Chapter Twenty-Nine
E dith and Louisa didn’t need 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.
“Our Mrs. Stafford told me she had a son that worked on the docks. If she took someone else’s name, perhaps she also used the elderly woman’s employment history.”
Edith wondered if Lord Harbury and Lord Wycliffe had discovered anything helpful while searching the registry office. Could the male employees, as well as the false Mrs. Stafford, be involved with the disappearances?
* * * * *
N athaniel and Cecil were inside Cecil’s coach across the street from the registry office when Mr. Bones and his two companions exited the building.
“How are you going to get Taylor and Porter out of the office?” he’d asked Bones after the man knocked on the carriage door a few minutes earlier and peeked inside.
“I’ll tell them I came by to check on their well-being, and now I’m headed for a tipple. I’d be surprised if they didn’t decide to join me.”
Soon after, Nathaniel and Cecil let themselves into the registry office.
“The ladies have already searched the downstairs area.” He headed for the stairs.
Cecil replied, “I’ll take a quick look down here to be thorough and join you in a moment.”
Nathaniel climbed the stairs to a small landing. There were three closed doors upstairs. One door led to an airing cupboard containing bed linen and cleaning supplies. He found nothing of interest in the tiny storeroom.
While he searched the first bedchamber, Cecil joined him upstairs and entered the other bedchamber. Nathaniel examined the dresser and armoire, finding only worn clothing. There was a book and a copy of a newspaper on the dresser. No other papers or personal items were in the room.
He walked across the corridor to see Cecil’s progress.
“Did you find anything?”
“Nothing of any import.” Cecil had been crouched down looking under the bed and now rose to his feet. “No papers or snuff boxes.”
“I came up empty as well.”
Cecil glanced around the small room. “What next?”
Nathaniel slapped his forehead. “I’d nearly forgotten! Did you find anything out about the red and black livery?”
“Oh yes! Mr. Bones traced it. Those colors were used by the Duke of Montagu, whose title went extant in 1790.”
He let out a long breath. “Leaving us with no idea as to who pilfered the livery?”
“None at all,” Cecil replied irritably.
“Shall we go? I suppose you didn’t find anything downstairs, either.”
Cecil shook his head. “Perhaps Lady Edith and Lady Louisa had better luck with Mrs. Stafford.”
When they entered Thorne’s Lending Library at three o’clock, Edith and Louisa were already in the seating area.
He and Cecil took a seat, and Nathaniel looked about to ensure no one was within earshot. “We found nothing to connect Taylor or Porter to the Rogue’s Alliance or any of the events we’ve experienced the last few days.”
“We went to the address in King Street, and our Mrs. Stafford doesn’t live there,” Edith replied in a whisper.
“What!?” Nathaniel lowered his voice to ask, “What do you mean she doesn’t live there?”
“There is a Mrs. Stafford in residence, but she is an elderly woman. We spoke with Alicia again, and the address on King Street is definitely the house where Lord Harbury’s coach deposited your female employee a few days ago.”
Louisa added, “Alicia admits she never actually observed the woman enter the house on King Street.”
“I wonder why the woman wouldn’t be more careful if she works for the RA?” He looked to Cecil. “What do you think?”
His friend replied, “Any carelessness on her part could mean her involvement is personal.”
They were all silent for a moment.
“Perhaps she is related to someone who died on the HMS St. George ?” Louisa asked. “Or the lieutenant who took his own life?”
Nathaniel wondered how Louisa knew so much about the tragic events in his past. He noticed the ladies exchange a glance. Edith knew about his past as well. He felt the room spin and then right itself as he took several deep breaths.
“How do you know about Lt. Cooper?” he asked with a frown.
“Alicia mentioned there were events in your past that often make you feel sad,” Edith said hesitantly. She added softly, “Charlotte filled in the details.”
“Is that why you’ve suddenly found me more interesting, Lady Edith? Because I’m a tragic soul?” He hated the words he was saying but couldn’t stop himself. The last thing he wanted was her pity.
The lady shook her head. “Alicia and Lord Ashford are worried for you. Worried that your happy demeanor is a mask.”
“So my demeanor is a topic of speculation by my friends and family.” He got to his feet. “I hope my moods have provided everyone with sufficient entertainment. Good day.”
Cecil also rose to his feet, placing a hand on Nathaniel’s shoulder.
He shook off the hand as he said, “I’m going to my club. Alone.”
He strode from the library out onto the pavement without a backward glance. The weather was clear, thank goodness, as he felt the need for a very long walk.