Page 93 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
Louisa nodded. “If we can locate Mrs. Stafford, perhaps we can find our veterans. I don’t imagine she will return to the registry office if she knows we visited the address she provided.”
“Do you think she knows we were in King Street?”
“I would be surprised if she doesn’t. Like Lord Wycliffe, she might have contacts around Town, especially if sheisaffiliated with the RA.”
Edith considered the whereabouts of Mrs. Stafford on the way home in her father’s carriage. She didn’t want to think about Lord Harbury. Edith must apologize for her behavior; the knowledge that she had hurt the baron could not be borne.
Her father was not at home. She was glad to be reasonably sure Lady Sandhurst was not involved with the missing veterans. Edith shouldn’t be relieved that he was preoccupied with the lady so much that he wasn’t fully aware of her activities, but it did allow her and Louisa to do some more investigating.
As Diana was no longer in London, the letter Edith wrote the lady might not be answered for several days. Comfortably seated in the drawing room after penning the missive, she felt restless.
In an instant, an idea came to her. “Louisa, I know how we can board those hulks.”
Her friend looked up from the periodical she’d been reading. “Do tell!”
“You pretend to be my maid, and I inform the guards you’re looking for your brother.”
“Me?” Louisa frowned darkly. “A maid?”
Edith studied her friend. “If you don a maid’s uniform and speak very little, it could work.”
“You want us to go onto the hulks alone?” Louisa asked.
She thought a moment. “Either Lord Harbury or Lord Wycliffe could disguise themself as my driver and be our escort onto the ship.”
“Why can’t you be the maid?” Louisa frowned.
“If you’re recognized, your brothers are well known in Town, and someone might wonder why they didn’t accompany their sister on such an errand.”
Louisa replied, “You do make a good point. We must speak with Lord Harbury and Lord Wycliffe about your plan.”
She grimaced, remembering the last words the baron had said to her.
“Don’t fret about Lord Harbury. After all, he has to see that you were concerned about him.” Louisa added gently, “I believe the baron is a very forgiving person. I’m sure he is no longer angry with you.”
Edith was surprised at Louisa's empathetic response and hoped her friend was right.
“Just give him a day or two.” Louisa patted her hand. “And I think your plan to gain access to the prison hulks is brilliant.”
A moment later, the butler announced a visitor.
“Miss Alicia Tilford.”
She was relieved to be distracted from her thoughts about the baron. “Alicia! What a pleasant surprise! May I offer refreshment?”
“No, thank you.” Alicia took a seat on a stuffed chair. “On the way home from Lady Kettering’s tea, I realized I knew something about Mrs. Stafford that might be helpful.”
“What is it?” Edith sat forward in her chair.
“I was given a tour of the registry before it opened, and I overheard Lady Diana speaking about Mrs. Stafford’s reference. She only had one job while her husband was in the Navy. If she was telling the truth.”
Edith shrugged. “We all met her. Not one of us was suspicious.”
“How does that help us find her?” Louisa asked.
“That’s just it,” Alicia replied. “What if Mrs. Stafford gave Diana a real reference? If she did, we might be able to find her.”
“Do you remember the reference, Alicia?” she asked excitedly.
