Page 63 of Lady Charlotte and the Lending Library
When her mother was gone, she felt a twinge of guilt for her duplicity. She reasoned that guarding her parents from the unpleasant events in Town was surely excuse enough for the deception.
* * * * *
Ashford spent the next day impatiently waiting for news of Landry. Cecil had informed him several runners were scouring London for the cit.
That afternoon he received a note from his friend.
Landry is at his office currently being interviewed by the constabulary. I will send an update when further details are known.
Ashford was relieved to receive no correspondence from Robbie notifying him of any problems at Thorne’s.
Despite taking chances with her safety in the past, Ashford trusted Charlotte and her friends to stay away from the library until he notified William it was safe to return. If he would allow himself to think on it, he knew in his heart that Charlotte was not a reckless young woman. If she was guilty of anything, it was caring too much about others.
An hour later, when Ashford was comfortably seated in a leather chair in his study, a footman announced the viscount.
“Have a seat,” Ashford said to Cecil with a wave. He’d given up trying to concentrate on correspondence and letters of business. Too often, thoughts of Lady Charlotte prevented him from getting any work done. Holding up his glass of port, he asked, “Would you care for one?”
Cecil shook his head and slumped onto a matching leather armchair. “Mr. Bones spent most of the morning outside the magistrate’s court in Bow Street. The runners are done interviewing Landry.”
He nodded. “What did they find out?”
“The man has an alibi. He was at a rout last night and then with his mistress until morning.” Cecil shrugged. “Several people will verify he attended the rout. His mistress and her maid verify the rest.”
Ashford sprang to his feet. “Of course! He has enough money to buy several alibis. It is as we expected. I must act before Landry decides to take further action against the lending library.”
“I agree.” Cecil rose from his chair. “What next?”
“We beard the lion in his den.” Ashford ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve had enough of the man. He may well get away with murder, but right now there is nothing we can do about that.”
Cecil nodded. “I came here in my plain town carriage. Let us collect Nathaniel and be on our way.”
“Excellent,” he replied. “There is enough gossip about James Landry at present. I can’t escape my part in it, but I’d rather not advertise the fact we’re looking for the man.”
The black coach was waiting outside Ashford’s townhouse. The day was bright and warm, incongruous weather for their grim mission.
Nathaniel’s abode was across the square from Ashford’s. The baron was at home, more than ready to accompany his friends. “My sister has visited Thorne’s several times. It pains me to think she or her friends could have been hurt by Landry’s tricks.”
The carriage ride to Cheapside in the afternoon traffic would take more than an hour, possibly two. Plenty of time for Ashford to tell Cecil about his and Nathaniel’s purchase of land in Berkeley Square. He settled back against the squabs in the carriage, steeled for whatever happened next.
Chapter Twenty
Cecil’s coach halted in front of the offices of Mr. James Landry, grocer.
Ashford led the way into the building. This time, the clerk steered the peers to Landry’s office without prevarication.
Landry slowly got to his feet and waved his clerk away. “Come in, gentlemen. I’m assuming this is not a social visit.”
“No, it most certainly is not,” Ashford replied curtly. “My friends and I will not be taking seats.”
“As you wish,” the other man responded, his countenance unruffled. Landry retook his seat behind the large oak desk. “I myself prefer to be comfortable.”
The cit sat down, a faint smile on his lips. The clerk had gone, shutting the door to the room behind him.
“Thorne’s Lending Library is no longer your concern,” Ashford said gravely. “If you make any further attempts to damage the business, my partner,” he waved at Nathaniel, “and I will bring you up on charges of harassment.”
“And who is this partner of yours?” Landry asked lazily, eyeing Nathaniel.
“Baron Harbury, a well-respected former naval officer. He and I now own the land Thorne’s Lending Library sits on. We own most of the street.”
