‘And what do you have to show for it?’

‘To begin with,’ said Peter, ‘I have a far greater understanding of the work that Sir Roger was doing. I’m sorry that it wasn’t endorsed by everyone in his family.’

‘That’s none of your business.’

‘It must have been a source of regret for him.’

‘He was not a man to be troubled by regret. When you are driven by a passion, you don’t let disappointment get in your way. Sir Roger always surged on regardless.’

‘I’d be interested to hear more about him, Mr Oxley. If you and I are to travel in the mail coach together, the time would pass more quickly if we had a civilised conversation for once.’

‘That won’t be possible, I fear.’

‘Why not – you are travelling to London, I presume?’

‘Indeed, I am, Mr Skillen.’

‘Are we simply going to glare at each other in silence?’

‘I think you’ll find that that would be quite impossible,’ said Oxley with a laugh. ‘By the time the mail coach departs, I will be well ahead of you on the road.’ He looked up as he heard the clatter of hooves and the noise of wheels on the cobbles outside. ‘It sounds as if my transport has just arrived.’ He clicked his fingers and the servant picked up the luggage again. ‘Goodbye, Mr Skillen. I doubt very much that we shall meet again. I’m going to London to arrange, amongst other things, for the return of Sir Roger’s body. You, meanwhile, I predict, will be chasing your own tail and getting nowhere.’

Oxley gave him a farewell wave and went breezily out through the door with his luggage following him. Peter was on his feet at once, crossing to the window to peer out. A coach was waiting to take a new passenger aboard. When its door opened, Peter saw that Oxley wouldn’t be travelling alone. Beckoning him to climb into the vehicle was the new head of the family – Edmund Mellanby.

The assassin was pulsing with rage. He’d just had the narrowest of escapes from death. Instead of being paid for the murder he’d committed, he’d been destined to join his victim in the grave. Survival was now his priority. Since he couldn’t actually see anyone about to launch a second attack, he ran quickly away from the trees and mingled with the crowd. He was safe there. He’d taken risks to earn his reward yet, the moment it was dangled in front of him, it was replaced by a murderous bullet. It meant that he was expendable.