‘What have you in mind?’
‘The strongest motive of all. Love, sir. For Cassandra, yes. But more than that. He has affection for those boys too. Neglected by their father, they must have felt he filled a certain gap in their lives. They clearly love and trust him. An older man, a war hero but not one on a pedestal. A man who looks them in the eye and understands their needs in a way their father was not able to do. Didn’t you get a feeling of … unity … common purpose … understanding which we weren’t invited to share in when we were there this afternoon, sir?’
Joe nodded. ‘I was happy to see the family closing ranks. Quite proper.’
‘The admiral was on the point of retiring, wasn’t he? The whole family must have had mixed feelings about that. His return to the family hearth after years away striding the bridge might not have been entirely welcome in some quarters. Autocratic, authoritarian and no longer five hundred sea miles distant …’
Joe grunted. ‘Silly, bone-headed old twit. Dedham, I mean. It was young William who precipitated the whole thing, I shouldn’t wonder. The first time he ran away from school his father, who was at sea, had him sent back – by telegraph. Last winter he ran off again, apparently. This second time the admiral happened to be at home. He gave him a talk about disgracing the family by behaving like a weed, administered a good thrashing and sent him straight back to school, where he was thrashed again. Cassandra was distraught and, I think, angry.’
‘You’re never going to say it, sir, so I will: it’s a conspiracy we’re looking at, isn’t it? Penelope got tired of waiting for Odysseus. She got fed up with unpicking that wretched weaving of hers and fell for one of the suitors.’
Joe sighed and spoke reluctantly. ‘It was Sebastian who pulled the trigger but it was with Cassandra’s knowledge and perhaps more … she might have devised the whole scheme. Under the layers of scented chiffon, she’s as tough as old boots, I’d say. And I’d guess, Wentworth, they’ve been lovers for quite some time. They have that trick of reading each other’s mind – finishing sentences, speaking for each other – did you notice? And on a practical note – Cassandra knew in advance exactly where the admiral would be and when on that evening.’
‘So her affectionate attentions to you were nothing more than a blind. If she’s embarrassing you with suggestions of interest …’
‘Say rather intriguing, Wentworth. I was not embarrassed.’
‘Very well, sir. Drawing you in, luring you with kisses and cake … you’re not going to suspect her of an amorous connection with anyone else, are you?’
‘I didn’t. Not at all sure I do now,’ he added rebelliously.
Lily noticed his gathering unease and changed tack. ‘And then there’s her shooting. She tells me you taught her and that she was a very poor pupil? You despaired of her ever hitting a target?’
Joe looked up sharply and frowned. ‘That’s not right, no. As a matter of fact, she was rather good. I’ve known one or two women who were adept with firearms.’ He smiled briefly. ‘I owe my life to their skill and readiness to use them. Cassandra fussed and pretended to be hopeless but she could hit a target all right. Well she did, didn’t she? She was pleased and surprised.’
‘Exactly. And if she’d hit and killed both Irishmen she’d have been even happier. It was probably always her intent to eliminate them. Just in case. It was pure bad luck for her and Sebastian when Mrs Colonel Belton hove into view and commandeered the getaway taxi. She rather fouled things up.’
Joe had no time for protective self-deception. ‘We were taken in, Wentworth. By a skilled actress.’ This was the moment to rip off the bandage and assess the damage underneath. ‘You were rather less taken in than I, I have to say.’
‘Oh, I swallowed it whole – the flattery and the flannel. Faithful Penelope! Ha! The tears, the confidences, the “brave little widow” stuff. And all the time she was using me as an unsuspecting source of inside information on the inquiry.’
‘Inside information? What did she wring out of you? You’d better tell me.’
‘I’m afraid I confirmed the existence of the third shooter, sir.’
‘Mmm … and she managed that with some skill. By raising the matter herself she diverted suspicion. An old trick … and we fell for it. Anything else?’
‘I mentioned your resignation, sir. She declared her intention of calling in a few favours to keep you in post.’
‘Ah! So that’s how it happened. I could wonder why she should bother.’