Page 54 of Murder at Hambledon Hall
The jaw slackened with his gasp. “Not all of the items stolen were locked away in the silverware cupboard! And any number of people could have come in here and taken the key!”
“That isn’t what I meant,” I said.
“Then whatdoyou mean? What do you know? Or think you do?”
I ignored his questions and asked my own. “Where were you when you heard the gunshot that killed Esmond Shepherd?”
He shifted uncomfortably in the chair. “I was napping.”
“Your room is on the top floor, yet you arrived very quickly at the scene.”
“I wasn’t in my room. I was here, in this chair. Sometimes I nod off. It’s old age.”
“It’s his lordship’s brandy, but let’s not quibble about it.”
For a moment, I thought Renton would explode with rage as his face flushed scarlet. But the color soon vanished, and his cheeks turned quite pale. I suspected he’d remembered I was related to a friend of his employer and was therefore not someone he could scold like a maid.
“I won’t tell Lord Kershaw about the brandy, if you tell me who you think stole the silverware.”
Renton’s gaze searched the office, perhaps searching for a way out of the dilemma he found himself in. Finding none, he finally looked at me. “I don’t know, but I can assure you, it wasn’t me. I have worked here for more than thirty years. I’m loyal to Lord Kershaw and he has promised to be loyal to me. I’ll be given a cottage in the village and a good pension when I can no longer perform my duties here. Why would I jeopardize that by stealing from him when I’ve had ample opportunity over three decades?”
I had to admit it seemed unlikely. That didn’t mean he wasn’t a murderer, just probably not a thief. “What are your thoughts on Esmond Shepherd?”
He blew out a measured breath and sat back. “I didn’t like him. He was too sure of himself and was a seducer of young women. He behaved appallingly toward them at times.”
“Then why didn’t Lord Kershaw dismiss him?”
“You would have to ask his lordship.”
“There are rumors that he was treated well because Shepherd’s sister, Susannah, was the daughter of the fourth earl, and the family connection added a measure of permanency to Esmond Shepherd’s tenure as gamekeeper, and that of his father before him. Were you working here then?”
“I am notthatold, Miss Fox. I’ve been here thirty-three years. Miss Susannah Shepherd was deceased by that point, and the fourth earl was in his dotage. As to the truth of the gossip, I cannot comment. It’s undignified.”
I didn’t press him. He was too loyal to Lord Kershaw to spread rumors about the family. “Did you have any run-ins with Esmond Shepherd?”
“No. We had little to do with one another. He belonged outside, I worked inside. Our paths crossed most days, but we didn’t stop for idle chatter. We were both busy.”
I rose to leave, but Harry had one more question. “You mentioned the house is locked up at night. Did Esmond Shepherd have a key?”
“No.” Renton stood and indicated we should walk ahead of him to the door. “Would you like a carriage to take you into Morcombe, Miss Fox?”
“No, thank you, we’ll walk. Renton,” I added, “I’ve promised not to mention the brandy to Lord Kershaw, and I will keep that promise. But you have to promise something to me in return.”
“If it is within my power to do so then I will.”
“Don’t tell any of the Wentworth family that I was asking about the stolen property.”
“And why not?”
“You don’t need to know why, just like I don’t need to know why you take a nip of brandy during the day.”
Renton acknowledged my blackmail with a stiff nod. He bade us a curt goodbye then made sure we were escorted out of the house by a footman.
“What do you think?” I asked Harry as we walked along the gravel drive.
“I don’t think he’s involved in the thefts.”
“Agreed. My money is firmly on Reverend Pritchard now. It's a shame we can't speak to him.”
