Free Shadow of the Hangman by Edward Marston Page B

score to settle with him. He’ll have to work alone, however. Peter will be hunting for that missing woman from the Home Office.’
    ‘That’s a curious business, isn’t it?’
    ‘I’ll be interested to find out what happened to her.’
    Before he could speak, Ackford heard the tinkle of the front door bell. He excused himself and went off to see who had rung it. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see a handsome young woman standing there alone. Apart from female servants,the only people who came to the gallery were men so there was a novelty in her request.
    ‘Is it true that you give instruction in archery?’ she asked.
     
    Peter Skillen had expected to wait but, when he called at the Home Office, he was shown straight into Sidmouth’s office. The latter had clearly been awaiting some news about the investigation. Peter explained that he’d questioned both Esther Ricks and Joan Claydon but had learnt nothing that could point to the whereabouts of the missing servant. What he was careful not to divulge was the fact that Anne Horner had a substantial amount of money hidden beneath her bed. Since there might be a perfectly innocent reason why she’d acquired so much cash, he didn’t wish to plant a seed of doubt in Sidmouth’s mind about the woman. Neither did he want the Home Secretary asking the question that Peter had already asked himself. If the necessary woman had such ample funds, why did she feel the need to continue the laborious and demeaning work of cleaning offices?
    ‘You may think it strange that we are so concerned about her,’ said Sidmouth. ‘Here we are, occupying a position that entitles us to answer petitions and addresses to the Prince Regent, and allows us to advise him on the exercise of royal prerogative, yet we are excessively worried about a minor employee.’
    ‘I think that it shows genuine compassion on your part, my lord.’
    ‘I’m impelled by a sense of duty towards her.’
    ‘From what I’ve learnt about the woman,’ said Peter, ‘she seems quite admirable. Though she has suffered a number of blows in her life, Mrs Horner has been undaunted. She has fashioned a life for herself that makes few, if any, demands on others. Her landlady told me how kind, helpful and unselfish her lodger is.’
    ‘The same qualities have been noted here, Mr Skillen. Not thatI’ve seen very much of her,’ Sidmouth went on, ‘because our paths almost never cross. We toil by day while she cleans up the mess here by night. There have, however, been occasions when I and my permanent secretary have worked late into the evening and left the premises as Horner was just arriving.’
    ‘I take it that you’ve found a substitute.’
    ‘I’m relieved to say that we have. Thanks to one of my undersecretaries, we now have a more than adequate replacement in the shape of Levitt. Though she has made an auspicious start, however, what we really desire is the return of her predecessor.’
    ‘The search will be given my full attention,’ said Peter.
    He’d always had great respect for Sidmouth. Conscious as he was that the man was derided in some quarters for his perceived inadequacies, Peter had always found him decent, honest and considerate. In the dealings they’d had together over the years, he’d admired the Home Secretary’s efficiency, doggedness and readiness to support those who worked for him. Sidmouth’s years as Prime Minister at the start of the century may have been undistinguished but it could be argued that any politician would have been handicapped when operating in the long shadow of William Pitt the Younger. War had exposed Sidmouth’s limitations and, though he’d negotiated peace with France, it did not last. Coping with the threat of invasion by Napoleon had put him under intolerable pressure and he’d felt a sense of relief when Pitt replaced him. Having met some of the other leading politicians, Peter Skillen had a marked preference for the Home Secretary, a