Page 68 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
“Do you have any observations, my lord?” Black Jack raised a brow.
“Other than a bloody candlestick and a French door left ajar? No, I don’t. I’ll leave you to it.” He crossed the room to the French doors.
“Where are you going?”
“The mews. My carriage awaits.”
Nathaniel slipped out of the door, crossed the terrace, and took the three steps down to the gravel path that led to the iron garden gate. His coach was indeed waiting for him, his driver on the box.
“Did you see anyone leave the house?” he asked the man.
“I heard the screams, my lord, but nobody came through here. I would have seen them.”
The driver’s answer was what he’d expected. The man was in a position to see anyone entering or leaving the mews.
“Home, David.”
Once he entered his carriage and it rolled away, a suspicion began forming into a solid theory. Whoever had killed the maid was either a servant or someone hiding in the house. His coin was on the murderer being another servant.
Upon arriving home, he sent dispatches to Ashford and Cecil. He couldn’t think of an excuse to investigate further in Lady Sandhurst’s house, and he had no desire to turn the scrap of vellum over to Black Jack. Who knew how many runners might be employed by the RA?
Nathaniel was relieved to have a quiet night at home as Alicia had gone to the theater with Lady Kettering. So much had occurred in the last week. Threads were leading everywhere. What events were connected to the disappearance of the veterans? He needed time to think.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Edith laughed softly. “You don’t really believe Lord Harbury was a spy during the war?”
“All I know is that Charlotte told me that of the three men, Ashford swears Nathaniel was most often in harm’s way.” Louisa shrugged.
“Hmmm.”
“You think Charlotte is trying to embellish the baron’s accomplishments.” Louisa tutted. “Perhaps to sway you away from Lord Cecil.”
“Why would Charlotte do that?”
“Like me, she believes the baron might be enamored of you, Edith.”
