Page 89 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
Louisa asked, “You believe Wilson’s disappearance is a red herring?”
Edith nodded. “It is possible. Perhaps only one of the veterans was the real target.”
“That is an excellent hypothesis,” he replied.
“How much do we know about the other two veterans?” Alicia asked.
He replied, “James Fleet has no known family. He lived in a boarding house. Henry Davidson lived in Cheapside with his wife, children, and in-laws. Both men are navy veterans accustomed to working with horses.”
“How much do you know about your employees?” Louisa asked Nathaniel.
He replied, “Diana put an advertisement inThe Timesand was inundated with people who wanted to work at the registry. I know Taylor and vouched for him. Porter and Mrs. Stafford were granted interviews, and Diana hired them. Cecil looked into their backgrounds for us.”
Cecil nodded. “I found nothing unpleasant attached to any of them.”
“Mrs. Stafford is a wonder with the veterans,” Alicia chimed in.
“Yet the snuff box was found in the registry office.” Edith took a sip of tea.
“We’re assuming it was lost by a veteran,” Louisa replied.
He smiled grimly. “To assume anything could be a mistake.”
“So we don’t trust anyone.” Cecil added, “I’m sure Bones can get Porter and Taylor out of the registry long enough for Nathaniel and me to search their quarters.”
Edith gasped.
“It has to be done.” He didn’t like it either.
“Louisa and I will visit Mrs. Stafford.” Edith looked at her friend, who nodded in agreement. “We can talk to her about her past, family, and interests. Perhaps she will give something away if she’s involved in any of this.”
“What about me?” Alicia asked in a small voice.
He was already regretting having so many people know about their investigation. Nothing could be done now. At least Ashford, Charlotte, and Diana were not involved at present.
“Don’t you have plans tomorrow with Lady Kettering?” he asked hopefully.
“Well, yes. She has invited me and several other ladies for tea.”
He thought quickly. “Excellent! You will be perfectly placed to hear the latest gossip in Town. Who knows what morsel of information you might hear.”
“I didn’t think of that.” Alicia nodded and smiled, looking content.
He breathed an inward sigh of relief.
“We all have our marching orders for the morrow,” Cecil commented. “Diana being absent from London may be fortuitous. Mrs. Stafford might be easier to speak with if she doesn’t feel you ladies are there to discuss her work. We all should go about our daily lives and remain calm, and after tomorrow’s activities, we will meet at Thorne’s at three o’clock.”
The party broke up soon after. Nathaniel observed that Edith barely noticed Cecil's presence. He took that as proof that she wasn’t in love with the viscount.
His inner voice said he knew no such thing, but he chose to ignore it.
