Page 58 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
“No, it’s not such a bad thing.”
“To distract you, we should work out where our missing veterans have gone.” Louisa closed the magazine and placed it on the bed beside her.
She frowned. “I thought you believed the disappearances were all a misunderstanding?”
“Three veterans the registry placed are missing. That is not a coincidence.”
“Louisa! We’re not the runners.”
The other girl replied, “No, but we’re intelligent and resourceful.”
“True.” Edith continued, “The men wouldn’t have been kidnapped for ransom as they have no fortune. Perhaps the abductions are meant to harm the registry and, by extension, Ashford and Lord Harbury.”
“You believe the RA could be behind the disappearances?” Louisa asked.
She nodded. “It’s a possibility.”
“If we could discover where the missing veterans are, we might be able to determine who abducted them.”
“The men could have been kidnapped by a press gang. From what I’ve read, I understand that it is estimated our Navy was three-quarters pressganged by the time of Waterloo.”
Louisa gasped. “Oh my goodness!”
“I believe the practice has tapered off, but it could explain the disappearance of our veterans. We could mention press gangs to Lord Harbury as he is a Navy veteran. Have you heard of Resurrection Men?”
Louisa’s face turned pale. “The gravediggers who steal bodies?”
“Yes. Perhaps the gravediggers have taken to snatching people that are still alive.”
“And then murdering them? Edith!” Louisa had gone pale.
“I know it’s an unsavory thought, but there are stories about people being murdered and then sold to any one of the teaching hospitals.”
Louisa shuddered. “I don’t think that is a theory we can explore. Or one you should discuss with Ashford or Lord Harbury.”
“Lord Harbury would not be shocked if I spoke with him about Resurrection Men.” She raised her chin. “He values my input on this matter.”
“We don’t know anyone in the medical profession,” Louisa pointed out.
“No, we do not.” Edith thought a moment. “Another possibility could be the men were transported. Although England has stopped transporting convicts to America, they are still transported to New South Wales. I’ve read that some of the landowners who have sheep stations request more and more convicts. What if we’re not sending enough low-cost labor, and the shipping companies hired to transport our convicts have started kidnapping innocent men?”
“If that is the case, our veterans might still be alive.”
Both women were silent for several moments. It was the first time Edith had thought about the possibility of the missing men being dead.
She finally said, “The RA has used brutal methods before. We have to hope they haven’t hurt them.”
“It’s a shame the registry office is closed," Louisa replied. "There might be a clue there that has been overlooked.”
“I know how we can get into the registry office. I will say I left something in the office. Or I think I did.” She smiled softly. “Taylor and Porter would never turn us away.”
* * * * *
Nathaniel returnedhome and subsequently sent a missive to Lady Sandhurst asking after her health and expressing a desire to be of assistance. He would be content to let Ashford write to Edith as he could not and did not wish to alarm his sister by asking her to do so. It was bad enough that he would have to tell hersomethingabout what was going on.
A footman found him in his study, a silver salver with a letter on it in hand. The note was from Commander Phelps. He would see Nathaniel at his convenience.
He took his coach straightaway to the southern bank of the Thames between that river and Greenwich Park, his destination Greenwich Hospital, the permanent home for retired sailors.
