Barbara Cleverly - The Blood Royal

‘But if he were to marry Cassandra, sir?’

‘Ah. Then we have a different scenario entirely. The widow has money of her own and a good slice of the admiral’s wealth comes to her too. But it would be assuming quite a lot, wouldn’t you say?’

‘Yes. And to take the risk, he’d have had to be able to count on gaining her affection?’

‘Exactly. Quite a gamble.’

Lily frowned and took a deep breath. ‘What I’m thinking is — there was no gamble. He already had it, sir. Her affection, I mean.’

‘Explain yourself, Wentworth.’

‘I didn’t have the impression that he was the kind of man who would kill a close family member for an uncertain source of cash. We know that he’s a man hardened and made ruthless by his wartime experience — he’s used to shooting people, to put it bluntly. But I think it would take a much stronger reason than financial gain to make the man I saw this afternoon pull a trigger in cold blood.’

‘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.’

Lily looked away.

Joe’s grimace of a smile showed his discomfort. ‘Better the fool you know, I suppose. Keep in place the gullible young idiot you already hold in the palm of your hand …’

‘No! Loyal and gallant friend! She exploited you, sir, but the blame is entirely hers. Who wouldn’t want you in their corner? I would.’

Her innocent support surprised him. ‘Shall we agree, then, not to be too hard on ourselves? They’re both considerable performers.’

‘I can’t wait to see the act they put on for Sir Archibald at the Old Bailey. He’ll see through them. And there’s one thing you got right, isn’t there?’

‘Oh, yes?’

‘Your Morrigan. At least Cassandra has red hair.’

‘Indeed she has.’ He fell silent, waiting for her next inevitable challenge.

‘Who are you going to detail to arrest them?’ she asked carefully. ‘Not an enviable duty. Have you decided what you’re going to do?’

‘It’s been decided for me. And it’s absolutely nothing, Wentworth. Abso-’

‘Absolutely bugger all, sir?’

He smiled and glanced again at the telephone. ‘I had a conversation with the Commissioner. I told you I’d had a rough morning. I apprised him of my suspicions; I told him where the investigation was leading. Ten minutes later I find I have the Home Secretary himself on the telephone. I’ve — we’ve — been well and truly gagged, Wentworth. As you remind me, no one wanted to stomach a political assassination, but since the two miscreants had been arrested and a confession extracted before their guns were cold, it was thought that at least this redounded to the credit of the forces of law and order. It was neat, Wentworth. The papers went to town in a froth of support for two English heroes — an admiral fighting, sword against bullet, on his doorstep, a brave London cabby fighting for his life in hospital — they liked it. It rallied the troops. They were pleased to hear a much-needed patriotic hurrah from the nation’s throat.’

‘And with an election imminent,’ Lily said grumpily, ‘and the men of the country rushing to the polling booth to support a strong party …’