Page 58 of Dead Beside the Thames
The commissioner had been at pains to ensure that the news of Viscount Sedbury’s murder had been reconfirmed in the evening news sheets together with the information that Sedbury had instigated a fight in a dockside area and had died as a result of injuries received, and his body tipped into the river. The public had been assured that due to the quick work of Inspector Basil Stokes, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Adair, the viscount’s murderer had been apprehended, and Scotland Yard considered the case successfully closed.
Lord Conningham echoed his wife’s sentiments. “Huge weight off so many shoulders, y’know?” He shook Barnaby’s hand. “Well done!”
Barnaby and Penelope shared a laughing glance and, after exchanging a few words about their respective families, parted from the Conninghams and descended the stairs to join the throng of other guests.
They had barely gained the ballroom floor when Jonathon materialized from the crowd and, his face lit by a smile that was more relaxed and genuine than anything Penelope had previously seen from him, planted himself before them.
After the briefest of greetings, he said, “We thought you should know—m’father and I went back to the Drunken Duck this afternoon and met with Weatherspoon and settled the matter of restitution over Millie’s death.” A cloud passed over Jonathon’s open face, then he cleared his throat and, raising his chin a trifle, stated, “We also set up a way for Weatherspoon to contact our solicitor in London directly, regarding all the other claims, of which we expect there will be many.” He met Penelope’s and Barnaby’s eyes. “Sedbury was an unmitigated villain, and the family can’t just bury the results. We need to set all right, or at least as right as we can.”
Penelope smiled encouragingly. “That’s commendable and also very wise. The burden of Sedbury’s actions should not be a weight you and the others carry forward.” She pointed at the black armband Jonathon wore. “Should I take it the family is not going into full mourning?”
Jonathon glanced at the band. “We decided we couldn’t be that hypocritical—that false. M’father, Bryan, and I opted for armbands—it’s at least an acknowledgment of a death in the family. Mama and Claude have opted to wear muted colors for a month, but none of us felt it appropriate to retreat from society.” He smiled. “Not even for one night.”
Barnaby nodded. “Impossible to mourn when, in fact, everyone is rejoicing.”
“Exactly.” Jonathon raised his head; his smile hadn’t dimmed. “And of course, it’s not just us.”
“Indeed,” Penelope said. “I seriously doubt that even the most censorious hostess will comment adversely. Too many in the ton know what Sedbury was like, and as you say, in the wake of his passing, society as a whole feels buoyed.” Nonetheless, she made a mental note to check with her usual sources.
Barnaby, too, was smiling. “Now that you are your father’s heir, what are your thoughts about taking up Sedbury’s title?”
Jonathon shuddered. “No, thank you. Luckily, Papa has another I can use, and we’ve agreed I should simply be Viscount Hale.” He smiled. “And without the bane of Sedbury hanging over my head, I might even be able to venture forth and find a bride.”
Penelope beamed. “I predict you’ll have no trouble finding a suitable young lady.” In fact, she would make sure of it.
Faintly bashful, Jonathon shrugged, and with good wishes all around, they let him go.
Barnaby chuckled softly as they moved into the crowd. “So now you have another challenge before you.”
“Pfft!” Penelope responded. “Finding a bride for him now will be more a matter of beating off the unsuitable hordes. Remind me that I must call on the marchioness before she and the marquess leave town.”
As it transpired, Penelope didn’t have to remember anything.
Ten minutes of wandering through the crowd, many of whom seized the chance to quiz them on the case, brought them face to face with the Rattenbys.
“My dears,” the marchioness said as soon as the exchange of greetings was complete, “I want to most sincerely thank you for all your help in resolving this so-distasteful matter. Yourassistance in dissipating the ominous cloud that has hung over the family and our children’s futures for so long leaves us forever in your debt.”
Rattenby nodded. “Quite so. I have to say I was deeply impressed by the dogged team effort that prevailed.” His gray gaze was shrewd as it rested on Barnaby’s and Penelope’s faces. “You and Inspector Stokes have formed a formidable partnership, and for that, you are to be congratulated.”
They would have politely demurred, but the marchioness leapt in to say, “As I told Gerrard”—she clasped her husband’s arm—“paying restitution is all very well and should definitely be done, but that’s in the nature of putting the past to rest, and we should, in all thanks, also do something, take some positive step, that will impact the future.” The marchioness arched her brows inquiringly. “I’ve been told, Penelope, that you have interests in various charities, and I wondered if you could direct us toward one that might suit our purpose.”
Penelope didn’t have to think. “Actually”—she shot a glance at Barnaby—“Barnaby’s lads’ network was instrumental, critically so, in solving the Sedbury case, and I believe the time has come to discuss setting up a foundation, one that would encourage the brightest lads to further their development by underwriting their employment in, for instance, the police force or the inquiry agency business.” She looked at the Rattenbys. “We have excellent contacts in both fields, and some of the lads have the potential to go far. They really are quite bright.”
Rattenby was nodding, and the marchioness looked eager.
Regarding his wife with a faintly fascinated smile, Barnaby admitted, “Assistance with their living expenses for their first years of employment would go a long way to encouraging them to pursue further advancement.”
Rattenby gave a more decisive nod. “By all means, let’s pursue that tack. Perhaps we can call on you in the coming days, before we return to Gloucestershire.”
They made arrangements to meet the next week, then parted, and Barnaby guided Penelope on.
“That was an excellent idea,” Barnaby murmured, his eyes dancing. “Have you been incubating it for long?”
Smiling brightly, Penelope admitted, “Only since this case. The lads were such a help, it seems foolish not to advance your network onto a more formal footing.”
Soon after, through the crowd, they spotted several of her usual sources gathered on long sofas at the end of the room. Knowing that a report would be expected, she and Barnaby dutifully presented themselves to the older ladies and meekly submitted to their inquisition.
When the exclamations and congratulations came to an end and Penelope inquired as to how the Hales’ rejection of mourning was being received, Lady Osbaldestone was quick to reassure her, “No need to worry on that score. Everyone else is so relieved, we’re all quite happy to see the family regaining their feet, as it were.”
