Chapter Six
D espite what Diana might have to say on the subject, Nathaniel suggested they look in at the registry office as he had a few minutes left before he was to collect Alicia at Thorne’s. He told himself it wasn’t merely because he wanted the opportunity to see Lady Edith.
Cecil was loitering across the street when they arrived and crossed the road to speak with his friends.
“Any trouble?” Nathaniel asked the other man warily.
“Not a bit.” Cecil frowned, clearly looking disappointed.
Ashford let out a breath. “Good.”
“Are you going to stay here all day?” he asked Cecil.
“I’ll be off for now. Although my intelligence hasn’t picked up any plans to scupper your enterprise, I’ll have Mr. Bones look in on the registry now and then.”
Cecil made his goodbyes and strolled off down the pavement in the direction of Hyde Park.
They found the lobby of the registry office full of veterans. Nathaniel strode across the room and opened the door to the back office.
“How are you faring?” he asked the two women before him.
Diana smothered a yawn. “We’ve been busy since we opened. Thank heavens we have three capable employees out there in the lobby.”
He looked at her colleague, Lady Edith. The young woman glanced up , giving him a brief smile before returning to her work. “Good morning, Lord Harbury.”
Nathaniel was sure he’d seen her cream colored walking dress before. Perhaps she only wore her new dresses when she anticipated seeing Cecil. It didn’t matter what she wore. He thought Lady Edith always looked lovely.
“I just remembered Lord Kettering assured me he would hire several veterans for his country estate.” Edith kept her eyes on the ledger . “ He’s expanding his stables.”
Diana replied, “He was true to his word. I have his paperwork just here.”
The lady then looked at him, a question in her eyes.
“If you don’t need my assistance, I will leave you ladies to it.” He exited the room and skirted the men waiting in line to register. Ashford followed him from the building.
“Your sister doesn’t appear to need or want us in the office.”
“She is in her element managing things.” Ashford added, “We will speak soon. Right now, I’m expected home. Charlotte didn’t come to the opening this morning because of a stomach malady, and I want to check on her.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Give Charlotte my best.” He would collect Alicia and see if she wanted to visit nearby Gunter’s for a treat to help lift her mood. It would be wonderful if she had recovered from her earlier gloominess. If not, he hoped he could think of some way to make her feel useful.
Nathaniel was content to have seen Lady Edith. He would not dwell on her lack of interest in himself. After all, faint heart never won fair lady.
* * * * *
T he registry promptly closed at three o’clock. Nearly a hundred men were registered on the first day.
Edith and Diana had finished logging employers into their ledgers and had begun the task of matching employers with job seekers.
“Charlotte and Louisa will be in tomorrow, but only for a few hours in the afternoon.” Diana came to her feet and stretched. Other than a short break for tea and a few biscuits, the women had spent their time hunched over the ledgers. “Noon until closing will be sufficient time to keep up the ledgers.”
They had already matched several veterans to an employer.
When Edith was sure she’d made a good match, Diana would show her how to update the information in the employer ledger and write the details about the job on a card for the veteran.
Although the registry would only be open six hours a day, much had been accomplished on their first day. A sheet of vellum with the names of veterans matched to employers would be displayed in the front window of the registry in the morning. The men were advised to check the posting every day the registry was open and, if matched, come inside the office where Mrs. Stafford would have an employer card for them.
The registry was open Monday through Thursday. Edith would volunteer Mondays and Wednesdays, with her friends taking the other two days.
“I do wish we could find a simple task for Miss Tilford to assist with.” Although Edith had heard the employees state that Nathaniel’s sister would be more of a nuisance than a help, she felt horrible that the young woman was being excluded from volunteering. “Perhaps Alicia could work with me? I would keep her occupied in the back office and out of the way. Having another volunteer on Mondays and Wednesdays would free you to take care of other business for the registry.”
Diana remained silent a moment. Edith gave her a coaxing smile as she could see the woman was wavering.
“If you promise to prevent her from irritating Mrs. Stafford, I’m sure we can find a place for Miss Tilford.”
“Thank you. I’m sure she will be a great asset to the registry.” Edith rose to her feet. “My father’s carriage should be waiting for me outside. I’ll say good day.” Edith exited the office, thinking of the note she would pen to Alicia, glad she had found a way for the girl to be included.
* * * * *
N athaniel still hadn’t thought of an occupation to keep Alicia busy when his sister entered the drawing room that evening. He’d spent the afternoon at the fencing academy, returning home just in time to dress for dinner.
“Brother! I have the best news!” Alicia dropped onto a plush chair, her golden-brown curls bouncing with the movement.
Standing next to the oval tole drinks tray on a low mahogany dresser, he gave her his full attention, having decided against pouring himself a glass of port. “Do tell, dear sister.”
“Lady Edith sent a missive this afternoon asking me to volunteer with her at the registry office. I’m to work with her particularly.” She beamed at him.
“That is good to hear.” If Alicia was to work with Edith specifically, he knew there was more to the story.
She clapped her hands. “I will volunteer Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Isn’t it wonderful?”
He nodded in relief. Alicia sported the same hazel eyes as himself, and her pupils often changed color as his were wont to do. As she was excited, her eyes were light green this evening. If Alicia was happy, he was happy. Or at least close to it.
The dinner gong sounded. Nathaniel strode forward and took his sister’s arm to lead her into the dining room.
“You will be a great addition to the registry.” The next time he saw Lady Edith, he would thank her for finding a position at the registry for his sister.
Alicia was his only sibling. Having lost their parents a few months apart due to illness, they were without family except for two maiden aunts who resided in the countryside.
Nathaniel had joined the navy like his father and grandfather before him. “Good thing I don’t get seasick,” he often joked. “I felt as if I had no choice but to be a sailor.”
Being away at sea for so many years, he didn’t know his sister well, but he’d noticed a change in her the year she lived with their aunts before he left the navy to take over her guardianship.
When he returned to England, his sister spoke quite a bit more than he remembered. Strangely enough, Alicia herself had given him an idea as to why she’d become a chatterbox.
“Thank goodness you have returned from the continent.” She sighed deeply when his carriage departed Hampshire, where their aunts resided together in a cottage. “To live with women who rarely speak. They nearly drove me mad.”
It was as good an explanation as any as to why his sister appeared compelled to fill every silence with conversation. Now if only she could find a way to moderate her impulse to do so.