Page 42 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
Edith opened the door to the room to find a seated Mrs. Stafford weeping while Alicia stood over her awkwardly patting her back.
“Whatever is the matter?” Edith asked.
“One of our veterans has gone missing,” Alicia replied quietly.
“Oh heavens!” She wondered if there was a third disappearance or if the staff had finally heard about the first one.
“The Bow Street Runners informed us a few minutes ago,” Mrs. Stafford said with a shudder. “The poor man!”
“Did you know him well?” she asked gently.
The woman shook her head. “No.” She took a deep breath. “All of our veterans are important to me. I’m worried the registry office will have to close.”
“I’m sure Lord Harbury and Lord Ashford will sort the matter out,” she replied softly.
The baron entered the room.
“I see you’ve heard the news,” Lord Harbury said to her. “One of our veterans was reported missing today. Mr. Porter told me the man’s wife is with child. I dearly hope we can help her find her husband.”
“With child?” Mrs. Stafford started violently and went pale. “Oh my goodness! How very sad.”
Edith remained silent. Neither of the other two missing veterans had a pregnant wife so there were now three missing men. She supposed there was no reason anyone else had to know about the other men unless Lord Harbury or Ashford informed them.
The baron cleared his throat. “The registry office will be closed until further notice. We should get you home, Mrs. Stafford. We all have had quite a shock.”
“Thank you, Lord Harbury.” The woman rose to her feet, dabbing at her eyes with a piece of linen.
The baron asked, “Alicia, would you see Mrs. Stafford home? I need to make some inquiries at the Bow Street Magistrates' Court.”
“Lady Edith?” Alicia looked at her.
“I would like to stay and work on the files. Hopefully, the missing veteran will be located, and we can reopen soon.”
After Alicia left with her charge, Edith asked her maid to sit in the lobby while she spoke with Lord Harbury in the backroom with the door open. Porter and Taylor had gone upstairs.
“The runners asked some rather pointed questions of our employees,” the baron said in a low voice after she returned to the backroom.
“Did they?”
“The officers wanted to know if anyone who works at the registry is involved with a gang of kidnappers.”
“Whatever can the runners be thinking?” She paused a moment, silently hoping the registry employees weren’t involved in anything nefarious. “That is ridiculous.”
“The two officers they sent were discreet,” Lord Harbury replied. “They conducted their interviews in this office in my presence. I would never let them browbeat our employees.”
“Just so. Did the officers ask after one of the other two men who disappeared?”
He handed her a card. “Only about this third disappearance. I gave the information we have on the third missing man to the runners and wrote a copy for myself.”
She looked over the card. “Married. And with a child on the way.”
“Seaman Thomas Wilson lives on Monmouth Street, is also a Navy veteran, and was hired to work with horses.”
“Are you going to speak with his wife?”
He replied, “I thought perhaps you could accompany me. Having another woman present while I interview Mrs. Wilson might go a long way in helping the lady feel more comfortable.”
“How perceptive of you to think of such a thing.” She nodded. “I should be glad to help. My maid shall accompany us in the carriage.”
