Page 56 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
“It doesn’t mean the RA has shut us down forever,” Ashford replied. “We don’t want to put any more of our veterans in danger of being kidnapped.”
Nathaniel rose to his feet. “If there’s nothing else, my next order of business will be to seek an appointment with Lady Sandhurst.”
Ashford also stood up. “Charlotte wants me to stop hovering over her, so I will go to the registry office and check on Porter and Taylor. Diana can visit Mrs. Stafford.”
“Mr. Bones is roaming London, hoping to pick up any intelligence on our missing veterans.” Cecil let out a long breath. “Are you going to tell your employees that we now have three missing veterans?”
Ashford nodded. “They deserve to know what is going on. I trust them, after all.”
Chapter Twenty
As they were all recoveringfrom stomach ailments, Edith, her father, and Louisa would stay home that evening. Edith opted for a tray in her room for supper, requesting broth, dry toast, and tea.
While Edith ate, her father visited her bedchamber to see how she fared. It was the perfect opportunity for her to ask him about Lady Sandhurst.
“How are you, my dear?”
“Much better, Father,” she replied truthfully. “And you?”
He took a seat on the stuffed chair next to her bed. “I didn’t eat much at the card party, so the effects were not so severe. I have to be careful at my age.”
She grinned. “You’re going to live forever.”
“I’m not sure I would want to.”
Sobering, she said, “Father, I don’t believe you’ve been telling me the truth about your recent evening activities.”
There was a long pause. “I didn’t want to lie to you. We are very close daughter, but my private life is my business.”
“It is. I respect that, but please don’t lie to me. Are you enamored of Lady Sandhurst?” She reached up to touch her earlobe and remembered she wasn’t wearing earbobs.
“I enjoy the lady’s company, and she enjoys mine. We have similar interests, and it is nice to have the companionship of a woman my age. I have been alone a long time.”
“Are you in love with her?” she asked, looking down at the tray on her lap.
He replied softly, “I think I’m on the way to it.”
