Page 14 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
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Nathaniel still hadn’tthought of an occupation to keep Alicia busy when his sister entered the drawing room that evening. He’d spent the afternoon at the fencing academy, returning home just in time to dress for dinner.
“Brother! I have the best news!” Alicia dropped onto a plush chair, her golden-brown curls bouncing with the movement.
Standing next to the oval tole drinks tray on a low mahogany dresser, he gave her his full attention, having decided against pouring himself a glass of port. “Do tell, dear sister.”
“Lady Edith sent a missive this afternoon asking me to volunteer with her at the registry office. I’m to work with her particularly.” She beamed at him.
“That is good to hear.” If Alicia was to work with Edith specifically, he knew there was more to the story.
She clapped her hands. “I will volunteer Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Isn’t it wonderful?”
He nodded in relief. Alicia sported the same hazel eyes as himself, and her pupils often changed color as his were wont to do. As she was excited, her eyes were light green this evening. If Alicia was happy, he was happy. Or at least close to it.
The dinner gong sounded. Nathaniel strode forward and took his sister’s arm to lead her into the dining room.
“You will be a great addition to the registry.” The next time he saw Lady Edith, he would thank her for finding a position at the registry for his sister.
Alicia was his only sibling. Having lost their parents a few months apart due to illness, they were without family except for two maiden aunts who resided in the countryside.
Nathaniel had joined the navy like his father and grandfather before him. “Good thing I don’t get seasick,” he often joked. “I felt as if I had no choice but to be a sailor.”
Being away at sea for so many years, he didn’t know his sister well, but he’d noticed a change in her the year she lived with their aunts before he left the navy to take over her guardianship.
When he returned to England, his sister spoke quite a bit more than he remembered. Strangely enough, Alicia herself had given him an idea as to why she’d become a chatterbox.
“Thank goodness you have returned from the continent.” She sighed deeply when his carriage departed Hampshire, where their aunts resided together in a cottage. “To live with women who rarely speak. They nearly drove me mad.”
It was as good an explanation as any as to why his sister appeared compelled to fill every silence with conversation. Now if only she could find a way to moderate her impulse to do so.
Chapter Seven
That Wednesday, Editharrived at the registry office a few minutes before noon. As she entered the building, she spied Miss Tilford and her brother standing to one side of the lobby.
“Edith!” Alicia waved to her.
