The Parliament House

    'But you were not being very tactful,' she pointed out. 'For any daughters, the most wonderful woman in the world is their mother. I could never compete with your wife. Nor would I wish to do so.' He nodded soulfully. 'Be more judicious in future. If you praise me to the skies, your daughters are bound to find me wanting.'

    'You are entirely without fault, Dorothy.'

    'I've learned to hide my shortcomings, that's all.'

    'Mine are all too visible,' he confessed. 'But I fear that I must away,' he added, moving to the door. 'I've work to do in that yapping menagerie we call a parliament.'

    'Take care, Sir Julius.'

    'I'll be Caution itself.'

    'And speak to my brother about this outrage you suffered.'

    'What can Mr Golland do?'

    'Orlando can arrange some bodyguards for you.'

    'I have one waiting for me beside my coach. And like me,' he said, opening his coat to reveal the pistol that he carried, 'he is well-armed and primed for action.'

    'I find this all so troubling.'

    'You may rest easy, dear lady. Nothing can touch me now. I have a more potent weapon at my disposal.'

    'Oh? And what's that?' 'A young friend who has helped me in the past. He has a genius for hunting down villains. Christopher will not fail me. It's only a matter of time before this killer is behind bars.'

    Within minutes of arriving back at his house, Christopher Redmayne had a visitor. Eager to speak with his brother, Henry was even more peevish than usual. He adopted a tone of rebuke.

    'Where on earth have you been, Christopher?' he complained. 'This is the third time today that I've called.'

    'I thought you were shackled to your desk at the Navy Office.'

    'Fortunately, the hateful Surveyer has gone to Chatham. I was able to sneak away - and I expected you to be here.'

    'I was attending a funeral in Cambridgeshire.'

    'That's a paltry excuse.'

    'Nevertheless, it accounts for my absence. I went with Sir Julius Cheever to see his friend, Mr Everett, laid to rest.'

    Henry sneered. 'It's a shame that there was no room in the grave for Sir Julius himself. No, no,' he corrected immediately, 'I withdraw that calumny. It's unjust. Any man who can bring such glory into the world deserves respect.'

    'What are you talking about, Henry?'

    'His daughter. She is a positive divinity.'

    'I agree,' said Christopher with a warm smile. 'Susan is the most gorgeous woman alive.'

    'Then you have obviously not seen her sister.'

    'Brilliana?'

    'An angel in human form,' said Henry, fervently. 'A queen of her sex. Beauty personified.'

    'Brilliana cannot compare with Susan.'

    'She can, Christopher. You may be drawn by the virginal charm of the younger sister but it pales beside the seasoned excellence of the elder. I've never met such an alluring creature.'

    'You should not have met her now,' said Christopher.

    'It was destiny!'

    'It was unwarranted curiosity, Henry, and her sister has told her so in blunt terms. Brilliana had no call to pry into my private life. What right did she have to pester my brother?'

    'Every right,' said Henry. 'I grant it freely.'

    'You should have behaved with more discretion.'

    'In the face of such a temptress? It was impossible. The hour we spent together was magical.' A nostalgic beam lit up his face. 'Dare I hope that Brilliana enjoyed her visit to Bedford Street?'

    'It seems that she was rather impressed with you, Henry.'

    'Wonder of wonders!'

    'But I doubt if the same can be said of Lancelot.'

    'Who?'

    'Her husband,' said Christopher, pointedly. 'Not that you even noticed him, I daresay. Lancelot was horrified by your taste in art.'

    'How strange! Brilliana approved of it.'

    'That amazes me.'

    'It shows that she and I have a close affinity.'

    'Henry, she's married. She's beyond your reach. I refuse to let you entertain libidinous thoughts about her. Brilliana Serle is not available.'

    'Many women think that until they feel the first hot pang of desire. As for marriage, no man could have more respect for the institution. It's an inexhaustible hunting ground for me,' he boasted. 'I've helped to rescue many a bored wife from a dull husband.'

    'Well, you'll not add Brilliana Serle to your list of conquests,' said Christopher, sternly. 'I can tell you for a fact that she is neither bored nor trapped in a dull marriage. More to the point, she is Susan's sister and that means I have a strong personal interest here.'

    'I would not dream of embarrassing you.'

    'You've already done so - many times.'

    'One sister is surely enough for any man. Leave the other to me.'

    'No, Henry!'

    'I'll move stealthily. Nobody will ever know.'

'I'll know,' said Christopher, 'and so will the lady herself. You misjudge her completely. Brilliana will not welcome your blandishments. She'll be very distressed.'

    'She was not distressed by my paintings. They awakened her.'

    'No more of this. I forbid you to continue.'

    'Pish, man! Don't moralise. When you have designs on one daughter, it ill becomes you to climb into the pulpit about another. Besides, I have enough sermons from our benighted father. I came here for one simple reason,' said Henry, briskly. 'I need a brother's help. Contrive a situation so that I can meet Brilliana once again - without the distracting presence of her husband this time. Have I not helped you with regard to this murder investigation in which you are embroiled?'

    'You have,' said Christopher. 'I am very grateful.'

    'Then display that gratitude by doing what I ask.'

    Henry turned on his heel and sailed gracefully out of the room.

    Christopher was dumbfounded. Wanting to remonstrate with his brother, he saw how pointless his strictures were. He was also aware of how prudish he sounded when he tried to warn Henry about the pitfalls of a dissolute life. Christopher felt the same natural impulses as all men but he had learned to control them instead of being at their mercy. Henry was different. Having rejected the homilies of his father, the dean of Gloucester, he would hardly listen to the warnings of a younger brother.

    It was disturbing for Christopher. Any pursuit of Brilliana was doomed. If she rejected Henry - as was most likely - she would turn against the whole Redmayne family. If, on the other hand, she chose to encourage his interest, then the consequences were unthinkable. Either way, Christopher's friendship with Susan would be adversely affected and he resolved that that must never happen. Were she to discover that Henry was harbouring lustful thoughts about her sister, Susan would be truly appalled. And if the information ever reached the ears of Sir Julius, nothing short of disaster would follow.

    Christopher heard voices in the hall. Thinking that Henry might not, after all, have left, he went out to challenge him, only to discover that one visitor had been replaced by another. Jonathan Bale had just been let into the house. Christopher was pleased to see him. After the abrasive meeting with his brother, he needed stable companionship. He led the constable into the parlour and they sat down.

    'When did you return, Mr Redmayne?' asked Bale.

    'This morning. Sir Julius and I stayed overnight in Essex.'

    'Did everything go without incident?'

    'No, Jonathan.' 'Oh?'