Page 84 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
He did smile for a moment. “That is wonderful to hear, my dear. Do send my best wishes to the couple when next you write to your friend.”
“I will, Father. Now may I look at the news sheets?”
Her father pointed to a mound of newspapers on the corner of his large mahogany desk. “Those are today’s papers.”
Edith picked up the stack and left the room. When she entered her bedchamber, she dropped the papers onto her bed.
A thought had sprung to mind when she was in her father’s study. All of the chaos that was going on may not have a meaning. Perhaps certain events had occurred to distract them from the primary target: the missing veterans.
What if the registry wasn’t the target? What if the missing veterans were? What was so important about those specific veterans?
She sat on her bed and looked through the papers, hoping to find a kernel of something to share with Lord Harbury. He valued her assistance, and she didn’t want to disappoint him.
It had nothing to do with how lovely it had been to walk with him today.
* * * * *
When Nathaniel returnedhome, he found his sister in the music room, practicing her scales.
“Lady Edith has inspired me to become more proficient on the pianoforte,” she told him with a grin.
“As an addition to your lovely singing voice? Society, take care!” He eased himself onto a stuffed chair and told her about his plan for a supper party.
“A party. How wonderful!” Alicia clapped her hands.
“I know it is short notice. Mind you, it will be a small party as Lord and Lady Ashford are leaving for the countryside in the morning.”
Alicia sighed. “I will miss Charlotte. She is such a sweet person. I am going to make a gift for the baby. Perhaps a christening gown.”
He didn’t comment, knowing his sister was not particularly skilled at needlework.
A discreet knock at the door heralded the arrival of Binns. “Are you at home for callers, my lord? There is a Lady Diana Grey that wishes to speak with you.
“Lady Diana? Do send her in.” He glanced at Alicia, who looked as surprised as he felt by the announcement.
“Yes, my lord.”
Nathaniel rose to his feet when the lady entered the music room.
“I hope I haven’t come at an inconvenient time?” Diana asked as she took a seat on a nearby settee. “I have something important to discuss with you, Lord Harbury.”
“Nathaniel?” Alicia asked.
Diana answered before he could speak, “Please stay, Miss Tilford. You can be our chaperone, as it were.”
“Refreshment, Lady Diana?” his sister asked, moving from the pianoforte bench to sit on a stuffed chair near the other lady.
“No, thank you. I am leaving Town for a short while to see Charlotte settled at the estate in Kent.” She smiled. “Ashford would like me to believe it was my idea, so I will let him think he manipulated me into going. He wants Charlotte and myself safe and well away from the investigation of our missing veterans. Not to mention the murder of Lady Sandhurst’s scullery maid.”
He nodded in reply. “Ashford did express to me a desire to keep you both clear of the investigation.”
“Nathaniel, we have been acquainted for several years. You may have often been away at sea, but we have come to know each other a bit through your friendship with my brother, have we not?”
He nodded. “I would agree, my lady.”
Lady Diana tilted her head and stared at him intently. “Before I leave London, I wanted to give you some advice: Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”
“Pardon?” He blinked.
