Page 8 of Traitors Gate

The House rose again as Her Majesty made her way out of the Upper Chamber, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. The Earl Marshal led the royal couple slowly back to the Robing Room where the Queen surrendered her crown, disrobed and, after a few words with the pageboys, walked back down the steps to the Sovereign’s Entrance where the Irish State Coach awaited her.

Prince Philip climbed into the coach and waited for the Queen to join him before the four horses set off once again to take the monarch back to Buckingham Palace. The Imperial State Crown and Sword of State had already preceded them in their own carriage, while her dresser would follow later in a Rolls-Royce carrying all the surplus regalia in a large red bag to be stored away for another year – and possibly another Prime Minister?

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Danny stood to attention when the Irish State Coach trundled through the archway and across the inner courtyard. The two footmen on the back of the carriage may have remained still, but their eyes were moving in every direction. He recognized one of them as a Royalty Protection officer, suitably dressed for the occasion.

William and Ross bowed when the Queen passed by while the four horses threw their heads in the air as they came to a halt outside the entrance door. An equerry and two footmen were waiting for Her Majesty as she got out of the carriage and made her way back into her townhouse.

Moments later, two Guards officers appeared carrying the black boxes that contained the Crown Jewels. The Lord Chamberlain followed a few paces behind. Phil Harris opened the boot of the Jaguar and waited for the treasures to be safely locked inside before taking his place behind the wheel, the sign that the outriders could set off on their journey back to the Tower of London. They took off immediately, clear roads and green lights making it possible for them to cross the middle drawbridge and enter the East Gate of the Tower thirteen minutes later, where they found the Resident Governor and the Chief Warder waiting for them outside the Jewel House.

William jumped out of the back of the Land Rover and watched the ancient ceremony being played out in reverse. The Lord Chamberlain and the Governor disappeared into the Jewel House, accompanied by the two Jewel House Warders carrying the treasures.

William relaxed only when the Lord Chamberlain reappeared empty-handed, got back into his car and set off on the return journey to the palace.

Danny would have followed him if the Governor hadn’treappeared, headed straight for their car and tapped on the window. William jumped out, fearing something must have gone wrong.

‘Chief Superintendent, you may not be aware that I will be retiring at the end of the year, so if you and the children would like a tour of the castle and the chance to see the Crown Jewels, I’d be only too happy to act as your guide.’

‘How kind of you, general,’ said William. ‘May I also include Inspector Hogan’s daughter, Jojo, who lives with us and whom we all look upon as a member of the family?’

‘Of course,’ responded the Governor. ‘However, the invitation does not include the Inspector as I have a feeling that, given half a chance, Hogan might try to steal the Crown Jewels.’

William watched as the Governor hurried off, not altogether sure he was joking. But then William would have been the first to admit that Ross didn’t always keep to the letter of the law and on more than one occasion had stepped over the line and had to face the consequences. His natural charm and good looks regularly got him off the hook with his female colleagues and, in truth, the Hawk cut him far more slack than he did with any other officer. However, William could only wonder when Ross would go one step too far and he would find there was nothing he could do to help him.

‘Job done for another year,’ said William as he climbed back into the car, tapped Danny on the shoulder and added, ‘Back to the Yard.’

‘What did the Governor want?’ asked Ross as they drove over the middle drawbridge, out of the rear entrance of the Tower and onto St Katharine’s Way, where they were held up at the first set of traffic lights.

‘General Stanley told me he retires at the end of the yearand wondered if the children, including Jojo, would like to visit the Tower as his guests,’ said William, not voicing any other sentiments the Resident Governor may have expressed.

‘So what’s next for us?’

‘The commander assures me he has something a bit special to get our teeth into but refused to divulge any details until the Crown Jewels were safely back in the Tower.’

‘Now that he’s back in England,’ said Ross, ‘let’s hope “special” includes going after Miles Faulkner again. I’ve still got a couple of scores to settle with that man.’

‘Seems unlikely,’ said William. ‘After all, Faulkner hasn’t appeared on our radar since he was released from Ford over four years ago. Although I find it hard to believe he’s retired.’

‘In case you’ve forgotten,’ said Ross, with some feeling, ‘that man was responsible for my wife’s death.’

CHAPTER 4

ONCEWILLIAM HAD LEFT FORthe Yard on Saturday morning and Ross had picked up the children and taken them off to Legoland for the day, Beth set out for Buckingham, but not before she’d given Mark Poltimore a call at Sotheby’s, as she needed his advice before she met Mrs Lomax.

‘The Lomax Gallery has been around for three generations,’ Mark reminded her. ‘However, it’s well-known that Gordon Lomax had been struggling for some time after the recession hit. What might also interest you is that a couple of years ago he asked us to value his stock for probate, so he must have known he didn’t have long to live.’

‘Can you give me a ballpark figure?’ asked Beth hopefully.

‘Not something I can reveal,’ said Mark. ‘But of course, Mrs Lomax might be willing to tell you.’

Armed with this information, Beth thanked Mark, put down the phone and began to leaf through her AA handbook. Once she’d settled on the most direct route, she set off for Buckingham. She would have made good time had it not been for thecountless roundabouts she encountered between Buckingham and her destination that the AA guide had failed to mention.

As she stepped out of the car, the front door of the little ivy-clad cottage, which could have been painted by Helen Allingham, opened to reveal an elderly lady standing in the doorway, who had clearly been waiting for her. From her appearance, Mrs Lomax might also have been Victorian, attired as she was in a long faded floral dress that didn’t allow you to see her ankles. Her thick grey hair was tied up in a bun with what looked like a knitting needle stuck through it. She wore no jewellery and, although it was a warm day, she had a thick shawl draped around her shoulders.

‘It’s so kind of you to come all this way, Mrs Warwick,’ were her first words as Beth entered the house. Mrs Lomax closed the door and led her guest through to a lounge littered with old oak furniture and ancient bric-a-brac. A few Victorian watercolours adorned the walls, but none that would have excited even a provincial auction house.

No sooner had they sat down than a maid who might have come out of a Daphne du Maurier novel appeared, carrying a tray on which rested a teapot covered in a crocheted cosy, alongside a plate of chocolate digestive biscuits. Beth was reminded of her half-term visits to Kardomah Café in Piccadilly for afternoon tea with what her mother imagined were the gentry.

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