Death of a Recluse (Riley Rochester Investigates Book 6) Read online

  Riley Rochester Investigates

  Death of a Recluse

  Wendy Soliman

  Riley Rochester Investigates # 6

  Death of a Recluse

  Copyright © Wendy Soliman 2019

  Edited by Perry Iles

  Cover Design by Jane Dixon-Smith

  This e-Book is a work of fiction. While references may be made to actual places or events, the names, characters, incidents, and locations contained are from the author’s imagination and are not a resemblance of actual living or dead persons, business, or events. Any similarities are coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any method, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of

  The Author – Wendy Soliman

  This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction fines and/or imprisonment. The e-Book cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this e-Book can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the author.

  Chapter One

  London: December 1871

  ‘What you are still doing here?’ Lady Riley Rochester looked up and smiled at her husband when he joined her in their Eaton Square drawing room. ‘It’s gone eleven o’clock. Please tell me what I have done to keep you from your duties so that I can do it again. My company doesn’t usually prevent you from chasing criminals all over the capital.’

  Riley took Amelia’s hand and squeezed her fingers. ‘It’s a sorry state of affairs if a man cannot spend as much time as he chooses with his wife in the privacy of his own home.’

  ‘Charmingly put, my lord, but you do not fool me.’

  Riley shook his head. ‘I had not supposed that I would.’

  Hailstones battered against the drawing room windows, but Amelia sat in warmth and discomfort in front of a roaring fire. The discomfort arose not from any shortfalls in the couple’s living arrangements, but as a direct consequence of the advanced state of her pregnancy.

  Riley’s first child was due within weeks, and he wouldn’t know a moment’s peace until Amelia’s confinement was successfully behind them. The possibility that Amelia would not survive the ordeal, as so many women did not, tormented Riley. The best doctors in London assured him that everything was progressing precisely as it should, but Riley took little comfort from their prognoses and every opportunity to be with his wife in a futile attempt to restrict her irksome determination to exert herself.

  ‘Can Scotland Yard manage without its most successful detective inspector for even an hour or two?’ Amelia feigned astonishment. ‘Shall the denizens of this fine city be safe, do you suppose, or will the criminal fraternity take advantage of your preoccupation and commit a series of heinous crimes that will baffle the minds of your less able colleagues?’

  Riley adjusted the rug that he had insisted upon placing over Amelia’s knee, spreading it wide to accommodate her swollen stomach. ‘Actually, you give London’s criminals too much credit. They are as averse as the next man to this exceptionally unpleasant weather, and have the good sense to lie low. Things are very quiet at the Yard just now, and I should be most obliged to my adversaries if they would have the goodness to keep it that way, at least until you are safely delivered of this child and I am no longer torn apart with worry.’

  Amelia’s smiled illuminated her lovely features, causing Riley’s breath to catch in his throat. He had never known such a fierce and abiding love, and the strength of his feelings sometimes worried him. It was also almost certainly unfashionable to have such a depth of affection for one’s wife, but since Riley had never been a slave to fashion, at least that aspect of his devotion couldn’t be blamed for his inability to sleep.

  ‘Really, Riley, sometimes you try my patience. I am surrounded by more servants than I can find occupation for, at your insistence. I don’t have to lift a finger. You are driving my doctors demented with your constant demands for their attendance upon me, and I have a steady stream of visitors to bear me company whilst you keep London’s streets safe for the populace. Women have babies all the time. There is nothing special about me.’

  ‘There I must disagree with you, my love.’

  ‘Since you are entirely to blame for my delicate condition, you are duty-bound to say that. However, I have no cause for complaint.’ She reached up and touched his face. ‘I am one of the lucky ones. Think of all those poor women out there who cannot afford the fancy doctors you insist upon. It is them for whom you should save your pity.’

  ‘I feel wretched for them.’ He smiled at her. ‘There, does that satisfy you?’

  ‘It might if I thought you were sincere.’ She shifted her position and winced. ‘Your son is very fond of kicking.’

  ‘My daughter is as lively as her mother.’

  ‘I know you want a son very badly, Riley, but are too well-mannered to remind me of the fact.’

  ‘My family would like me to have a son. My only concern is that you come through the birthing.’

  Riley’s brother was the Marquess of Chichester. His only son had recently died, and his wife Celia was beyond the age where she could give him another. Riley was now Henry’s heir, but the entire family—with the notable exception of Celia—fervently hoped that Riley’s child would be a boy, thus ensuring the succession. Riley couldn’t give a damn about that and didn’t want Amelia to feel pressured to produce a future marquess.

  ‘I dare say I shall enjoy a visit from your mother today.’

  Riley rolled his eyes. ‘I’m sorry if she comes too often.’

  ‘I don’t mind. As I’ve told you before, she’s lonely. I wouldn’t deny her the pleasure of anticipating the arrival of her next grandchild. Besides, Sophia will probably come with her, and she is always lively enough to counter your mother’s voluble opinions.’

  Riley smiled. He was inordinately fond of his brother’s daughter. ‘I am glad Celia and Henry left Cabbage with her grandmother when they returned to Chichester. Celia cannot hide her jealousy of you when she is forced to see us, and it becomes tiring.’

  ‘True.’ She glanced out the window as a strong gust of wind rattled the pane, sending smoke belching back down the chimney. ‘I have decided that you are not the least concerned about me, but are using my condition as an excuse to avoid facing the elements. How very sensible of you.’

  ‘Damn it, woman, you have found me out.’

  Amelia laughed. ‘You are an open book to me.’

  Riley stared out at the unrelenting hail, thinking dispassionately that he would soon have to venture forth. ‘Since we have a few moments, there is something that I need to talk to you about.’

  Amelia’s smile faded. She leaned forward with a wince, presumably because the baby kicked again. ‘What is it?’

  Riley rubbed his chin with the side of his index finger. ‘Danforth has finally cooked his goose,’ he said, referring to the detective inspector who was Riley’s immediate superior—a man who resented Riley’s aristocratic background, and for whom Riley felt little respect. ‘There is nothing I can do to save his position, even if I felt inclined to put myself to the trouble for a second time, which I do not.’

  ‘Oh dear. What has he got himself caught up in? Another bordello?’

  A high-class courtesan had been murdered the previous year and it transpired that Danforth had been one of her regular customers. Riley’s appeal to his superintenden
t had helped to hush the situation up and keep Danforth in employment. A married man with a whole brood of children to feed, Riley felt he deserved a second chance.

  ‘He beat a man half to death in a tavern.’ Riley rolled his eyes at Amelia’s expression of astonishment. ‘I know, I didn’t think him capable of such a thing either. Danforth is not overburdened with intelligence, but even by his standards it was an exceptionally ill-advised thing to do.’

  Why?’ Amelia asked, perplexed. ‘What did the man do to offend Danforth?’

  ‘I have absolutely no idea. It only happened the night before last. Needless to say, it’s the talk of the Yard, but I’m keeping well out of it.’

  ‘He was grateful for a while when you helped him to keep his position the last time. But he soon decided that he loathed the very idea of feeling obligated to you and his resentment of your success rate increased dramatically. Your working life will be a great deal easier without him hampering your every move. But…’ Amelia touched her lips with the fingers of one hand. ‘I imagine they want you to take his position. They’ve offered you promotion, haven’t they?’ Amelia beamed. ‘And so they should. You are by far the most productive detective at Scotland Yard, and they are lucky to have you.’

  ‘Thank you, my sweet, but you could quite justifiably be accused of bias.’ He kissed her fingers. ‘And yes, Thompson wants me to take his position.’

  ‘And you are hesitating because it means there will be fewer opportunities for you to put yourself at the sharp end of the investigations.’

  Riley glanced out the window. ‘On days such as this one, that is an appealing prospect.’

  ‘I know you too well to be deceived. You thrive upon pitting your wits against the criminally inclined.’

  ‘Even so, as my mother never tires of reminding me, I am now a married man with responsibilities.’ He placed a protective hand softly on Amelia’s belly to emphasise his point.

  ‘I cannot pretend that I don’t worry about you all the time, but I also know how much you enjoy your job. I should imagine that taking Danforth’s position would require you to shuffle papers all day while you leave the detecting to less able minds.’ She fixed Riley with an anxious look. ‘You would hate it.’

  ‘Perhaps. But nothing stays the same forever.’

  ‘What have you decided?’

  ‘I haven’t given Thompson an answer yet. I wanted to speak with you about it first.’

  ‘If you are asking for my opinion then I have no hesitation in assuring you that I want you to feel fulfilled.’ She paused. ‘If you turn the position down, who else is it likely to be offered to? You have worked all this time beneath the direction of a man whom you neither liked nor respected. I should hate to think of history repeating itself. You would find it beyond frustrating. Anyway, what does Jack think?’

  ‘My sergeant doesn’t know about the offer.’ Riley chuckled. ‘Well, not officially, but the grapevine at the Yard is efficient, and he was asking me loaded questions about Danforth and my intentions yesterday. Naturally, everyone at the Yard has an opinion.’

  Norris entered the room and cleared his throat. ‘Sergeant Salter is here asking for you, my lord.’

  ‘Talk of the devil,’ Riley muttered.

  ‘It appears that duty calls, even in this weather.’ A hint of amusement warmed Amelia’s tone. ‘I must have underestimated the determination of the criminal classes.’

  ‘Show him in, Norris.’

  ‘Morning, sir,’ Jack Salter said, walking into the drawing room and shaking half-melted hailstones from the shoulders of the coat that he had not surrendered to Norris. Presumably something of an urgent nature had arisen, precluding Salter from staying for long. Indeed, Riley couldn’t think of any other reason for this call. ‘Lady Riley.’ Salter inclined his grizzly head. ‘I trust all goes well.’

  As a family man, Salter considered himself to be well-versed on the subject of childbirth, and didn’t waste an opportunity to offer Riley the benefit of his advice. That advice being to leave it to the women. Men were done with playing their part and the women had no further use for them.

  ‘Good morning, Sergeant. Have you come to steal Riley away from me?’

  ‘Afraid so, ma’am, begging your pardon for the intrusion. There’s been a murder, sir, and the superintendent asked me to come and get you. Save you coming to the Yard and then all the way back here is what he said. Considerate, I’d say.’

  ‘One of my neighbours?’ Riley asked, flexing a brow.

  ‘More or less, sir. The crime took place in Chester Square. The superintendent thought you’d likely be acquainted with the victim.’

  ‘If you’d have the goodness to tell me his or her name,’ Riley said impatiently, ‘I shall be able to enlighten you in that regard.’

  ‘Right, sorry.’ Salter sniffed and wiped his nose with the back of his gloved hand. ‘Sir Theodore Allen.’

  ‘The recluse?’ Amelia shared a surprised look with Riley. ‘He is the subject of endless speculation, but I don’t believe I’ve ever set eyes on the man.’

  ‘I met him once or twice, but years ago. He’s shut himself away these ten years past and no longer shows his face in society. No one quite knows why. He’s as rich as Croesus, an intellectual and a philanthropist.’

  ‘He’ll have had all the crackpots with their mad inventions beating a path to his door with their hands outstretched, in that case,’ Salter predicted. ‘No wonder he became a bit of a hermit. Likely one of them bumped him off. Is…was he married, sir?’

  ‘No, Salter, not to my knowledge.’ Riley took another glance out the window, and sighed as he observed that unrelenting sleet had replaced the hail. ‘Well, I suppose we’d best get round there and see what’s what.’

  ‘Sergeant Barton gave me Peterson and Harper, sir. Well, he didn’t want to, but seeing as it’s a toff what was inconsiderate enough to get himself bumped off in this weather, all the stops are being pulled out. Begging your pardon for my plain speech, Lady Riley. Anyway, I sent them round to secure the premises. Carter and Soames are out looking for more evidence on the Richmond case,’ Salter added, referring to the two detective constables who made up Riley’s team. ‘I’ve had word sent for them to join us at Chester Square.’

  ‘Efficient as always, Jack,’ Riley said. ‘Excuse me, my love.’ Riley kissed the back of Amelia’s hand. ‘Try not to exert yourself if you can possibly help it. I shall know if you have disobeyed me.’

  ‘I cannot think how,’ Amelia responded with a sparkling smile. ‘The servants are all too afraid of you to tell you anything you would prefer not to hear for fear that you will fly into the most terrible rage.’

  Riley chuckled. ‘I am not the raging type, but don’t tell them that.’

  Her laughter echoed in Riley’s ears as he walked into the vestibule where Stout, Riley’s man, stood at the ready with Riley’s warmest coat, hat and gloves to hand.

  ‘Send word at once if there is any chance in Lady Riley’s condition,’ Riley said, as he slipped his arms into the coat that Stout held out for him. ‘But send to Harley Street for Grover first.’

  ‘Naturally, my lord. Do you require me to call you a Hansom?’

  ‘No need, Stout. We’re only going around the corner. But an umbrella would be appreciated.’

  Stout opened the front door to be greeted by a gust of wind and a shower of sleet. Unperturbed, he put up the required umbrella, waited for Riley to don his hat and then handed it to him.

  ‘The rats will emerge from the sewers now, Salter,’ he said, as the two detectives battled against the elements, making slow progress as they splashed through puddles, fighting to keep their umbrellas and hats in place.

  ‘You mean cos a rich man’s died.’ Salter sniffed. ‘All his relatives will want their share, always assuming he has any…relatives, that is.’

  ‘Oh, I rather think that he has too many. He fell out with them, so rumour has it, at about the same time that he went into seclusion.’
>
  ‘Seems to me, sir, that if we find out who his beneficiaries are, we’ll be half way to solving this case.’

  ‘Always supposing it isn’t one of his charitable causes.’

  ‘Aye well, it could be one of those an’ all.’

  ‘Not quite so straightforward then.’ There was amusement in Riley’s tone. ‘Do we know that it was actually murder?’

  ‘Nope. Don’t know anything at all, other than that a servant from the household came running into the Yard, screaming…well, blue murder.’

  ‘With good fortune it will prove to be natural causes,’ Riley muttered. The last thing he needed with Amelia so close to her time was another time-consuming murder to solve.

  Salter used colourful language when he stepped in a puddle so deep that frigid water soaked the bottoms of his trousers and seeped into his boots. ‘Are you taking over from Danforth, sir?’ he asked in his usual forthright manner.

  ‘Danforth’s position is not available, to the best of my knowledge.’

  ‘In other words, mind yer own business.’ Salter sent Riley an old-fashioned look. ‘But I reckon in some respects it is my business, sir. I’ve got accustomed to your ways and I’d hate to have to break another inspector in.’

  Riley chortled. ‘I shall bear your convenience in mind when making a decision, Salter.’

  ‘So it has been offered to you! I thought it would have been.’ Salter took a moment to ponder upon this intelligence, looking gloomy. ‘Of course, you’re by far and away the best man for the job. Everyone says as much, but iffing you don’t mind my saying so, you’d get bored not being in the thick of things.’

  ‘That is what Lady Riley thinks, but I have to consider my new-found responsibilities.’

  Salter waved Riley’s concerns aside. ‘I have three children, and it’s their welfare that inspires me to work as hard as I do. I need to provide for my family. A man ain’t a proper man if he can’t do that and set a good example at the same time. Course, I don’t have wealth and a title to fall back on like some I could name.’