The Blood Royal

Sandilands began to relax into the familiar exchange of military brevity. You knew where you were with Marland.

Open and brisk, the young host came straight to the point. ‘And thank you for all you’ve done, Commander. Cassandra’s a lucky woman to have you in her corner – and I’ve said as much. But I see you bring an accomplice?’ An enquiring eye sought out Lily.

‘You’ve found exactly the right word.’ Joe smiled. ‘Miss Wentworth is, indeed, my partner in crime. Let me introduce you to her. Lily, this is Sebastian Marland, Admiral Dedham’s nephew.’

Marland shook Lily’s hand and murmured a welcome. Joe was intrigued to witness the instant effect of warm eyes and a sincere voice. He observed flirtatious smiles and batting of eyelashes. And Wentworth didn’t appear unmoved either. Joe gri

‘Sebastian is rather more than nephew now, Joe,’ Cassandra began quietly, watching the steady hands at work with the tea things. ‘When Oliver’s will was read, we discovered that—’

‘Oh, come now, Cassandra, Sandilands knows the contents. If he’s any good at his job, he’ll have known before we did!’ A disarming grin was directed at the commander. ‘But Miss Wentworth may be unaware? The thing is, Lily … I may call you Lily? … I was appointed joint guardian of the boys until their majority, along with their mother, of course. With immediate effect.’

Joe nodded his understanding and approval of the situation. Sebastian was far too young to exert paternal authority but he was a man any boy could look up to and he had a sound head on his shoulders.

‘And, being a working man – a businessman of sorts – I shall interest myself in the family’s affairs in an active way,’ Marland went on. ‘A few changes to be made—’

‘And one of them made already!’ Billy sang out happily. ‘I’m going to tell the commander my good news. Sir! Cousin Seb says I needn’t go back to that frightful hole when term starts. He’s sending in my papers or whatever nonsense you have to do to break out of there. He can do it! He just has to sign something. I’ve served my last day at naval college!’

Cassandra exclaimed and pressed a handkerchief over her mouth. Huge eyes appealed to Joe for understanding.

‘I say, steady on, old man! It’s surely a bit premature to be thinking about unpicking the admiral’s arrangements …’ Joe began to murmur, but was firmly interrupted by Marland.

‘Au contraire! Not a moment too soon. One more term of bullying and beatings and they risk breaking the boy’s spirit. They’ve already broken his hide. The lad’s cut raw by the last effort to make him like the Navy. It won’t do. He has his mother’s sensitive nature. And he’s not a born sailor like his brother.’

Everyone in the room turned to look at the born sailor. John, blushing at the attention, defiantly put an arm along his brother’s shoulder. ‘We can’t all be a Nelson. I’m not, never will be. But I love the Navy.’ He spoke in sharp phrases, clearly embarrassed by William’s outburst and directing his remarks to Joe. ‘It’s a tough system, sir, but I agree with Cousin Seb – I must survive it and try to change the things I don’t like. And I can survive because I love the life. Billy can’t because he doesn’t. Could never … I mean …’

Cassandra, sniffing and exclaiming, hurried across the room to clasp both of her boys to her bosom. They stood, arms at their sides, enduring the show of affection for a count of ten.

Cousin Seb lit a cigarette and looked on, narrowing his eyes against the smoke. Joe had waved away the offer to join Marland in a cigarette and helped himself to a slice of cake. He knew he ought to be relieved that Cassandra and the boys were being cared for and, it seemed, cared about. This was one self-imposed burden he could now slip from his shoulders. Yes, it was all turning out well. He couldn’t account for the feeling of foreboding he was experiencing.

With everyone finally herded back to the tea tables, the conversation began to flow on more conventional topics. Eventually Cassandra broached the question of the admiral’s funeral and, at a suitable moment, Joe inserted the information he’d come to deliver. Everyone fell silent to hear his a

The Yard had completed its investigation of the murder, he told them, and the trial of the two perpetrators was to be held at the earliest possible date. He left a space for their reaction and unobtrusively watched for any sign of dissent.

Marland interrupted Cassandra’s whispered thanks. ‘Hang on a minute, Commander. You’ve skipped a paragraph. Wasn’t there a question of a third assassin? The girl in the taxi? The high-calibre bullet that finished off my uncle? Cassandra tells me she voiced her suspicions to the police.’ He shot a glance at Lily, who nodded back.

Sandilands looked a warning and spoke crisply. ‘We are indeed aware, but this is not perhaps the place, Marland, or the time—’

‘Nonsense! If it’s the boys you’re concerned for, forget it. They know how their father died. They’re au fait with the case. Cassandra and I see no reason to hold back the details from them.’

The boys nodded. Cassandra nodded. Joe realized that he was addressing a unified family and refocused his delivery.

‘Very well. The pathologists’s report upheld Cassandra’s assertion. She was not mistaken. However, the girl in the taxi has been exonerated by the cabby, who has had a lucid interval or two in his hospital bed and has made a statement saying that it was not she who pulled the trigger.’

‘Glad to hear it. Common sense – and science of course – have prevailed, then. Not a woman’s crime, shooting in the street. Sure you’d agree. But if not her, nor the cabby, then who did pull the trigger?’ Sebastian persisted. He was clearly not going to let Sandilands off until he’d revealed all he knew.

‘The solution, as it often is, was staring us in the face,’ Joe admitted with a shamefaced grin. ‘The killers have been questioned at length and have made full confessions. The tougher one of the pair, in the end, admitted that he was issued with two guns, just in case one jammed. Sensible precaution.’

Marland gave an understanding nod. ‘Makes sense.’

‘Fleeing to the taxi, the gunman noted that the admiral was still on his feet, selected his more powerful weapon and shot again. U

‘Mmm … probably picked up and kept or sold on. There’s a market for such things,’ Marland said. ‘I see. Sounds reasonable to me.’ He looked questioningly at each boy in turn, silently gathering their views before continuing. ‘As you say then, all done and dusted. Case closed. And now that your chaps have finally released the old bird, we’ll be able to move on and finalize our plans for the funeral. Cassandra didn’t want the State ceremony that was on offer. I have that right? Do correct me if I assume too much.’

‘Oh, yes. I couldn’t bear it. And I don’t believe Oliver would have expected it. He was, at heart, a plain sailor, a modest man, you know.’

Sandilands and Marland exchanged astonished looks and indulgent grins over her head.

‘All the same, it was so kind of the prime minister and Their Majesties to offer. But, in the end, we’ve decided on a small service for family and friends to be held in the church at his family seat in the country, next Saturday. We’re so hoping you’ll be able to come, Joe.’