Page 90 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Edith and Louisa didn’tneed to visit the registry office to acquire Mrs. Stafford’s address as Alicia had already visited the woman’s home.
“She lives in Cheapside. I understand why I shouldn’t go,” the girl said with a frown. “As Mrs. Stafford does not particularly like me.”
Edith recalled that one of the missing veterans lived in Cheapside. As the two women rode in her father’s town carriage, Edith wondered if Lord Harbury and Lord Wycliffe were already searching Taylor and Porter’s rooms at the registry office.
The coachman took a route that ran along Bond Street, which was busy at that time of day. They passed several of Edith’s favorite shops, which were visible as the curtains of the coach were open to let in the sunlight of a lovely day.
When the carriage reached the address on King Street, one attending footman approached the house to ascertain if Mrs. Stafford was home to callers.
“Mrs. Stafford will receive you.” The footman proceeded to assist his mistress and Louisa from the carriage.
The thin, two-storied attached house looked similar to the others on the street: nondescript with tiny, weed-choked gardens. For a moment, she wondered why on earth she was there. Mrs. Stafford had seemed above reproach, but perhaps the woman knew something that could help locate the missing veterans.
A young maid answered Edith's knock.
“Please follow me to the parlor, my lady.”
“Thank you, Sally.” An elderly woman rose to her feet from a stuffed chair when they entered the room. “My ladies, do be seated.”
Edith and Louisa were seated together on a lumpy sopha. She perched on the edge of the cushion, afraid if she sat back too far, she wouldn’t be able to get up again without assistance.
“Pardon our dropping in unannounced. We were hoping to speak with Mrs. Stafford.”
“I’m Mrs. Stafford, my dear.”
Edith looked at Louisa.
“Are there any other women with the surname Stafford in the house?” Louisa asked.
The woman shook her head. “No. I live here with my son and my maid Sally.”
“We have made a mistake,” Edith replied, rising to her feet. “I am so sorry for disturbing you. We must have you confused with someone else.”
She and Louisa bade goodbye to the confused woman. Once back in the carriage, they were determined to call on Alicia, wondering if the girl had already departed for her tea with Lady Kettering.
Alicia was still at home and as confused as they were to hear about the elderly lady in the house on King Street. “I’m sure about the address. You may ask my brother’s coachman if you would like.”
“Did you see Mrs. Stafford go into the house?” she asked the girl.
Alicia shook her head. “She waved goodbye to me from the front stoop of the residence.”
The women were due to meet Nathaniel and Cecil in Berkeley Square. They said goodbye to Alicia and returned to the carriage.
