Chapter Seventeen
They brought Murray in first and Riley had him locked in a cell to cool his heels for an hour or so. He wanted to interview Leith first and Barton’s men had further to go to arrest him. Riley spent the intervening time reading every word that Emily had written.
‘Leith was at the theatre,’ Sergeant Barton said, leaning his head round Riley’s door. ‘Wasn’t too keen to come along, by all accounts, but my men persuaded him to see reason.’
Riley chuckled. ‘I don’t doubt it.’
‘Where do you want me to put him?’
‘Bring him in here, please, sergeant, and round Salter up, if you would be so kind. He needs to take notes.’
Salter arrived just before Leith was brought in looking pale and agitated.
‘Sit down,’ Riley said, unsmiling, ‘and explain why you lied to me about your relationship with Miss Ferguson. And in case you intend to lie again, you should know that Thad Murray is currently in the cells.’
Leith dropped his head. ‘You know that Emily had agreed to marry me?’
‘I do now,’ Riley replied. ‘I won’t bother to ask why this vital piece of information was withheld from my investigation. But I will ask this. Did Thad knew about the arrangement?’
‘Oh yes. Emily and I reached an understanding about a week ago, but we agreed not to make it public just yet. She had someone important to her who needed to be told first, and I needed to gain parental approval.’
‘Why did you propose to her if you prefer your own kind?’ Riley asked.
‘She was secretly in love with someone whom she couldn’t marry.’ He snorted. ‘I’m in a perfect position to recognise the signs. I was also under pressure from my father to find a suitable wife and give him a grandchild.’
‘You can manage to—’
‘I don’t have any difficulty in that regard. It’s simply that I prefer my own sex. I prefer Thad, to be more specific.’
‘Did you explain the precise nature of your preferences to Emily?’ Riley asked.
‘Lord no!’ Leith looked affronted by the very suggestion. ‘She’d led a sheltered life and would have been disgusted, I expect. No, I simply told her that I took a modern view of matrimony. We were both under pressure to make suitable matches and that we could help one another in that regard. Once I was married, my father’s generosity would know no bounds. Her family wouldn’t have had to worry.’
‘You intended to make sure she had a child and then leave her to her own devices?’
‘More or less.’ Leith shrugged. ‘I think she was tired of all the men who hounded her and was relieved by my honesty.’ Riley nodded, aware from her diary entries that it was the truth. ‘The dour individual who looks after me. You met him when you came to my rooms.’ Riley nodded for a second time. ‘He’s my father’s faithful servant. The pater suspects my predilections, you see. There was an unfortunate incident on the estate not long after I left university. I was found in a compromising position with a neighbour. It was hushed up but I’ve never seen the old man half so angry.’
‘Accounting for your father’s desire to see you married, and explaining why he set a man to watch over you until that came to pass.’
‘More or less.’ Leith ran a hand through his hair. ‘Which is why I can only ever see Thad in secret or at the theatre. Once I was married, I promised him employment. He fancies himself as quite the actor and I can just see him treading the boards. It’s what he was born to do. Anyway, I couldn’t have him there before then since Davis, my father’s man, sometimes comes by unexpectedly to spy on me. Besides, I wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation. Pathetic, I know, but there you have it.’
‘How did the two of you become acquainted? He is a junior footman. I don’t see how your paths could have crossed.’
‘I met him at the theatre. He came several weeks in succession to watch the same matinee. Totally engrossed with it, so he was, but all I could look at was his beautiful profile. He was simply the most divine boy I had ever seen, and I just knew…Anyway, we became friends, I offered to help him out because he was short of money, and it went from there.’
‘He knew you intended to marry Emily?’
‘Yes, but I didn’t trust him not to say anything spiteful to her at that soiree if I didn’t attend and keep him in line. He can be a little possessive, you see, which is why I arranged beforehand to meet him outside the kitchens at a certain time.’
‘When you argued?’
‘Not at first. He knew I loved him with a passion, and he wasn’t jealous of Emily’s looks. To me, Thad is by far the more beautiful. He appeals to me on levels over which I have absolutely no control. Believe me, I know because I’ve tried to deny it to myself, and to him, but it does no good. I simply can’t live without him.’
‘Why did you argue?’ Riley asked, breaching territory not covered by Emily’s diary.
‘I’m not sure how the subject arose, but he seemed to have assumed that the marriage would never be consummated. He joked about how incensed her other suitors would be if they knew she would remain a virgin. That evening at the soiree I put him straight in that regard, explaining why it had to be done, and assuring him it wouldn’t make any difference to us.’
‘He was blinded by jealousy?’
Leith nodded. ‘Seemingly so, even though I thought I had reassured him.’ He ran a hand through his hair for a second time, looking devastated, but Riley suspected that self-preservation was uppermost in his mind. ‘Then I heard that Emily was dead.’
‘And you thought Thad was responsible?’
‘No!’ Leith sighed. ‘Well, perhaps…he’s unpredictable, hot-headed, so I suppose I worried that it might be possible. I’ve spoiled him, idolised him, given him everything he asks for, and he’s become accustomed to having his way.’
‘You volunteered information to me about your relationship, hoping to protect him and put us off the track.’
Leith lowered his head and shook it from side to side. ‘I didn’t want to believe that Thad’s jealousy would lead him to do such a thing. He knew that all the time I remained unmarried, he would have to work for Ashton, a job he hated. But jealousy does strange things to a person. He swears he didn’t do it. I’ve asked him time and time again.’
‘Do you believe him?’ Riley asked. ‘The truth, if you please.’
‘I want to believe him. He insists it was Ashton or his father and I desperately want to believe that’s the case. They were heard arguing shortly after Emily was found.’
Riley dealt Leith a probing look. ‘I don’t have any reason to arrest you, Mr Leith,’ he said in a formal tone. ‘I am satisfied that you didn’t kill Emily Ferguson, but you have consistently lied to me, and I could charge you for that offence. At present I would like you to give me your word that you will wait here whilst I speak with Murray. Do I have it?’
‘Yes, of course. I’m not going anywhere until I know what he has to say for himself. Can I see him?’
‘Of course not.’
Riley beckoned to Salter and the two men left the room. Riley left Peterson to keep an eye on Leith, with instructions to write down anything that he said.
Murray was brought up to the grim interview room, looking shaken and terrified. Such a pretty face, Riley thought. He could understand why a man with Leith’s predilections would be so taken with him, and why he would go to such lengths to cover his own back. He could understand it, but he couldn’t condone Leith’s conduct.
‘Do you know why you are here?’ Riley asked briskly, pushing his sympathy for the young man aside.
Murray looked up at him through those ridiculously long lashes and blinked. ‘Something about Miss Ferguson, I would imagine.’
‘Mr Leith is in the room next door to this one.’
Murray jerked upright. ‘I’m glad the secret’s out and we don’t have to pretend anymore.’ Riley and Salter shared an incredulous look. The child didn’t appear to appreciate that what they were doing was against the law. ‘I want to see him.’
‘You’re not in a position to make demands, young man. Not until you tell me the truth.’ Riley lowered his voice, making it gentle, understanding. ‘What happened after you saw Mr Leith outside the kitchen on the night Miss Ferguson died? You can tell me.’
‘Nothing. I went back to my duties and that was it.’
‘We know the truth,’ Riley said in a convincing tone, sensing that Murray was too naïve to doubt him, or to appreciate how much trouble he was in. ‘But I would like to hear it from you.’
Murray’s eyes darted wildly about the room. ‘He told you they were to marry and make a child? Is that what you mean?’
‘That is the natural consequence of marriage.’
‘I didn’t know that. Couldn’t stand the thought of him being with her in that way.’
‘Is that why you killed her?’ Riley asked softly.
‘I was that upset. I went back into the kitchen and I expect I would have got over the shock eventually. But then, Mr Farlow sent me upstairs on an errand. I went by the terrace and saw Miss Ferguson in the music room alone, as though she was waiting for someone. I assumed it was Michael. He hadn’t told me that he had an assignation with her, right after we’d just…How could he do that to me? Anyway, something snapped. I thought Emily deserved to know the truth about the man she planned to marry. So I went in and spoke to her. She was kind at first, if surprised to see me. I’m not usually allowed above stairs, you see.’
‘Go on,’ Riley encouraged when Leith’s words dried up.
‘I only wanted her to know the truth.’
‘But things got out of hand?’
‘I suppose they did.’ He looked around. ‘I don’t want to say anymore. I need to get back to my duties.’
‘You have to stay here a little longer,’ Riley told him. ‘It will cause problems for Michael if you don’t tell us what happened.’
‘It will?’ Riley nodded. ‘Can I see Michael when we’re finished?’
‘Perhaps.’
‘Well, it’s all quite simple really. I told Miss Ferguson that I knew about her and Michael and asked her if she was aware what she was getting herself into. She looked confused, so I tried to explain. She was horrified. She called me perverse.’ His eyes widened, as though he couldn’t understand her reaction. He very likely could not, Riley imagined. ‘I grabbed her wrist, attempting to explain that there is nothing perverse about what Michael and I have. I told her it was love in its purest form. She didn’t want to listen. She snatched her wrist from my grasp and tried to get away from me. I couldn’t let her go, though, you must see that.’
‘I do.’ Riley nodded his encouragement.
‘She would repeat what I’d said and ruin everything so…so I hit her in the stomach, just to stop her from running. She doubled over and I found my hands around her neck.’ Tears streamed down his face as though he only just realised the enormity of what he had done. ‘I didn’t mean to kill her. I didn’t plan to. If Farlow hadn’t sent me upstairs…I just wanted to keep her quiet and make her understand that it would be a mistake to marry Michael. He wasn’t what she thought he was and wouldn’t make her happy. I set her body out to make it look like she was sleeping. I thought it might…I thought it might help her to wake up.’
‘Well,’ Salter said as Murray was taken back to the cells and he and Riley returned to the latter’s office. ‘A good day’s work all round.’
‘But a sad one,’ Riley said. ‘Such a waste of Emily’s life, and for what? This can’t be kept quiet. Leith’s secret will come out at Murray’s trial and his family’s reputation will be in tatters. All because of an indulged young man with a jealous nature. If he hadn’t killed Emily, I suspect Terrance would have held himself in check and not felt the need to kill Susan.’
‘I wonder why Emily didn’t tell young Grant that she’d decided upon Leith.’
‘Would you, knowing how possessive he was? She had told him she couldn’t see him again because she knew the official announcement would soon have to be made and didn’t want to tell him herself, I dare say.’
‘Most likely.’ Salter yawned. ‘Well, sir, if you don’t need me anymore this evening…’
‘No, Jack, you get on home. I shall be leaving myself directly.’
‘Goodnight then, sir.’
‘Goodnight, sergeant.’
‘Well done, Rochester!’ Danforth strode into Riley’s office just after Salter quit it, beaming. He mentioned nothing of their exchange earlier. ‘Knew I could depend upon you to get to the truth.’
Riley merely shook his head, wondering why he was still surprised by the extent of the man’s hubris. He glanced at his watch after Danforth left and realised how late it was, and just how weary, how jaundiced, he actually felt. Cases as complex as this one always drained him. He sent a message to Amelia expressing his regrets and promising to call upon her the following day. In fact, his note said, if her offer of dinner still stood, he would be delighted to take her up on it. Then he went home, allowed Stout to feed him and fell into bed immediately afterwards.
The following morning was taken up with paperwork, ensuring that both cases were ready to be handed over to the barristers acting for the crown. After luncheon, Riley told Salter that he would be unavailable for the rest of the day. He returned home, collected his carriage and drove it to his sister’s house. Cabbage was delighted that he had remembered his promise to drive her in the park. His jaded spirit was revived when he saw what pleasure she took in the simple outing, smiling and waving to people she knew and to others she did not. Everyone, he noticed, smiled and waved right back at her.
‘No bad dreams, Cabbage?’ Riley asked.
‘Not a single one.’ She beamed at Riley. ‘Did you find out who murdered that poor girl?
‘I did. It was a footman in Lord Ashton’s house.’
‘Oh.’ Fortunately she didn’t ask what could have possessed him to do such a terrible thing. ‘I expect Emily caught him doing something he ought not to have been doing, and he feared for his position.’
Riley suppressed a smile and told her that she was right.
‘There are dark clouds,’ Sophia said. ‘I think the weather is about to break.’
Riley glanced up at the sky and nodded. ‘I had best return you to your aunt’s home before it does.’
‘Thank you so very much, Uncle Riley,’ Sophia said, bouncing up and down in her excitement. ‘I have had a perfectly lovely afternoon.’ She treated him to a mischievous expression. ‘I have seen all the envious glances sent my way by ladies who don’t know I am related to you. It is the most amazing fun.’
Riley smiled at the pleasure she took from such simple…well, pleasures as he drove her back to his sister’s house. He stayed to take tea with them both, fielding Sophia’s more insightful questions about Emily’s murder.
He then returned home, glad that Cabbage’s spirited company had pushed thoughts of murder from his mind. That situation did not endure when he found a message from Salter awaiting him. He sighed when he read its contents, angry at the lengths that some people would go to in order to protect their positions, but decided not to get involved. Someone else could deal with it.
Amelia had responded to his message, telling him that she looked forward to his company at dinner. As Stout helped him into his evening attire, he looked forward to having her to himself for a few hours more than was perhaps wise. He strolled the short distance to the street where she lived, aware of dark clouds directly overhead and fat raindrops falling on his hat as he reached her house. Norris admitted him just before the heavens opened.
‘Perfect timing, my lord.’ He took Riley’s damp hat and led him into the drawing room.
Amelia was dressed in a gown of cerise changeable silk that hugged her figure. She stood with her back to him, watching the rain soaking her parched garden. She turned at the sound of his footsteps and smiled.
‘You avoided a drenching, I see.’
‘Barely.’
‘The rain has a smell, does it not?’ she asked.
Riley inhaled and nodded. Wet grass, clean air, a smell of purity, of newness.
They sat in companionable silence for a moment or two, watching raindrops bouncing off the hard earth as Norris prepared drinks for them both. As they consumed them, Riley told Amelia the particulars of the two arrests.
‘Leith is a fool!’ she said. ‘Leading the boy on in that fashion. He is as much to blame for Emily’s death as Murray is, but I suppose he will suffer too. His lover will hang and his predilections will become general knowledge.’
‘Perhaps not.’ Riley ground his jaw. ‘I underestimated him.’
Amelia shot him a curious glance. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I spent the afternoon driving Cabbage in the park. I felt she deserved it after her ordeal yesterday and I wanted to be sure that she was suffering no ill-effects.’
Amelia smiled. ‘I’m sure she enjoyed herself.’
‘My niece enjoys everything she does. It’s quite heart-warming to watch her, and restores my faith in human nature.’
‘It was kind of you to think of her wellbeing.’
‘Someone has to. Anyway, that’s not the point. Salter sent a message to say that Murray was found dead in his cell this afternoon.’
‘Oh no!’ Amelia clasped a hand over her mouth. ‘How?’
Riley shrugged. ‘The details are sketchy and I decided not to involve myself. It seems there was an altercation at the Gaiety Theatre last night, resulting in several arrests. The cells were overcrowded. Terrance had been locked away alone but Murray was in a cell that accommodated more than one.’
‘And some of the rioters from the Gaiety were locked away with him?’
‘So it seems. No one made the connection to Leith and I wasn’t there to put them straight. Not that I would have known about it anyway. The arrests were not Detective Department business.’
Amelia bit her lip. ‘You think Leith somehow orchestrated the riot to ensure that Murray was silenced. Permanently.’
‘It’s difficult to think anything else,’ Riley replied, sighing. ‘He was trying to cover his own back, I would imagine. No trial and there’s less likelihood of his affair with Murray becoming public knowledge. I shall make it my business to ensure that his father hears of it by a circuitous route but I don’t suppose he will care much since he is already aware of his son’s deviant behaviour. He will worry only if word of it reaches the newspapers.’
‘How did Murray die in police custody and nobody notice?’
‘Easily enough, I’m afraid. I understand the three men put in the cell with Murray started a brawl.’ He scowled. ‘They never should have been incarcerated together. It’s not like Sergeant Barton to be so lax, but as I said earlier, even if he made the connection to Murray and the Gaiety, I don’t suppose he had anywhere else to put Murray.’
‘How could Leith have known that would be the case?’ Amelia tilted her head in a contemplative manner. ‘I mean, if he paid those men to get themselves arrested, how could he be sure that they would be put in the same cell as Murray?’
‘Plenty of London’s less salubrious residents have spent time in those cells. It would be easy enough to find out from one of them what was likely to happen. He would know that as the son of a titled man, Ashton would be most likely to enjoy the single-occupancy cell. Everyone else would go into the general population.’
‘But if one of them deliberately murdered Murray, won’t he hang for it?’
‘Not a chance. It was a general brawl. Impossible to tell who struck the fatal blow. Leith would know from the altercations he has to deal with at the theatre that a lot of men herded together in a small space will fight at the slightest provocation. He only needed to prime one of them to say a word out of turn and…well, that would be sufficient.’
‘And it’s impossible to say how Murray died or who hit him?’
‘He was caught in the middle of it, his head hit the wall and that was it for him.’ Riley took a healthy sip of his drink. ‘Perhaps it’s for the best. He was for the rope anyway, and he wouldn’t have fared well in prison with such a pretty face while he waited for the trial. I dare say Leith thinks he saved him from…well, the attentions of rough men who certainly wouldn’t treat him gently. Leith will be relieved that he won’t have to see him hang. Despite what he’s done, I believe he truly loved that boy.’
‘Poor Riley.’ Amelia reached out and touched his hand. ‘This has all been a terrible strain for you.’
‘It’s over now.’
‘What will happen to the Ashtons?’
‘Oh, it’s all over for them, too.’ A note of satisfaction tinged Riley’s voice, even though he felt sorry for Prudence. ‘The bank won’t survive the scandal and neither will Ashton. I suspect that he will quit London, recover what capital he can and live quietly somewhere in the country. Not that he will see much of a return on a house where two murders were committed. Londoners are nothing if not superstitious and that house will now be cursed in many people’s eyes.’
‘You think he will desert Terrance?’
Riley shrugged. ‘It wouldn’t surprise me. Terrance will hang or remain in a lunatic asylum forever. He is perhaps best forgotten.’
Norris announced dinner and Riley stood, offering his arm to Amelia, willing to concede, at least privately, that there was no one else’s company in which he would prefer to spend the evening.
‘Come,’ he said. ‘No more talk of murder.’ He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. ‘Tell me what you have done with yourself today instead.’
The End
Look out for the second book in the Riley Rochester Investigates series, coming soon.