Social Graces Read online

  ‘I’ll make the arrangements.’

  ‘Something you can do personally is talk to some of the other residents. They are mostly middle-class, and a lot of them have connections to the theatre. See what they have to tell you about Connie. And about Stoker, too. They will talk more freely to you than they would to me.’

  ‘Right you are.’

  Parker took himself off and Jake went upstairs in search of his wife. He heard her voice and muted laughter coming from the chamber that Miss Larson occupied. Disappointed not to snatch a few minutes alone with her, a moment’s reflection caused him to conclude that it was just as well. She would demand a full account of his afternoon’s activities, which could just as easily be given in the drawing room, with Miss Larson and Otto present. Jake had demands of a different nature in mind, but it clearly wasn’t to be.

  He changed quickly into evening attire, managing without Parker’s help rather than interrupting the arrangements he would be making to have Stoker watched. He returned to his library, poured himself a strong whisky and reluctantly attacked the correspondence that stared accusingly back at him. Unable to concentrate, he hadn’t finished reading the second letter before Parker put his head round the door.

  ‘An unexpected visitor,’ he said.

  Jake leaned back and raised a brow. ‘Do you want me to guess?’

  ‘Lord Riley Rochester.’ Parker grinned at Jake’s astonishment. ‘Yeah, that’s what I thought, too. Want me to send him away?’

  ‘Heavens, no! I am very curious to know what he wants. Show him in, Parker.’

  A tall, fresh-faced young man with dark hair and silver-grey eyes, dressed in pristine evening clothing, walked through the door.

  ‘Lord Riley,’ Jake said, standing and extending his hand. ‘This is an unexpected pleasure.’

  ‘I apologise for the intrusion, Lord Torbay. Thank you for receiving me.’

  Jake motioned to the chairs in front of the fire and joined his guest there. ‘Refreshment?’ he asked, pointing to his own half-empty glass.

  ‘Thank you, no. I shall not keep you for long.’

  Parker quietly withdrew, and Jake took a moment to study his visitor. He had seen him briefly once before, a year or so ago, but they had not been introduced. On that occasion he had listened with half an ear and had been impressed with the young man’s intelligent contributions towards a conversation that had been centred upon politics. His character was a hundred times removed from that of his elder brother and his two older sisters, both of whom the marchioness had tried to interest Jake in. There was, he knew, a third sister whom he had not met, but the three siblings he was acquainted with had little to recommend them. They all shared their father’s pomposity and their mother’s arrogance. He would reserve judgement upon Riley until he knew him better.

  ‘How can I help you?’ Jake asked.

  When Riley continued to stare at the fire and didn’t speak, Jake sensed his unease and decided to help him out. ‘You must be wondering about Superintendent Dowd’s visit to your father this morning,’ he said.

  Riley nodded, unsmiling. ‘I am not as bone-headed as my father appears to think. I know why he took a sudden interest in me and had me accompany him to London this week.’

  ‘Your return to Eton was delayed because of measles, Otto tells me.’

  ‘Yes, but I am perfectly capable of taking myself back to school now that I have recovered. I’ve had no need of an escort in the past. Father had long-standing engagements in Chichester that he couldn’t easily have put off, but for that fact that I happened to be a convenient excuse for him to come up to town and spend a few days with his ladybird.’ Lord Riley’s bitter gaze rested on the flames dancing up the chimney. ‘I was deceived at first and actually thought that he found my company stimulating, now that I’ve almost reached maturity and can hold up my end of a conversation.’ His shrug seemed a little too negligent. ‘I should have known better.’

  Riley fell into momentary silence, which Jake permitted to stretch between them, allowing his guest time to regain his composure.

  ‘I apologise,’ Riley said. ‘I should not pour out my resentments to you.’

  ‘No apologies are necessary. Where is your father now?’

  ‘He invited me to join him at his club. We were to dine together. Then he was asked to play cards and forgot all about me.’ Riley smiled and lifted one shoulder. ‘I’m relieved, truth to tell. We have nothing in common and I would prefer my own company to his forced bonhomie.’

  Jake settled into a more comfortable position, watching Riley’s profile and his troubled frown. ‘You were aware of his relationship to Miss Saville, I take it.’

  Riley gave a hollow laugh. ‘The whole of London knew of it, I should imagine. He wasn’t exactly discreet. Nor am I quite as obtuse as he appears to think, and I resent being made use of because he is afflicted with a jealous nature. I am convinced he felt a pressing need to come to town because he liked to keep Miss Saville on her toes, putting in appearances when she least expected them. Performers get carried away with their success and he didn’t trust Miss Saville to stick to the terms of their arrangement.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’

  ‘I don’t precisely know.’ Riley’s frown intensified. ‘All I can tell you is that he came alive the moment we walked into the theatre. He invested money in the production and so we were allowed backstage to see Miss Saville and wish her luck before she went on.’

  ‘He took you with him?’

  ‘Yes. I knew just how much damage the relationship could potentially do to my family, the embarrassment it could cause my mother, and was predisposed to dislike Miss Saville as a consequence, even though she wasn’t the one to blame.’ Riley waved a hand in the air. ‘She could hardly accept my father’s offer unless the offer was freely made in the first place. Oh, she might have tempted him, played up to him and flattered him, but he should have had more sense than to be taken in by her. Surely he could see that she only wanted him for his money and the benefits he could bring to her career?’

  ‘He probably could, but simply didn’t care.’ Jake didn’t expect a youth of Riley’s tender age to understand just how powerful, how all-consuming, sexual attraction could actually be. How easily it could make a man forget his own name, much less his responsibilities. Nor did he understand his need to defend the marquess, for whom he had little respect and to whom he owed nothing. ‘I am told she was very attractive. I saw her perform once or twice and can certainly attest to the fact that she was an accomplished actress.’

  ‘Well, despite my determination not to like her, the moment we were introduced I could see the attraction. There was something about her that transcended mere beauty.’ Riley wrinkled his brow as he attempted to articulate his first impression of the actress. ‘She was vibrant and seemed to inspire everyone within her sphere with the same joie de vivre. Father was full of pride when he introduced us, and was captivated by her performance. We both were. But afterwards, when other men were showering her with attention, she was…well, flirting with them. There’s no other way to describe her behaviour. It seemed to be instinctive but I sensed that she was still acting. She did it in front of the pater, who didn’t like it one little bit. I could feel the fury radiating off him.’

  ‘And you want to reassure yourself—and me—that your father had no hand in her demise.’

  ‘Despite the fact that he has a vicious temper, I wouldn’t like to think that even he would be capable of murder,’ Riley replied in a considering tone. ‘God alone knows, he’s fearsome when riled but has more sense than to go that far.’ Riley tapped the fingers of one hand on the arm of his chair, beating out an uneven rhythm. ‘Then again, he was totally besotted with Miss Saville. If he caught her…well, what I’m making a bad job of saying is that I eavesdropped upon his conversation with Superintendent Dowd this morning and, frankly, was disgusted by the way in which the superintendent accepted every word my father said as gospel. He didn’t ask
him even the most basic of questions, perhaps because Father traded on his position to intimidate the man. Not that he required much intimidating. I was sickened by Dowd’s behaviour. He has a duty to serve justice but seems more intent upon currying favour with men of substance. Men like my father.’

  ‘In Dowd’s position, you would do things differently?’

  Riley leaned back in his chair, a pensive expression and slight frown gracing his features. ‘I think the introduction of the Detective Department at Scotland Yard was a long overdue step in the right direction, but it has yet to prove its worth. People are suspicious of it, they don’t see the need for it, and for as long as it’s run by men like Dowd it will never find favour with the public.’

  Jake steepled his fingers beneath his chin and nodded, impressed by Riley’s grasp of the situation. ‘How right you are.’

  ‘Justice must be seen to be done and should be blind to the stature of the suspects. In other words, my father should be treated just like anyone else.’ Riley raised both hands and tilted them from side to side. ‘If, say, another actor was implicated in the crime, he would not receive a morning call from the superintendent in person. He would not be asked to explain himself and have his word taken at face value. He would be hauled into Scotland Yard for questioning, and rightly so. I am not suggesting that my father was untruthful, but Dowd has no way of knowing if he was or not because he didn’t take the trouble to press him.’

  Jake found it hard not to smile at Riley’s youthful idealism. ‘I tend to agree with you,’ he said. ‘You will just have to become a policeman yourself and change the public’s perception.’

  ‘I very well might,’ Riley replied, sounding as though he was seriously considering the possibility. ‘My mother would probably disown me,’ he added, chuckling, ‘but someone in my family must have the courage of his convictions.’

  ‘Your father came to see me and asked for my help, but after Dowd’s visit he decided that he no longer had need of it, and has dispensed with my services.’

  ‘Oh, I see. So you have no idea what—’

  ‘Actually, Otto Milton and I are continuing to make a few enquiries. Miss Saville’s sister is staying here with us and looking for answers herself.’

  ‘I was not aware that she had a sister. Although now I think of it, the pater did receive a note informing him of Miss Saville’s death. He looked so shocked that I didn’t ask who it was from, but I think he said something about a sister. I’d forgotten that,’ he added. ‘Anyway, Father’s reaction to the news made me suppose that he had nothing to do with committing the actual crime. I have never seen anyone’s face drain of all colour before, and given that my father’s face is always ruddy, that’s saying something. Anyway, I am very sorry for Miss Saville’s sister. Please pass on my respectful condolences.’

  ‘That I will. And for Miss Larson’s sake, my wife has convinced me that we must attempt to find out what happened to her sister. Since I am curious to know myself, I am continuing to delve.’

  Riley sat forward, sending a lock of hair falling across his intense eyes. He pushed it aside impatiently. ‘May I ask what progress you have made? Is my father the most likely suspect?’

  Jake weighed up his options. He was fairly sure that Riley’s passionate quest for truth and justice was genuine. He was equally sure that he had little respect for his father. Jake, who had himself been ignored by both his parents, could empathise. Be that as it may, being at odds with one’s parent and accepting that he might have murdered his mistress were two very different matters. Jake reminded himself that despite his maturity, Riley was just fifteen. Too young to wrestle with the thorny subject of law and order, or the lack thereof, but he was attempting to do so anyway. He seemed determined to get to the truth, and Jake wouldn’t trust him not to instigate investigations of his own if he didn’t take him into his confidence.

  ‘Your father is supposedly the last person to have seen Miss Saville alive, but that has yet to be verified. Chichester has a temper, and if he thought Miss Saville had reneged on their agreement, I cannot rule out the possibility of passion overcoming common sense.’ Jake smiled to soften his words. ‘But Otto and I have only been on the case for a day and have already found three other people with compelling reasons to do away with Miss Saville.’

  ‘What people? Can I speak with them?’

  ‘No, Riley, you cannot. I am telling you this as a courtesy, but you must not involve yourself. You could do more harm than good. Can I depend upon you to keep my confidence?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Riley leaned his elbows on his splayed thighs and studied the rug beneath his feet. ‘All I ask is that you warn me if your suspicions lean towards the pater. I must, at the very least, prepare my mother so that she can weather the storm.’

  ‘I am glad we understand one another. And you will be pleased to learn that there is enough doubt surrounding Miss Saville’s death to prevent anyone—even someone as slapdash in the execution of his duties as Dowd—to charge your father with her murder. A barrister of the calibre of my friend Isaac Arnold would have him acquitted in the blink of an eye.’ Jake paused. ‘But that is not the same as proving his innocence, which is what I suspect you would prefer to be able to do.’

  Riley nodded. ‘Not because he deserves it especially. I am thinking of my mother and the rest of my family’s reputation. My brother and elder two sisters are all married, but I have my youngest sister’s feelings to consider. Besides, I am unwilling to give the gossips reason to destroy us by whispered half-truths and innuendo.’

  Jake didn’t think that salvaging his family’s reputation should be the responsibility of a fifteen-year-old. He was on the point of suggesting that he should involve his older brother when the door opened and Olivia swept through it.

  ‘Jake, have you lost all track of…oh, excuse me.’ Her gaze fell upon Riley. ‘No one told me you had a visitor.’

  Riley rose athletically to his feet and Jake made the introduction.

  ‘It is a very great pleasure, Lady Torbay,’ he said. ‘I apologise for the intrusion and was just about to take my leave.’

  ‘You wanted to consult Jake, I suppose, about the unfortunate business with Miss Saville.’ Jake bestowed a warning frown upon his outspoken wife. ‘There’s no need to look at me askance, Jake. Otto told us how mature he found Lord Riley and it is only natural that he would want to protect his family’s interests.’

  ‘You are in the right of it, ma’am, but Lord Torbay has just assured me there is an abundance of suspects with pressing reasons to want Miss Saville out of the way.’

  ‘Are there indeed?’ Olivia raised a brow. ‘Well, I dare say he will get around to enlightening Miss Larson and me sooner or later.’

  Jake gave a theatrical shudder that would have had Miss Saville applauding. ‘I wouldn’t dare do anything else.’

  ‘I should think not.’ Olivia turned her smile upon Riley. ‘I would invite you to dine with us, but we have Miss Larson—’

  ‘Thank you, ma’am, but I would not think of intruding.’

  ‘Call again tomorrow afternoon, if you like,’ Jake said, ringing the bell for Parker. ‘By then, I might know more and be in a position to ease your mind.’

  ‘Thank you. You are very kind.’

  Jake shook Riley’s hand and watched him say and do all the right things as he took his leave of Olivia before Parker conducted him from the room.

  ‘Well, talk about chalk and cheese. Him and his father, I mean,’ Olivia said. ‘I liked him very much and hope for his sake that his father is not the guilty party, if only because it will spoil his future.’

  ‘Yes, I hope that, too.’ He took Olivia’s hand and kissed the back of it. ‘How is Miss Larson?’

  ‘Anxious, but still determined to get to the bottom of things. She is a very spirited young woman.’

  Jake grunted. ‘It takes one to know one.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘I’m not sure I intended that as a co
mpliment.’

  Her sparkling smile momentarily robbed Jake of his senses. ‘Nevertheless, I shall take it as one. Now then, Sophia is alone in the drawing room. We’d best go and keep her company until Otto returns. I take it you invited him to dine and that the two of you will finally tell us what you found out this afternoon once he gets here.’

  ‘You may depend upon it,’ Jake replied, squeezing her hand as they walked from the room together.

  Chapter Nine

  Otto returned to Grosvenor Square, keen to gauge Miss Larson’s reaction to the discoveries he and Jake had made. But upon being admitted to the drawing room, Sophia’s appearance caused all thought of the investigation to flee his mind. He had seen through her indifferent clothing and wild hair as soon as he met the fiery-eyed young woman, aware that there was something unique about her. Even so, decked out in all her finery, the transformation exceeded his most optimistic expectations, rendering him momentarily speechless.

  His jaw fell open of its own accord. Otto hastily rectified that situation and simply enjoyed the view. Sophia wore a gown of soft dove grey silk that indicated her bereaved state, its starkness relieved by flamboyant lace trimming. The bodice was cut low, revealing the creamy smooth skin of her shoulders and an enticing glimpse of generous décolletage. Her wayward curls had been tamed into a flattering style, but the lady herself looked decidedly uncomfortable, as though she knew she didn’t belong in such prestigious surroundings.

  He found his voice, greeted Jake and Lady Torbay and then turned his attention to Sophia.

  ‘I can see that your afternoon has been well spent,’ he said softly, allowing his gaze to roam appreciatively over her person as held onto her hand for longer than necessary.

  ‘Lady Torbay insisted that I borrow this gown and she can be very…well, insistent. It would have seemed churlish to decline when she has been so very kind to me. Even so, I feel like a fraud. I expect at any moment to be asked what the devil I think I am doing in this lovely room and be told to leave.’