‘Ingenious,’ said Wolf. ‘Tell me, Charles, were you and Florence lovers?’
Urmston’s lip curled. ‘Once she was with child she considered she had fulfilled her duty to you. We bribed Meesden to keep quiet, but although she disliked me she positivelyhatedyou for marrying her beloved mistress, and once she had begun taking money for her silence she was unable to say anything at all.’
Wolf had guessed as much and was surprised how little it mattered to him now.
He said, ‘So the night she died, Florence quarrelled with me deliberately, to leave the way clear for you.’
‘She did. That temper of yours made it surprisingly easy for us, Arrandale. Florence had given me a key to the servants’ door. I went outside to enjoy a cigarillo, then up the backstairs to join her. If anyone missed me I could say I had been wandering in the gardens.’
‘And you took the necklace.’
‘It is mine by right,’ snapped Urmston. ‘I was Sawston’s heir, not Florence. Why should I not have it? I needed the money. She laughed when I asked her for it, so I had to take it. She fought like a wildcat, followed me to the landing and tried to scratch out my eyes, so I—’ He stopped, a look of anguish contorting his florid features. ‘I pushed her away. She fell against the balcony rail and overbalanced. It was an accident. An accident. Then you came in, Arrandale. It was too good an opportunity to miss. I left the way I had come. By the time I was back in the drawing room everything was confusion. I rushed into the hall where you were kneeling over Florence. It was easy to suggest that you had killed her and to persuade your father to get you out of the country. He was glad to see the back of you.’
Wolf’s jaw tightened. He could not deny it. He had reminded the old man too much of himself. He looked at the pistol pointed at his chest. Perhaps he deserved this ending. For one black moment he could think of nothing to say to prolong the conversation.
‘And what of the necklace,’ said Grace. ‘Where was that?’
‘Safe in my pocket. Meesden’s shock when she discovered it was missing was quite genuine, but by that time Wolfgang was gone and everyone thought he had taken it.’
‘Of course,’ snarled Wolf. ‘After all, if I would kill my wife I would hardly balk at stealing the diamonds.’
‘Quite.’
Wolf’s sharp ears had picked up a faint noise. Thunder, or horses galloping through the park. If Braddenfield and his men had arrived they would see the light in the chapel.
He said quickly, ‘And having put the blame on me you went off to Newmarket.’
‘Well, I did not wish to intrude upon the family’s grief.’
‘Generous of you,’ drawled Wolf. ‘So you took young Thriplow’s fortune and left him to blow his brains out.’
Urmston shrugged. ‘If it had not been me, someone else would have relieved him of his fortune.’ He took another step closer. ‘Now give me those diamonds.’
Wolf’s hand closed over them and he held his fist across his chest. ‘Surely you would not kill us before explaining how the diamonds came to be here and not where you left them?’
‘Meesden,’ said Urmston tersely. ‘She caught me hiding the necklace. I paid her to say nothing, gave her enough for her to buy her shop in London. But she must have realised that it was I and not you who was responsible for Florence’s death and decided to have her revenge. When I heard you were back in England I posted here immediately, only to find the diamonds were gone.’
‘And you had lost track of Meesden, too.’ Wolf spoke quickly, trying to cover what was surely the sound of steps outside the chapel. ‘And just how did you know I was back in England, Charles?’
‘Your lawyer. I paid him to alert me if he should hear from you.’
‘And was it Baylis who gave you Meesden’s direction?’ asked Wolf.
Urmston stepped closer.
‘Yes. The fool thought I wanted her as a witness against you and was only too happy to help, no doubt thinking of the money he would make defending you.’
Wolf saw the merest flicker of light in the doorway and spoke his next words clearly, praying whoever was holding the light would hear Urmston’s answer.
‘So you forced brandy down Annie Meesden’s throat and took her to Vauxhall, where you murdered her.’
‘What else could I do? Oh, I tried to reason with her, I sat for an hour while she finished her mending, but she would not tell me what she had done with the diamonds. She even threatened to tell you. So I had no choice but to kill her. I thought the plan was pretty neat, dispose of Meesden and have her murder added to the list of your crimes. And this will be your final victim.’ Urmston stared hard at Grace. ‘I saw you at Horsemonger Lane. Wolfgang’s lady of mercy. Hatcham thinks you helped him escape.’
‘She is innocent, Charles. Let her go.’
‘Oh, no. I have seen the way you look at her, Wolfgang. I think her death will hurt you more than the others.’
A boot scraped on the doorstep. Urmston’s head came up. He swung the pistol towards Grace. He was so close, he could not miss, but even as he squeezed the trigger Wolf pounced.
