Enter Pale Death(121)

Enid showed no emotion. She stared straight ahead, back rigid, hands folded.

But emotion finally got the better of Dorothy Despond. “And my life? What of that? Where do I figure in all this? A brass weight in a scale pan?” She jumped to her feet and glared at Truelove. “You haven’t even got the guts to do your own murdering! You leave it to Mummy and the servants! You’re nothing but a cheap chiseller!” She grabbed a glass half full of brandy and hurled it, glass and contents, in Truelove’s face. Her father rose with her and the two strode to the door.

As she drew near to Joe, Dorothy whispered in a voice surprisingly in control, “Thank you, Joe. Canaletto had it right about England. Cold, unwelcoming and very murky. Worth collecting, though, if you get the chance—and it begins to look as though you may …”

“Couldn’t agree more.” Joe smiled. “I’m off to the south of France and glad to shake off the mud and the gloom. Why don’t we step outside, Despond, and leave the assembled jurors to come to a decision?” He offered his arm to Adelaide, who seemed eager to leave with them.

“I ought not to care, Sandilands,” said Despond, closing the door behind him, “but there are villains at large in there, free to stay or leave, and I’d like to know what you propose to do about them.”

“I?” Joe said, waggling his eyebrows. “Nothing at all. Nothing I can do. Unless Cecily and her son are prepared to write out a confession and sign it, British law would never allow me to bring such an insubstantial case to court. The Crown Prosecution Service would turn me down in five minutes. I’ve always known that. At best, they’d consider putting Grace Aldred in the dock on the evidence we have.”

“But you stuck with it anyhow.” Despond smiled. “And my daughter and I are eternally grateful. Not used to being taken for a ride, Sandilands. I’m used to being the biggest shark in the pond. What will you do now?”

“My bag’s packed. I thought I’d leave them in the company of their dear friends to hear their judgement. I’d hope to hear the question asked: ‘How can we accept the fact that the forthcoming Home Secretary, destined to be in absolute charge of Law and Order in the land, has been complicit in the killing of his wife and other forms of skulduggery?’ I wonder what sentence they’ll dole out.”

“Ten years’ exile? Blackballing from his clubs? In Ancient Athens they’d have written his name on a potsherd and got the guy ostracised. But, don’t raise your hopes, Sandilands. He’s among friends back there.” His eyes narrowed in mischievous speculation. “Not sure of the newsman, though … He’s the weak link. Too good a story to keep under wraps, are we thinking?”

Joe smiled. “You’re forgetting the ladies, Despond. My hopes rest with Maggie Somerton, Alice McIver, who has the country’s most influential newspaper magnate wrapped around her little finger, and Florence Ripley. Florence was scribbling notes throughout. A man’s reputation can be preserved in the safe confines of a St. James’s club but …”

“Not in the tearooms of London,” Dorothy supplied with an unladylike chortle. “That’s where I’m planning to make a start on the demolition!”

“Well, I’m off now to have a cup of cocoa with the superintendent and Dorcas. They’ll be wanting to hear the outcome. Such as it is.” Joe held out his arm. “Won’t you join us, Adelaide?”





CHAPTER 25


In the cocoon of his lamp-lit home, Adam Hunnyton’s comment on the affair was, predictably, a grumbling protest on behalf of Ben, the footman. “You tricked him! He’s a good lad. He deserves better.”

“I know Ben’s worth! Yes, I did deceive him because I am also aware of his sense of loyalty. I never like to put a man’s loyalty under stress. It does no one any good. But I did give him my card with a scrawled message on the back. The police college at Hendon can use such a man. He’s wasted smoking Woodbines to pass the long watches of the night in a slops cupboard spying on Cecily’s guests.”

Joe stayed on with Adam when Dorcas and Adelaide left. Dorcas had gratefully accepted the offer of Adelaide’s spare bed for the night, before returning to Cambridge and the railway station in the morning. She had broken her silence to say only that she wanted to go home to Lydia and Marcus. Joe gathered that his company would be unwelcome for the moment and mentioned tactfully that he was planning to stay on in Cambridge for a couple of days. Forms to complete, statements to make, liaising to be done …