Page 104 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
“Bones.” He nodded to the man.
“My lord.”
When they arrived at Lord Essex’s townhouse in Hanover Square, Bones vaulted from the box and went inside. A few moments later, he could see from the window of the coach Lady Edith, and someone he supposed was Lady Louisa, following Bones from the house.
Once the ladies were settled across from him and Cecil, the coach rolled forward.
“Lady Louisa?” he squinted at the young woman.
The lady’s hair was stuffed beneath a mob cap and she wore a maid’s dress that was well-worn but clean. Her black shoes were serviceable, just.
“My lord?” The girl looked up at him, her eyes welling with tears. “My name is Mary Wilson, sibling of Seaman Thomas Wilson. His wife is with child, and I must find my brother.”
He grinned and raised a staying hand. “You’ve convinced me.” He looked at her companion. “Good morning.”
Edith smiled shyly, and he returned her smile, feeling his heart thumping in his chest. “Good morning. We have news. Our veterans are most definitely on theCeres.”
* * * * *
Edith recounted hermeeting with Mrs. Stafford the day before.
“Mrs. Stafford!” Edith had glanced at Louisa, who looked as surprised as she was.
The woman remained seated. She looked tired and a bit bedraggled. “My real name is Mrs. Bailey. Emma Bailey. My husband was indeed a veteran, but little else you know about me is the truth.”
Edith hurried forward to stand in front of the desk. “Where have you been?”
“Hiding.” Mrs. Bailey took a sip from a teacup at her elbow and grimaced. “That young man did his best to make a cup of tea. I’ve been going from place to place in London, trying to stay one step ahead of the RA.”
Louisa sat on a nearby hard-backed chair and asked, “Why did you lie about who you are and where you lived?”
“I thought the RA merely wanted to damage Lord Harbury and Lord Ashford’s reputations. James Fleet recognized me, you see. Well, not me, but my wedding ring. He was there with my husband at the port in Scotland when my husband bought the ring.” She shuddered. “Once I told my manager that Fleet recognized me, they snatched him. The other two men were decoys. My manager said he seized the veteran who was to work for Lord Sidmouth to distract Lord Wycliffe.”
She frowned. “And the tainted food?”
“My manager wanted the camphor to be given only to Lord Harbury. I told the maid to put it in the green beans but only gave her half the dose. She was killed because I didn’t give her the full amount of camphor. By sparing Lord Harbury- I didn’t think they would kill the maid. After the murder, I knew I had to disappear.”
“Lord Harbury was supposed to die?” she asked, mouth agape.
“My manager said no, but that much camphor would have killed the baron. I don’t know who my manager is, but he told me he follows orders from the RA as he sees fit.” The woman took another sip of the tea.
Edith sat on the remaining chair in the room, a rickety stool. “Why did you want to help the RA hurt Lord Harbury?”
“My husband died on the HMSSt. George. So many men died. Just casualties of war, everyone tells you. My manager said the baron didn’t care about those men. He came home and lived as he had before the wars, wealthy and privileged.” She paused to release a shaky breath. “Then I saw that Lord Harbury truly cares about the veterans and wants to help them and their families. By then, I didn’t know how to get myself out of the mess I’d made.”
Edith let out a shaky breath. “You should have told Lord Harbury. He and Lord Ashford will protect you.”
Mrs. Bailey shook her head sadly. “No one can protect me, my lady. All I can do now is help you find the missing men. They’re in Woolwich, my lady. On a prison hulk.”
“TheCeres?” Edith asked excitedly.
“Yes, that’s the ship. How did you know?”
She glanced at Louisa. “We’ve been investigating what could have happened to those men. A prison hulk was our last chance to find them.”
“And Lord Harbury and Lord Wycliffe will rescue the men?” She paused. "I was relieved Lord Ashford departed for the country, as Lady Charlotte is with child. You have to believe that I had nothing to do with the RA kidnapping a man with a babe on the way.”
“I believe you. If you come with us now, we will get you to safety.” She didn’t know what that would mean, but Lord Wycliffe and Lord Harbury could surely protect the woman.
