook left the room, sniffing into a handkerchief and shaking her head at the state of the world. ‘Why didn’t you ask any of them about Ezra’s relationship with Lady Randall?’

  ‘Because I don’t think any of them aspired to become Mrs Ezra,’ Riley said, grinning. ‘I am getting the picture of a handsome scoundrel who charmed every woman on the planet, but didn’t single out any particular one for the sort of attention that would give her expectations. Besides, they were all here last night, tucked up in the servants’ quarters and can vouch for one another.’

  ‘Aye, right enough.’ Salter sniffed. ‘What about Gregg? Shouldn’t we ask him about his argument with Ezra?’

  ‘We should, but not yet. I don’t want to get Albert into trouble for telling us. We’ll leave it for now and come back to it when we’ve thought of a way to have come by the information that won’t implicate Albert. We have yet to speak with Sir Philip’s valet.’

  Salter perused his notes. ‘A man by the name of Meldew.’

  Riley nodded. ‘Let’s have him in.’

  Meldew proved to be an older gentleman with a pronounced limp that he referred to as a war wound. He’d been with Sir Philip for twenty years, and seemed blithely unconcerned about Lady Randall’s conduct.

  ‘Sir Philip didn’t mind about it,’ he said, ‘so why should I?’

  ‘Why indeed?’

  Riley dismissed the man, noticing with detachment that it was now past midday.

  ‘Take a look at Ezra’s room please, Jack, whilst I consult with Lady Randall.’

  ‘Sure you’ll be safe with her on your own, sir?’ Salter asked, grinning. ‘She has an eye for you.’

  ‘And any other man younger than she is. She’s always been that way, but I’ll take my chances.’

  He found Ida in the morning room, now properly dressed but looking delicate and distraught.

  ‘Have you found who did it?’ she asked.

  ‘I wish these things were that straightforward,’ Riley replied, lower
ing himself into a chair across from Ida. ‘I shall need to speak with Sir Philip and all your children, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose you will. Don’t go to Philip at Whitehall please. It will embarrass him. He is due home today by five at the latest, since we have an engagement this evening. Perhaps, if you don’t mind, Riley, you could…’

  ‘I could and I shall.’

  ‘Thank you. Gideon and the tiresome Verity will be here too, but you can catch Verity at home in Curzon Street, I would imagine. Now her I can imagine organising something so wicked, just to spite me.’

  Riley smiled and shook his head. ‘I’m afraid I can’t arrange the evidence to suit your preferences, Ida.’

  ‘That’s a pity, but it’s probably just as well. Philip would be terribly cross if there was a family scandal.’

  Riley somehow managed not to laugh. Sir Philip could ignore his wife’s infidelity taking place beneath his own roof with a servant, but having a member of his family suspected of murdering the servant in question would not sit well with the baronet, it seemed.

  ‘I shall be discreet.’

  ‘I know you will, Riley dear,’ Ida replied, sighing. ‘It’s just all so awful. Poor Ezra. He really was exceptionally beautiful. Too beautiful for this brutal world, perhaps.’

  ‘I need to know where I can find your younger son.’

  ‘He will be here later, and Sarah’s in town as well. They have an apartment in South Audley Street and they are up for a family gathering with a few close friends to celebrate Philip’s birthday. Sarah adores her father and wouldn’t miss it for the world.’

  ‘Well then, I shall speak with them all before the celebrations begin.’

  ‘I don’t suppose I shall feel much like celebrating,’ Ida said, ‘but I shall have to put on an act. I’m good at that. Goodness alone knows I’ve had enough practice pretending to be something that I am not.’

  Riley thought the remark telling, showing a rare glimpse of the lonely and dissatisfied woman beneath all the wealth and pretence at gaiety. He was saved the trouble of formulating a response by the arrival of Salter.

  ‘Ah, Sergeant, have you come to rescue Riley from my clutches?’ The introspective Ida had been replaced by the flirtatious femme fatale in the blink of an eye, lending proof to her acting prowess. ‘Don’t worry, I haven’t harmed him.’

  Salter actually blushed and didn’t appear to know what to say.

  ‘You are a wicked woman, Ida,’ Riley said, smiling at her. ‘My poor sergeant doesn’t know where to look.’

  ‘I’ll recover, sir, don’t you worry none about me.’

  Riley stood. ‘We shall return at five this evening and see your family, Ida. I hope it won’t be necessary to detain you all for long.’

  ‘Thank you, Riley.’ Ida stood too and touched his arm. ‘I feel better knowing that you are the one who will find justice for my poor Ezra.’

  ‘Just one more question, Ida,’ Riley said. ‘Who pays your servants’ wages, you or Sir Philip?’

  ‘I do, as a matter of fact. I wanted a house of this size and knew that Philip would struggle to maintain it. He is idealistic, and not particularly commercially-minded. Why, is it important?’

  ‘Most likely not. Anyway, we shall see you later today.’

  ‘Were it not for the circumstances, I would look forward to it.’

  She rang the bell and Gregg materialised with their hats, looking as though he hoped Riley would tell him what direction their investigation would now take. Riley knew it would be beneath Gregg’s dignity to ask, and had no intention of satisfying his curiosity. He nodded briskly as he and Salter left the house. Riley was aware of the butler standing in the open doorway, watching them as they strode off along the pavement.

  ‘Anything of interest in Ezra’s room?’ Riley asked.

  ‘Nope. Like a cell, it was. Bed perfectly made and not a scrap of anything personal to be found anywhere. Either he kept all his stuff elsewhere or—’

  ‘Or someone else beat us to it and cleared the place out,’ Riley finished for him.

  ‘Right. My money’s on Gregg. He’s hiding something, you just mark my words.’

  ‘I think you’re right, Jack.’

  ‘So what now, sir?’

  ‘A late lunch, I think,’ Riley replied, pointing to a tavern on the corner. ‘Then back to the Yard to see if your constables have returned from Clapham with any useful information for us. We will be returning here at five. There is to be a family gathering to celebrate Sir Philip’s birthday and all his children will be in attendance.’

  ‘Very convenient for us,’ Salter replied.

  ‘Indeed, but if one of them did do the deed they’ve had ample time to cover their tracks.’ Riley pushed open the door to the tavern. ‘This is going to be a hard one to solve, Jack, especially since I have an unsettling feeling that one or more of the people we have already spoken to has not been entirely honest with us.’

  ‘When are they ever, sir?’ Salter asked, rolling his eyes.

  Chapter Three

  ‘Why did you ask Lady Randall that question about the servants’ wages?’ Salter asked, wiping gravy from his chin with his napkin.

  ‘Because, Jack, that household isn’t large enough to require the services of three footmen, so talk about the other two having to take up the slack was moonshine.’

  ‘Ah, I see what you mean. Sir Philip would have balked at employing another man who wasn’t needed, but since his wife pays the bills, it didn’t matter to him.’

  ‘Precisely.’

  Salter grunted. ‘Dawson was employed as her ladyship’s plaything.’

  ‘That’s one way of putting it. But I was surprised when Gregg didn’t mention that Dawson’s services were surplus to requirements. He must have realised that I would reach that conclusion for myself.’

  ‘What with you knowing all about these things.’

  ‘Precisely. Our house in Eaton Square is larger than Ida’s and we only employ two footmen.’

  ‘I’m surprised how you manage to get by, guv’nor,’ Salter said with an irrepressible grin.

  ‘We make do,’ Riley replied languidly. ‘Remind me to have someone check on James’s whereabouts. We need confirmation that he returned to the house when he said he did. There will be a curfew of sorts. One imagines he was required to be back by ten, and that Gregg would have known if he was not. Not that Gregg confirming the fact will be sufficient to satisfy me.’

  ‘James might hope to console Lady Randall himself now, I suppose, and regain favour. But that won’t help Gregg to protect his master’s interests, so I don’t see how they can have been in it together.’

  ‘Nor I, as things stand, but hopefully the situation will become clearer. Right.’ Riley drank the last of his ale. ‘If you are finished, Sergeant.’

  ‘Ain’t you gonna eat that pie, sir?’ Salter eyed the remains of Riley’s lunch. ‘Seems a shame to waste it.’

  Riley shook his head and pushed his plate across to Salter. The pie disappeared in record time and the two detectives left the tavern.

  They arrived back at Scotland Yard less than an hour before their three constables returned from Clapham. Riley invited them into his office to make their reports.

  ‘Mrs Dawson is beside herself, sir,’ Carter said, ‘as are most of the females in Clapham that we came across. Most of ’em seemed to know Dawson, and not a single one of them had a bad word to say for him.’

  ‘My daughter included, I dare say,’ Salter muttered.

  ‘Dawson has two brothers, Sam and Paul, who work on them new houses what are being built,’ Soames told them. ‘They were sent for, and they came home to be with their mother.’

  ‘I know them both,’ Salter said. ‘Very different propositions to John—or should we call him Ezra to avoid confusion? The brothers are both married. Sam’s had a few brushes with the law and is known for his short temper, but I don’t know anything too bad about Paul.’

  ‘The wives ra
llied round the mother and seemed totally shocked,’ Peterson added.

  ‘Is there a father?’ Riley asked.

  ‘No, sir.’ It was Salter who answered him. ‘He died in an accident of some sort on the docks more than ten years back. Ezra’s brothers went into the building trade, but Ezra had loftier ideas. He became a bit of a tearaway, but he was his mother’s favourite and could do no wrong in her eyes.’

  ‘Right. What about that tavern?’ Riley asked. ‘Was Ezra seen in there last night? If so, with whom, and was there an altercation of any sort?’

  ‘He was in there large as life as always, so the landlord, one Jed Bishop, told me,’ Carter said. ‘Bishop was anxious to appear helpful, what with the body being found at the side of his premises.’

  ‘Helpful but evasive,’ Soames added. ‘Said they were busy and he didn’t see who Ezra was drinking with. Didn’t believe a word of it meself. Landlords always see everything.’

  ‘One interesting thing he did mention is that a woman came in looking for Ezra. He took her aside and they were talking in an animated manner,’ Carter said. ‘Waving their arms about like they might be having a disagreement. Well she seemed angry, but he stayed calm. Bishop swears he hadn’t seen her before and had no idea who she was. Interestingly though, he also said that Ezra started staggering about a bit, which surprised him because he hadn’t had that much to drink. The woman helped him outside to get some air and someone else reckoned he was foaming at the mouth.’

  ‘Odd,’ Salter said, scratching his ear with the end of his pencil.

  ‘Any mention of a sporting club being opened by Ezra?’ Riley asked, reiterating what Ida had told them about his plans. ‘We need to ask Lady Randall if she recalls where precisely the premises for the club are situated,’ he added to Salter. ‘I should have thought of that earlier.’

  Riley’s detective constables looked blankly at one another.

  ‘Nothing about no club,’ Carter said for them all. ‘But we did speak to one regular who also said he seemed to be staggering about like, clutching his belly and slurring his words, which was unusual. Ezra was known to be able to hold his drink.’