Page 62 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
Charlotte nodded. “Ashford told me about the three men. All of them are veterans of the Navy and were hired to work with horses.”
“Edith has a few theories,” Louisa replied.
She replied to Charlotte’s questioning look. “Press gangs or transportation.”
“Oh my goodness!” Charlotte’s eyes widened.
Edith continued, “Although press gangs probably wouldn’t be used as often now that the wars are over, it is a line of inquiry Lord Harbury could easily explore having been in the Navy.”
Louisa nudged Charlotte. “Can you believe Edith accompanied Lord Harbury to interview the wife of one of the missing men?”
“Did you really!?” Charlotte gaped at her.
Edith felt heat on her cheeks. “My maid was our chaperone. The baron was sure having a woman along when he interviewed Seaman Wilson’s wife would be helpful. I agreed.”
Charlotte tapped the side of her nose with a gloved finger. “How very thoughtful of Lord Harbury.”
Louisa added coyly, “The baron is very considerate of our Edith and listens to her ideas.”
She shrugged. “Lord Harbury has become a sort of friend.”
Charlotte replied, “Let us speak of the veterans; I’m sure Edith needs a respite from our teasing. Why did you think of transportation regarding the missing men?”
“I read an article inThe Timesabout the great landowners in New South Wales. They cultivate crops and raise flocks of sheep, and the men who own these farms prefer convict workers. They don’t pay the men a wage but provide them with food and a roof over their heads. Transportation provides the landowners with inexpensive labor.”
“Transportation is a good theory.” Charlotte added softly, “If true, our veterans would still be alive.”
The women were silent for several moments.
“I am going to visit the registry office on the pretext that I’m there to look for my earbob.” She looked at her friends. “Would either of you care to accompany me?”
“I’ll go with you.” Louisa leaned toward Charlotte to whisper, “She’s going to look for clues that might help locate our veterans.”
Charlotte got to her feet. “If Louisa and I both come along, we can distract Porter and Taylor if necessary.”
When the women reached the registry office, Edith removed her earbobs and knocked at the door. A few minutes later, Mr. Porter unlocked the door and peered out. “Lady Edith! You do know we’re closed?”
“Oh yes, Mr. Porter! I was down the street with my friends and remembered that I was missing an earbob. The last time I remember having it was when I came into volunteer last.”
The veteran stood back to allow the women to enter the lobby. “I’ll just go upstairs and tell Taylor who was at the door. I can assist you in searching for the earbob if you like.”
She waved a hand. “I wouldn’t want to trouble you. We will only be a few minutes.” As the man made his way up the staircase, Edith said loudly, “Now remember, the earbob is a simple gold leaf with a pearl at the tip.”
“I’ll search the kitchen,” Louisa replied.
Charlotte walked to the bookcase. “I’ll search the lobby.”
Edith entered the backroom and noted that the floor was swept clean. There was nothing amiss in the drawers of the desk or the armoire. When she returned to the lobby, she found Charlotte sitting on a chair, looking rather pale. The other male employee, Porter, stood nearby looking concerned as Louisa plied her friend with a glass of water.
“Are you okay, Charlotte?”
“I’m just a bit tired. I should return home and rest. Did you find your earbob, Edith?”
Edith pulled out one of the earrings she'd removed earlier from her pocket. “It was in one of the desk drawers in the backroom. Perhaps someone found it and put it there for safekeeping.”
“I’m glad you found your jewelry, Lady Edith. Is there something I might do to help you, Lady Charlotte?” Porter rubbed his hands together nervously.
Charlotte smiled weakly at the man. “I merely need to get home and rest. Thank you, Mr. Porter.”
