Page 18 of Death of a Courtesan
‘You spent an hour with her?’
‘I did.’
‘How did she seem?’
‘What do you mean? She seemed like she always did. Alluring, commanding, dominant, slightly aloof and mysterious.’
‘Nothing seemed to be worrying her? Her service was as efficient as always?’
‘I didn’t notice anything untoward.’ Danforth screwed up his eyes in an effort to recollect. Presumably he realised that if he were to supply information that helped to break the case, then the prospects of saving his career would improve exponentially. ‘I was…well, concentrating upon my own requirements.’
‘Understandable.’ Riley paused. ‘Have you noticed during the course of your visits to Mrs Sinclair’s establishment any men who seemed resentful of the attention Adelaide received from others?’
‘She was a whore, Rochester, albeit a high-class one. I was inordinately fond of her myself, but I didn’t feel possessive and didn’t see her as anything other than what she was.’
‘But you wouldn’t settle for anyone else,’ he pointed out calmly.
Danforth’s face flushed. ‘She was damned good at what she did. Exceptionally good.’ He looked away from Riley. ‘You probably think that just about anyone could satisfy the needs of her clients, but that ain’t so. She was all business and discouraged any talk about her own affairs.’ He exhaled loudly. ‘I shall always blame myself for what happened to her. I was there, damn it! But I didn’t kill her. I didn’t feel possessive, but to be honest I had grown perhaps a little fond of her, if that makes any sense. I think everyone she serviced fell victim to her mystique to a greater or lesser degree.’
‘If I even suspected that you’d had a hand in her death, this conversation would not be taking place in this room and I would not be conducting the interview alone.’
‘I appreciate your discretion, Rochester.’ Danforth laced his fingers together and stared down at his hands. ‘Good of you, under the circumstances.’
Riley produced a list of the names of the men who had passed through Adelaide’s evidently capable hands the previous night and laid it on Danforth’s desk.
‘What can you tell me about these men? I need to find them all and talk to them.’
‘These were Adelaide’s clients last night?’
‘They were. I left your name off in an effort to protect you.’
‘Thank you.’ Danforth picked up the paper and studied it. ‘I know Rawlings. He’s a solicitor with Badcott & Co. in Lincoln’s Inn. And this one too.’ He flicked a finger against the fourth name on the list. ‘Farmer is an ironmonger in Cheapside. But the other names don’t mean anything to me. I’d probably know them by sight if you paraded them in front of me, I might even have spoken to one or two of them, but I can’t put faces to any of the names.’
‘One last question. Did you notice anyone wearing a buttonhole at the party last night?’
Danforth scowled and appeared to be on the point of asking Riley’s reason for the question. He remembered at the last minute that he was there to answer questions, not ask them, and shook his head. ‘Can’t say that I did.’
‘Very well.’ Riley stood. ‘Thank you, sir. I will let you get off home now.’
Danforth inclined his head. ‘My wife…you won’t need to come to the house?’
‘I will likely need to speak to you again but I will send word and you can come to me.’
‘Thank you, Rochester. I won’t forget this.’
Riley was perfectly sure that he would not.
‘Well?’ Salter asked when Riley returned to his office.
‘I felt a little sorry for him,’ Riley said, throwing himself into his chair.
Salter guffawed. ‘Never thought I’d live to hear those words pass your lips with regard to Danforth. He resents you and this is your opportunity to bury him.’
‘I am not vindictive, Jack. You know that.’
‘Aye well, you’re a better man than I’ll ever be.’
‘Danforth’s been suspended. He’ll have a hard time explaining that one to his wife. Thompson is taking control of the investigation and I am to report directly to him.’
