Page 31 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
“Please have a seat, my lords.”
He settled on a not uncomfortable stuffed chair while Ashford perched on a hard-backed chair.
“I assume you’re here about my son-in-law?” the older woman asked matter of factly, without emotion.
“We’re here to speak with Mrs. Davidson.” The older woman winced at the name as Nathaniel turned his attention to the other woman in the room.
“I’m Mrs. Davidson,” the younger woman said softly. Her eyes were red as if she’d been crying, a handkerchief clutched in one hand.
“You had one of your sons report your husband as missing,” Ashford replied gently.
“I sent William to the runners.” She glanced nervously at her mother. “Henry would never have disappeared. He loved his family too much.”
“Are your sons at home?” Ashford asked.
“They’re in school.” She leaned forward, and her voice broke as she said, “My mother thinks Henry left us or went on a bender. He didn’t. He wouldn’t.”
There was a short silence in the room.
The older woman sighed. “What other explanation can there be, my dear?”
The tea tray arrived, and both men accepted a teacup of the brew, his with sugar. Ashford took his black. He thought it was strange to sit and sip tea calmly while interviewing a distraught wife about her missing husband.
After the maid departed, Nathaniel asked, “When did you last see your husband, Mrs. Davidson?”
“Saturday morning. He went along to the new position he was assigned to by your registry office. My Henry was always good with horses, mind, and was to work in the mews of Lord Norwich himself.”
The young woman took a sip of her tea, the hand that held her cup visibly shaking. He’d already sampled his own tea and found it surprisingly good. He nodded at Mrs. Davidson to encourage her to continue. “Did he leave home on foot?”
“Yes, my lord. He never made it to Hanover Square. His lordship’s man of business came around looking for my husband the next day, Saturday afternoon. Said he never showed up for work.” The woman bit her lip, blinking rapidly.
He wasn’t good with tears. Heavens, he wished he’d had the foresight to bring Lady Edith to this interview.
Ashford replied, “You didn’t think to talk to anyone at the registry office?”
“I wasn’t sure what I should do, my lord. My son said the runner he spoke to knew an owner of the registry, someone named Lord Harbury. I guess that’s you, my lord. Said as how you would make sure anything they could do was being done.”
“Very good. The runner spoke correctly.” He nodded. “Did your husband take any extra clothing with him that morning? Did he seem unwell or as if something was bothering him?”
“Not at all! He was happy about working with horses again.” She stopped speaking, took a deep breath, and continued, “We were looking forward to having our own house again. My husband worked as a groom before the war and hoped to be a head groom someday.”
“Is there anything else you can tell us that might help to find your husband?” He added hastily, “Information that we could pass on to the authorities.”
Mrs. Davidson shook her head, wiping a tear from her cheek with the handkerchief. “I’m sorry, Lord Harbury. My husband is gone, and I have no idea how or why.”
He took a few more sips of tea. Ashford nodded toward the door, and both men got to their feet, placing their teacups on the table in the center of the room.
“We won’t take up any more of your time, ladies.” He pulled a registry card out of the inside pocket of his jacket. “If you think of anything else pertinent, Mrs. Davidson, please do not hesitate to bring it to our attention. We will do everything we can to see your husband returned to you.”
Mrs. Davidson got to her feet. “Thank you, my lord. I’ll see you to the door.”
As they made to leave the house, the woman said in a voice trembling with emotion, “My parents didn’t approve of my marriage. My mother thinks she finally frightened Henry away. No matter what anyone says, Henry would never leave us of his own volition.”
He replied kindly, “I believe you, Mrs. Davidson. If we hear any news about your husband, I will contact you immediately.”
Once they were back in the carriage, a light rain began to fall. Ashford sighed. “Let us search out Cecil before we interview Lord Norwich.”
He let out a whistle. “I’m surprised the earl used the registry. Perhaps he doesn’t know I’m involved in the enterprise.”
