Page 103 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
Accompanied by Louisa, Edith walked to the rear of the shop and opened the door to the backroom to find a woman she recognized seated at Mrs. Thorne’s desk.
“Mrs. Stafford!”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Nathaniel had verylittle rest that night. Not because of melancholia or nightmares; he was simply too keyed up to sleep. He gave up in the early hours of the morning, turned up his lamp, and picked up a book. After an hour of reading, he put down the book, donned his robe, and walked to his bedchamber window. Outside, the sky displayed pink ribbons over the buildings surrounding his home, announcing the sunrise.
He imagined his valet might be awake but was loathe to ring for him so early. A chambermaid entered silently to light a fire and nearly fell into the hearth when she noticed him sitting quietly on a nearby chair.
“I’m ever so sorry, my lord.”
“Good morning.”
The maid hurried away, and soon after, his valet made an appearance.
“You’re up early, my lord.”
“I have a busy day.”
Once Nathaniel was dressed, his valet left the bedchamber to fetch a breakfast tray. His disguise, black livery, would be donned at Cecil’s abode. He ate breakfast as the sun rose past the horizon before ordering his town coach.
The viscount’s elderly butler, Dawkins, conducted Nathaniel to the drawing room at number four Curzon Street, where he found Cecil sipping a cup of coffee, looking as calm as the streets of Town so early in the morning.
“Your livery is just there.” Cecil nodded to a pile of clothing on a stuffed chair. He also wore black.
“I’ll go upstairs.” When Nathaniel had changed, he came back downstairs, pleasantly surprised at the excellent fit of the clothing.
“Ithoughtyou were the same size as Dawkins.” Cecil raised his cup. “Coffee? Tea?”
He shook his head. “Bones?”
“He awaits us in the mews.” Cecil put down his coffee cup and looked at his pocket watch. “We’re on schedule. Do you think the ladies will be ready to depart?”
“I do. Shall we go?”
Bones was seated on the box of the carriage. He would drive the coach until they reached the edge of the Woolwich docks.
