Page 80 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
Charlotte leaned forward in her seat, extending a plate of sandwiches. “Lady Sandhurst’s scullery maid. It seems Lord Harbury was in the house when the murder occurred.”
“Lord Harbury?!” She reached a hand to her earlobe, then dropped it. “My goodness!”
“He came to no harm,” Charlotte assured her.
Louisa did not comment on the murder but said, “We are to meet with the baron this afternoon at Kensington Gardens. Were you and Ashford invited?”
“My husband informed Nathaniel and Cecil that we are leaving town in the morning and will not investigate further.” Charlotte paused. “If I weren’t with child, I would stay. My main concern is keeping the babe safe. The missing veterans are important to me, but I trust Nathaniel and Cecil to find them.”
Edith replied, “Oh yes! You must take care of yourself and the child. We will miss you, of course.”
Louisa asked, “What happened to the snuff box?”
Charlotte replied, “Ashford gave it to Cecil.”
Edith had been worrying about Lord Harbury, or she would have remembered to ask about the snuff box. Another thought came to mind. “Louisa told me that Lord Harbury had a rather adventurous career while serving in the navy.”
“I’m not sure I would call it adventurous.” Charlotte shook her head. “Therewasthe suicide of a man Nathaniel was investigating for espionage.”
“Oh goodness! Was the man truly a spy?” she asked.
“Ashford told me the Navy covered up the incident. He only knows the little he does from Nathaniel, but Lt. Cooper was indeed a spy. He drowned after jumping into the water from the HMSCressy, and his father blames the baron. Soon after, Nathaniel’s former ship, the HMSSt. George, sank with few survivors.”
“That must be why he often seems melancholy.” She paused to look at her friends. “He hides it well behind his smile, but I can tell he is occasionally sad.”
“Ashford has tried to talk to him about his melancholia, but the baron insists he’s fine.” Charlotte took a sip of her tea.
“It is hard to understand what he went through,” she replied. “We have none of us experienced such a serious loss.”
“You lost your mother,” Louisa pointed out.
“It was so long ago, Louisa. The difference is I don’t blame myself for my mother’s death. Lord Harbury must feel some guilt to be so unhappy.”
They were silent a moment.
“We should be trying to cheer Charlotte up.” Louisa added softly, “We will miss you terribly, you know.”
Charlotte’s smile was bright, if a bit forced. “You both must come visit us in the country and soon. Do try and keep me updated on what is happening with your investigation, and do not put yourselves in danger.”
“Don’t worry about us. I’m sure Lord Harbury won’t let us get into too much trouble,” Louisa replied with a wink. “He will surely want to keep Edith safe.”
* * * * *
Before he departedfor Kensington Gardens, Nathaniel looked in at the Bow Street Runner headquarters to give his statement regarding the murder the day before. He wasn’t surprised when the clerk who had taken down his account of what happened at Lady Sandhurst’s townhouse exited the room, and Black Jack entered.
“Harbury!”
“Black Jack.”
The runner sat down and looked over Nathaniel’s statement. He nodded several times. Without looking up, he asked, “Do you have any theories?”
“The killer was someone in the house. My driver said no one exited the house and went through the mews. Unless the body was there for some time.”
Jack looked up. “The maid was killed only a few minutes after you arrived at the house. The cook remembers seeing Agnes in the scullery when you arrived.” He frowned. “There was no reason for the young woman to be in the music room.”
“Perhaps she was lured there.”
“Do you have any evidence to support that theory?” Jack asked, staring at him intently.
