Page 88 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
Cecil joined them. “Good evening, ladies. You look quite lovely this evening.”
Nathaniel observed Edith as she replied to the viscount. She was polite but nothing more. He felt his hopes rise further. The lady did not appear as in awe of the viscount as before. Louisa was civil, as the lady and Cecil had never warmed to each other.
“Refreshments?”
Both of the women shook their heads. “No, thank you.”
He wondered if it was too early in the evening to bring up the subject of the missing veterans.
“Have you any news?” Edith asked, her gaze flitting between him and Cecil.
“There are no new developments.” He glanced at Alicia, who had come to greet the new arrivals. “My sister knows everything that has occurred in the last few days.”
Alicia nodded vigorously. “Even that someone wanted to poison my brother! Although Nathaniel thinks the attempt was very sloppy.”
He had wanted to tell Lady Edith his thoughts.
The lady replied, “I agree! Perhaps the tainted food was merely to distract us from the missing veterans.”
“My thinking exactly.” He was gratified to learn Lady Edith thought along the same lines as himself.
The dinner gong sounded, and a moment later, the double doors on one side of the room were thrown open by Binns. “Dinner is served!”
Nathaniel escorted Alicia into the dining room. He was seated at one end of the table, Alicia at the other. Edith and Louisa to his left and right, Cecil next to Edith. Alicia had decided it was best not to seat Cecil next to Louisa.
The first course of soup was served. Alicia had selected an exemplary menu. As the meal was served by servants instead ofal fresca, there was no discussion of the missing veterans.
“I didn’t think there was a cook in London to rival Ashford’s; your new chef has proven me wrong.” Cecil had eaten heartily of most dishes presented to him.
“Your cook is a pretender,” he replied with a shake of his head.
Cecil nodded. “I usually eat at one of my clubs.”
“You need someone to take care of you,” Alicia said with a smile. “Lord Ashford is quite content being married.”
To his surprise, the viscount nodded in agreement. “If any couple is an excellent advertisement for the married state, it would be Ashford and Charlotte.”
Alicia did talk a bit during the meal, but not as much as he was used to. She listened to their guests and even coaxed more words from the usually taciturn Cecil. He was pleasantly surprised to see his friend on his best, most charming behavior.
The last course arrived, and Alicia informed their guests, “I’ve advised Nathaniel that we willallrepair to the drawing room after dinner.”
There was no disagreement.
When their party entered the drawing room, Alicia rang for a tea tray. She was then seated on a settee at the far end of the room, Edith beside her, Louisa on a matching settee. The ladies declined anything stronger than tea. He poured himself and Cecil a healthy portion of brandy.
A tea tray arrived directly and was set before Alicia.
“Please close the doors behind you,” his sister said to the departing maid, “and see that we are not disturbed.”
When tea cups were sorted, he sat next to Louisa on the settee while Cecil took up a standing position near the cold hearth.
Nathaniel asked, “Is there a consensus that there is an ongoing attempt to distract us from the missing veterans?”
Cecil nodded. “You and Lady Edith are correct. After years of investigating Lord Sidmouth, I believe his veteran going missing is merely a diversion.”
“Perhaps the veteran Lord Sidmouth was to hire, Seaman Wilson, isn’t important.” Edith waved a hand. “As far as he was not the primary focus of our villain or villains.”
“I agree! For the moment, let us discount Wilson and his family as targets.” Cecil sounded as impressed by Edith’s train of thought as Nathaniel was. “His employer, Lord Sidmouth, has never been a threat to the Rogue’s Alliance.”
