Page 58 of Death of a Courtesan
Henry sat bolt upright. ‘She ain’t in danger herself? Is that why she was so secretive about her reasons for wanting to talk to you? I know you’re efficient at what you do but perhaps you should have a word with Torbay. Take his advice.’
Riley tried not to take offence at his brother’s suggestion. ‘History repeating itself?’ Riley suggested, unable to resist the jibe.
Henry puffed out his cheeks. ‘No need to be offensive.’
Jake Morton, the Earl of Torbay had, in his heyday, run a band of aristocratic vigilantes who made it their business to right wrongs that the then police force had neither the wits nor the capability to resolve. Riley’s father had been at the heart of a potential scandal involving his actress mistress that, thanks to Jake’s decisive action, had failed to become public knowledge. Fifteen at the time, Riley had been fascinated by Jake methods. Jake had encouraged his interest, they had remained friends and spent many long hours lamenting the lack of an efficient detective division within the Metropolitan police. Jake had made a huge impression upon the young Riley and was largely responsible for his eventual career choice. Riley still frequently consulted Jake, taking his advice on especially sensitive cases. Perhaps he would do as Henry suggested and speak to him about this one. He was due to return to London from Torbay, and perhaps already had.
Besides, it suddenly occurred to him, Jake’s wife Olivia was a close friend of Amelia’s. If anyone could enlighten him as to the precise nature of Amelia’s unhappy marriage it would be Olivia. Naturally, Riley wouldn’t ask her directly, but perhaps a roundabout approach might reveal something insightful.
‘As far as I am aware, she is no threat to the killer,’ Riley said, returning to the subject of Celeste. ‘She simply wants to see justice done for her friend.’
‘Damn it!’ Henry thumped the arm of his chair. ‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!’
‘There are plenty of other courtesans, most of whom would give their eye teeth to have you in their clutches.’
‘I don’t want any other!’
‘Now you’re sounding petulant, Henry,’ Riley said briskly. ‘You’ve had your fun. I’m sorry it didn’t turn out the way you hoped but don’t make a fool of yourself by falling into decline over a woman who doesn’t return your affections. Where’s your pride, man?’
‘It’s all right for you. You can do as you damned well please and everyone makes allowances.’
‘That’s the spirit.’ Riley clapped his brother’s shoulders, not allowing his snide comments to rile him. ‘You’d be best advised to go back to Chichester and see your son. He will be a great source of solace, I have no doubt.’
Henry grunted.
‘Chief Inspector Danforth is at the door, my lord,’ Stout said, walking into the room.
Riley rolled his eyes. ‘Tell him I am not at home and won’t ever be, no matter how often he calls.’
Stout almost smiled. ‘It will be my pleasure.’
Once Stout had got rid of Danforth, Riley saw his brother off and finally got to have his bath, followed by the meal that Stout had somehow managed to keep warm. Given the vagaries of Riley’s occupation, his man had become an expert as juggling his culinary requirements. He invited Stout to sit opposite him whilst he ate and related everything that Celeste had just told him.
‘This is the woman the marquess is mooning over?’
‘The very same. But I have to say, Stout, if you’d seen her, you’d most likely be reduced to mooning as well.’
Stout snorted. ‘Doubt it.’
‘Well all right, perhaps not. The thing is, the brother, Ray, has some sort of hold over Michael—or so it seems, reading between the lines. That’s why Michael keeps his rooms in Hay Lane for appearances sake and doesn’t shout about being married to Celeste.’
‘If Ray’s mother started out as a prostitute I expect the boy saw some unpleasant stuff when he was too young to understand what was going on. If he’s the resentful type, all brawn and no brain, then it follows that Michael will be wary of him.’
Riley nodded round a mouthful of beef, swallowed it and took a sip of wine. ‘He’s an ox of a man, as you will know if you saw him shouting his mouth off in that tavern the other night. Has a temper on him as well. But Michael is the brainier brother and I can’t see why he would be frightened to tell Ray that he’s married. Celeste is not your average streetwalker and Ray need never know what she once was.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that. You can take the woman out of the gutter…’
‘True.’ Riley conceded the point with a casual one-shouldered shrug. His mother could tell at a glance if a person wasn’t what she purported to be, even if they were dressed in the latest fashion and knew how to behave. ‘But Michael can’t go on living a lie indefinitely.’
‘I would imagine that Ray inherits if anything were to happen to Michael.’
‘Yes, the same thought had occurred to me. I don’t know what Clement and Adelaide were planning, or how they intended to get revenge on her family, but I must assume that it would have left Clement well recompensed, allowing him and Celeste—’
‘Celeste Clement?’ Stout rolled his eyes.
‘Quite. Anyway, Celeste has promised to have Michael contact me the moment he returns to England and then I shall know more. Since she’s worried about what might happen to her, given the fate met by Adelaide, I feel sure that I will hear from him sooner rather than later.’
‘She didn’t know what they were planning?’
