Chapter Two
“W hat made me think we could open a registry office?” Nathaniel ran a hand through his hair, ruffling the blondish-brown locks.
“Ashford will return from his wedding trip soon,” Lady Diana, Lord Ashford’s sister, replied soothingly, “and the grand opening will be a great success.”
He let out a breath. “I know you’re right. And you did most of the work setting up the registry.”
The young woman with raven hair and Cerulean blue eyes identical to her brother’s replied, “As much as I would like to take all the credit, you did help. Without your generous donation, the registry wouldn’t be opening.”
Money. Giving money was easy. Volunteering was the hard part. As a peer of the realm, he’d remained in the background, allowing Diana to make most of the decisions regarding furniture and staffing. In Town, as in the countryside, it was more acceptable to see a woman volunteering in the community.
Nathaniel and his friend Ashford purchased the land where several businesses on the street resided to save a nearby lending library from being put out of business by the Rogue’s Alliance, a mysterious London crime organization. Subsequently, Ashford had won the heart of his wife, Lady Charlotte, who had also been trying to save the library. After encountering several of the enlisted men they’d served with searching for work in London, Nathaniel and Ashford decided to open a registry in Berkeley Square to assist war veterans in finding employment.
The room smelled of the beeswax used to polish the wood trim fittings, and the front windows were sparkling clean, as was the scarred oak flooring beneath his feet.
A bell pealed as the door to the shop opened.
“We’re not open yet,” one of the male staff members called out.
“It’s okay, Porter.” Diana chuckled. “It’s just my brother and his wife.”
Nathaniel spun on his heel to see his friend Ashford enter the shop accompanied by Charlotte. They both glowed with good health and smiled softly at each other.
“Marriage looks to agree with you, Ashford,” Diana said by way of welcome.
“It does.” Her brother added dryly, “And time away from the bustle of London did not go amiss.”
Nathaniel greeted the marquess and his wife, and Diana proceeded to introduce the couple to the registry staff: two men, Mr. Porter and Mr. Taylor, and a woman, Mrs. Stafford.
Both men were veterans, and the woman was a war widow. Once introductions were made, Diana ushered Ashford and his wife into the back office. Nathaniel followed behind.
“What is this office for?” Charlotte asked.
“During the first part of the day our employees record the applicant’s information in the lobby. This small room is for the volunteers to work in, and in the afternoon, the volunteers match the men to open positions. After hours, registry ledgers will be kept in this office for privacy reasons.” Diana waved a hand at their surroundings. “What do you think?”
“It appears you have thought of everything.” Ashford looked about him. “Is there anything Charlotte or I can help with?”
Color had crept into Charlotte’s cheeks. “Yes, I would like to help in some way. We left you high and dry, what with our honeymoon.”
“I won’t apologize for wanting to have Charlotte to myself for a while,” Ashford responded with a grin and a wink at his wife.
“Charlotte, let me show you how our employees assist the veterans.” Diana led the other woman back out to the lobby.
Once they were gone, Ashford said, “My sister seems to have everything well in hand.”
“Diana is very organized. I’m sure she will attempt to rope Charlotte into volunteering with the registry.”
Ashford frowned. “Do we need a lot of volunteers?”
He shook his head. “Diana told me she only needs two a day. Alicia came in to be trained, but your sister only has so much patience.”
Ashford remained silent.
“The staff asked if Alicia could leave,” he continued with a sigh.
“Your sister is a sweet young woman, if a little talkative,” Ashford replied carefully
Nathaniel thought that was putting it mildly.
Ashford asked in a low voice, “Have there been any reprisals from the Rogue’s Alliance while I was away?”
“None so far.” He shrugged. “They may be biding their time.”
“Have you seen Cecil in the month I’ve been gone?”
He shook his head. “Rarely. Now that sessions have ended, he’s been a veritable ghost.”
Ashford replied gravely, “Chasing down information about the alliance, I imagine.”
When Cecil’s older brother was murdered by footpaths, he was convinced his brother’s death was connected to the Rogue’s Alliance, an organization of which little was known. A black snuffbox had been found near Cecil’s brothers’ body, and members of the alliance were known to carry black papier-maché snuffboxes with the initials RA emblazoned on them in white.
“No doubt.” He added, “His man Mr. Bones has checked on the registry a few times but is tight-lipped about Cecil’s activities.”
During the war, with the approval of the Foreign Office, Ashford recruited Bones to infiltrate some of the smuggling gangs at work during the Continental Blockade. When Ashford ran into the homeless veteran a few months ago, he’d sent him to Cecil for employment. Bones was a man who could find out things and someone who could blend in anywhere; he was the perfect operative for the viscount.
“The grand opening is two days away.” Ashford let out a breath. “Are we ready?”
Nathaniel shrugged. “Diana says we are.”
The marquess nodded toward the doorway. “Shall we join the ladies?”
When Charlotte saw her husband reenter the lobby, she gave him a wide smile. “Robbie just looked in to tell me Edith and Louisa are at the lending library, so I’m off to surprise them.”
“I’ll follow in a few minutes,” Ashford replied with a nod.
Nathaniel recalled that Robbie was a clerk at Thorne’s Lending Library. The mere thought that Lady Edith was nearby made him catch his breath, although the young woman didn’t know he existed.
It was rather bad luck he was smitten with the lady.
* * * * *
“C harlotte!” Edith was the first to spy their friend come through the door of Thorne’s. “You’ve returned!”
Charlotte waved at her friends before greeting Robbie and handing him a small sack. She often gave the clerk confections to share with his mother and four siblings on the pretext that she had received the sweets as a gift and didn’t like them. Edith was sure that by now, Robbie had seen through the ruse.
When the marchioness reached the seating area, Edith rose to her feet to hug Charlotte after Louisa had done so. “We didn’t expect you for another week.”
“I wanted to surprise you.” Charlotte laughed softly.
“You look lovely! And so happy.” Edith retook her seat on the sopha, and Charlotte sat next to her.
Charlotte’s face lit up. “I am happy. Marriage is wonderful!”
“You must tell us all about the Lake District.” Louisa dropped onto one of the stuffed chairs.
“We can discuss my wedding trip tomorrow evening.” Charlotte clapped her hands. “Ashford and I are having our first dinner party as husband and wife. Please say you can come.”
“We would love to. Have you invited anyone else?” she asked lightly.
“What Edith really wants to know is if Lord Cecil will be there.” Louisa rolled her eyes heavenward.
Charlotte lifted a shoulder. “My husband told me he will do his best to run the viscount to ground. Ashford is currently at the registry office speaking with Lord Harbury.”
Edith made no further comment about Cecil as Louisa had the right of it. “I’m going to ask my father if we might stay in London for a few more months so I may volunteer at the registry.”
“That is an excellent idea. Ashford and I plan to remain in Town for some time to ensure the enterprise is stable. We will leave for his family’s estate in November.”
“Oh goodness! I want to stay as well.” Louisa frowned. “I wonder if I can convince my mother to remain in London. My family is leaving for the country next week as several shooting parties have already been scheduled at our estate.”
Edith had an idea. “You can stay with my father and me. Together, we might be able to convince him to remain in Town.”
“Your father doesn’t seem able to deny you anything,” Charlotte replied with a wink.
She had to concede her friend was correct. Edith’s mother had died when she was ten years old and instead of sending her to live with relatives, her father had raised her on his own. They had become the best of companions, sharing a love of politics, reading, and current events.
“My mother will probably be happy to be rid of the sight of me.” Louisa groaned heavily. “She is upset that I wouldn’t accept any of the marriage proposals I received during the season.”
“Marry for love,” Charlotte said on a sigh. “I highly recommend it.”
Louisa looked thoughtful for a moment. “If I could find a gentleman who looks at me the way Ashford looks at you, I might consider marriage. Although he must have good taste, or I could not abide the man as my husband.”
“And you, Edith?” Charlotte raised a brow.
She nodded. “I’m warming to the idea of a spouse. He must be well read and interested in politics.”
“If your cap is set for Lord Wycliffe, Edith,” Louisa replied, “I don’t think he even likes women.”
Charlotte countered, “Ashford tells me he doesn’t like frivolous women. You are far from frivolous, Edith. I do hope to spend more time with the viscount. He is an enigma to me. Lord Harbury is so pleasant, whereas Cecil seems to be prickly for the joy of it.”
Edith had to admit Charlotte’s assessment of the man’s personality was accurate.
Lord Ashford entered Thorne’s and stopped to greet Robbie, stationed behind the subscription desk. Mr. Thorne, a short, spectacled man, came out of the shop’s backroom and walked to stand beside the marquess. The two men spoke quietly a moment before Ashford approached the seating area.
“It is lovely to see you again, Edith, Louisa.” Ashford bowed to the women before sitting on one of the vacant stuffed chairs.
“How is Mr. Thorne?” Charlotte asked her husband.
“He says he is quite well and wished us joy. Mrs. Thorne is in Devon for a few weeks as their only daughter recently had a child.”
“How wonderful! A new baby must make even a woman as contrary as Mrs. Thorne happy.” Charlotte got to her feet with a glance at her husband. “We have plenty to do before the dinner tomorrow evening.” She smiled affectionately at the other two women. “I missed you, my friends.”
Once Charlotte and Ashford had departed the shop, Louisa grinned at Edith. “Perhaps you will see Lord Cecil on the morrow.”
“Perhaps.” She smiled sweetly in reply.
Louisa cocked her head to one aside and studied Edith’s appearance. “You really do look lovely in the new dress I chose for you.”
Edith wondered if Louisa’s sudden interest in her wardrobe was to help her attract the attention of the viscount. If so, she feared she was going to need more than a few new dresses to do so.