‘Ah,’ said Andrews, drily. ‘It must be Queen Victoria again.’
After checking her appearance in the hall mirror, Madeleine opened the door and gave her visitor a warm smile.
‘Inspector Colbeck,’ she said. ‘Do please come in.’
‘Thank you, Miss Andrews.’ Colbeck removed his top hat and stepped into the house. ‘How is your father?’
‘Much better now that he has me back again.’
‘You would gladden the heart of any parent.’
‘Did you wish to see him?’
‘In time, perhaps,’ said Colbeck. ‘I really called to speak to you. I am sure that you will be relieved to know that everyone who took part in the train robbery has now been arrested.’
‘Were they all men from Sir Humphrey’s old regiment?’
‘Most of them were. They became involved because they needed the money. Sir Humphrey Gilzean had another motive.’
‘Yes, I know,’ she said. ‘He did all those terrible things because he believed that a train had killed his wife.’
‘Even before that happened, he had a deep-seated hatred of the railways. The death of Lady Gilzean only intensified it.’
‘But to go to such extremes – it’s unnatural.’
‘It certainly changed him from the man that he was,’ said Colbeck, soulfully. ‘Though I’d never condone what he did, I have a faint sympathy for the man.’
Madeleine was surprised. ‘Sympathy – for a criminal?’
‘Only for the loss that he endured. I know what it is to lose a loved one in tragic circumstances,’ he confided. ‘If I’m honest, Miss Andrews, it’s what made me become a policeman.’ He sighed quietly. ‘Since I could never bring the lady in question back, I tried to protect others from the same fate.’ He looked deep into her eyes. ‘That was why it gave me so much pleasure to come to your aid.’
‘This lady you mentioned,’ she said, probing gently. ‘Was she a member of your family, Inspector?’
‘She would have been,’ he replied, ‘but she had the misfortune to surprise a burglar in her house one night, and made the mistake of challenging him. He became violent.’ He waved a hand to dismiss the subject. ‘But enough of my past, Miss Andrews. I try not to dwell on it and prefer to look to the future. That is the difference between Sir Humphrey and myself, you see. In the wake of his loss, he sought only to destroy. I endeavour to rebuild.’
‘That’s very wise of you.’
‘Then perhaps you will help in the process.’
‘Me?’
‘I know that it is indecently short notice,’ he said, watching her dimples, ‘but are you, by any chance, free on May Day?’
‘I could be,’ she said, tingling with anticipation. ‘Why?’
‘In recognition of what happened at the Crystal Palace,’ he explained, ‘His Royal Highness, Prince Albert, has sent me two tickets for the opening ceremony. I would deem it an honour if you agreed to come with me.’
Madeleine was overjoyed. ‘To the Great Exhibition!’
‘Yes,’ said Colbeck over her happy laughter, ‘there are one or two locomotives that I’d like to show you.’
Table of Contents
Cover
Title
Copyright
About the author
Available from Allison & Busby
Dedication
Epigraph
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE