Chapter Fifteen
E dith’s father was not at home. With Louisa gone from the house, it would have been the perfect time for her to have a private conversation with him about Lady Sandhurst.
She had to do something so she wouldn’t fixate on what Louisa had said about Lord Harbury being smitten with her. Perhaps Charlotte had not volunteered at the registry office today and was instead at home resting.
When Edith arrived at the townhouse in Grosvenor Square, a footman deposited her in the drawing room, where she perched on the edge of a stuffed chair.
Lady Diana sailed into the room. “Lady Edith! One of the footmen told me we had a visitor.”
“I’ve come to see Charlotte. I thought you would be at the registry office.”
Diana shook her head. “Charlotte decided she felt well enough to volunteer today. I’m home merely to change for an afternoon appointment. I’m so sorry to disappoint you.”
“I’ll take my leave.” She rose to her feet.
“Could you spare a moment? You mentioned getting to know our employees at the registry, but you and I know so little about each other.”
“Charlotte has told me a little about you,” she replied hesitantly.
The woman laughed. “I’m sure she had better things to say about me than Ashford would. Let’s sit for a moment and talk.”
Lady Diana sat on a nearby settee while Edith retook her seat.
“What shall we talk about?”
“That handsome baron who is obviously in love with you?” Diana replied with a grin.
Her mouth fell open. “Pardon?”
“I’m sorry that I speak so plainly.” She shook her head in mock sorrow. “One of my many failings.”
“I’m used to it,” she responded, releasing a laugh. “Remember, Lady Louisa is my friend.”
Diana grinned. “She is formidable, isn’t she? Lady Louisa reminds me of Cecil in so many ways.”
“Does she?” Edith asked blandly.
The other woman sighed. “I see you don’t wish to speak about Lord Harbury. A pity. I do adore Cecil, but I don’t think he’s husband material.”
Before she could stop herself, she asked, “Whyever not?”
“He is a stubborn, proud man. You have such a kind, gentle way about you, my dear. That might soothe some beasts, but I fear not our Cecil.”
She felt slightly affronted to be called kind and gentle. That description didn’t sound at all exciting.
“I wasn’t trying to offend you, my dear,” Diana said soothingly. “I’ve known Cecil for years. You have many excellent qualities. If he were interested in any of them, you would know by now.”
For the second time that day, Edith wanted to shout at someone. As she had during her earlier conversation with Louisa, Edith took a few calming breaths. “And you’re not enamored of him yourself?”
“Cecil?” Diana’s expression was now somber. “My heart still belongs to my beloved Geoffrey. I despair of finding that kind of love ever again.”
And just as with her recent conversation with Louisa, several things became clear. Diana’s brash, bold exterior hid a broken heart. Louisa often said Edith was the most patient person in the world. Perhaps she was, for she felt her irritation with Diana and Louisa fade.
“Perhaps Lord Harbury has too much of an adventurous past for you? That trouble with him searching for a spy on the Cressy . Such drama! And barely escaping death on the St. George ! Poor Nathaniel. Running a registry office must be rather tame in comparison.”
“I imagine it is,” she replied vaguely. Edith had no idea what the woman was referring to regarding a spy. As Charlotte wasn’t home, she would have to wait to get the story from her friend.
“Where are my manners? Would you care for some tea? I can spare a few more minutes before I must change.”
Edith shook her head and got to her feet. “I should be going. It was lovely chatting with you.”
Once back in her father’s town coach, she realized Diana hadn’t brought up the missing veterans, which told Edith the lady didn’t know anything about the second disappearance.
Both Diana and Louisa thought Lord Harbury had feelings for her. Could he be in love with her?
Now she had two reasons to observe the baron.
* * * * *
A fter he dashed off a note to his old friend at the Royal Naval College, Nathaniel wrote missives to Ashford and Cecil to inform them about his conversation with the runner Black Jack.
Alicia was at a tea with Lady Kettering. The woman had taken quite a liking to Alicia, and he was glad of it. The lady’s reputation was above reproach, and she could help Alicia widen her scope of acquaintances.
He was all alone in the large house, except for several servants. He had no desire to fence. Or walk. Or ride. There was no reason to casually drop by the registry office as Edith wasn't volunteering today.
It was time he spoke with Lord Norwich. He was determined to interview the man; the earl would surely admit him to his home.
Nathaniel had been shocked to learn who the Foreign Office believed was the spy on the Cressy. He’d attended The Royal Naval College in Portsmouth with Lt. Cooper.
When Nathaniel boarded the ship anchored alongside the island of Vinga near the Port of Gothenburg, Sweden, the lieutenant had extended his hand. “Harbury! What a surprise to have you transferred to the St. George . There are rumors Lt. Goodwin is returning to England to complete a mission for the crown.”
He shook Cooper’s hand. “I wasn’t apprised of all the particulars, merely that I was to take his place for now.”
“You’ll find Commander Pater an excellent captain, and we have a first-rate crew.”
A few days later, Nathaniel noticed Cooper in a dark corner of the ship whispering something to one of the enlisted men before handing him a small packet.
“Can I be of help?” he asked, walking closer to where the men stood near the ship’s bow.
“I require no assistance, Lt Harbury.” Cooper smiled easily. “Just a minor personnel matter.”
Nathaniel stayed until the lower-ranking man shuffled off.
“We will be in port for a few more days.”
“Are you going ashore?” he asked the other man.
“What with the nasty weather, the captain isn’t sure who he will allow off the ship.”
“Is that seaman going ashore?"
Cooper shrugged. “I don’t know. The man was stumbling along the deck, and I spoke with him to ascertain whether he was foxed. He is merely tired.”
He didn’t believe the lieutenant in the slightest. They chatted for a few more minutes before Cooper strode away in the opposite direction, whistling.
Nathaniel followed the path the crewmember had taken around the bow, never approaching the man, although he did ask a sailor he passed who the crewmember was. Lt. Cooper had handed the man something. If Nathaniel had any say in the matter, neither the crewmember nor Cooper would leave the ship before the Cressy set sail.
After he’d acquired the crewmember’s name, Nathaniel spoke with the captain. “I can’t tell you why, but I want the sailor detained. He is not to go ashore.”
The captain agreed. He knew Nathaniel was on his ship on a mission for the Foreign Office. The Commander Pater had the crewmember taken directly to the brig for observation, and the packet found on his person was confiscated.
Nathaniel deciphered the sloppily coded message quite easily. It detailed how many ships would leave the port together and where they were headed.
Nathaniel stayed as close as he could to Lt. Cooper the next day.
“Harbury, there you are again. If I didn’t know better, I would think you were watching me.” He paused. “The captain wants me to remain onboard until we leave port.”
“I think that is a good idea. The last thing we need is for you to be at liberty. The message you slipped Seaman Flynn will not be delivered to your contact on shore.”
The lieutenant’s face drained of all color. “If that message isn’t delivered, I’m a dead man.”
“And if it is delivered, how many Englishmen will die?”
Cooper ran from him along the deck and skidded to a halt near the stern. He looked about wildly, realizing he was trapped on the ship. The lieutenant leaned over the side of the vessel and grabbed a piece of rigging.
“Don’t do it, Cooper. You can’t make it to shore. The current is too heavy, and the water is freezing.”
“I have to try.” The man vaulted over the side of the ship, shimmying down the mooring line until he reached the water. He let loose the rope and swam for the shoreline.
Nathaniel knew Cooper would never make it. The island was nearly a mile away.
Cooper swam several strokes before stopping abruptly in the freezing water. His head went under the surface only to reappear. He went under again as Nathaniel sounded the alarm, and sailors rushed to his side. Cooper’s head went under again and did not resurface.
The incident had been reported as an accident. Nathaniel was the only person who witnessed Cooper jump into the water.
Lt. Cooper’s father, the Earl of Norwich, attacked Nathaniel verbally whenever the men crossed paths in London.
The earl’s face would inevitably grow purple with rage. “Did you throw my boy into that water?”
Nathaniel had wrestled with the idea himself that he was in some way responsible for Cooper’s death as he’d been assigned to determine whether the lieutenant was a spy. “I would never have done such a thing.”
“I’ll have you investigated! Have you tossed out of the Navy!” The earl shook his fist at Nathaniel.
“I’ve already retired, Lord Norwich.”
The earl snorted a reply, “So the Navy wants to conceal the truth! It is suspicious you being transferred to that boat, and then my son accidentally drowns soon after.”
He’d replied calmly, “My lord, I know you’re grieving. You should let sleeping dogs lie. You may not want to know the full truth of what happened to your son and why.”
The man cursed him and stalked away. Nathaniel heard the earl tried to make trouble and had been warned to desist, or some unpalatable facts about his son might rear their ugly head.
Not a fortnight after Cooper drowned, the men on the Defence and St. George lost their lives. Nathaniel had been ready, more than ready, to retire from the Navy.
When he stepped down from his carriage in Hanover Square, although the afternoon was now warm and bright, a welcome change from the day before, his mood was not lightened.
A footman showed him into the earl’s parlor to wait.
“Good afternoon, Lord Harbury.”
He turned from where he stood near the hearth of the room to address a woman dressed in black. “Good afternoon.”
“I am Lady Devon, the earl’s daughter. My father is currently indisposed. Please be seated and tell me what I may do for you.”
The woman bore a marked resemblance to her deceased brother. Her words had been measured, and she looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes, her complexion pale.
“I didn’t know Lt. Cooper had a sister.” He took a seat on a stuffed chair after the lady was seated on a long sopha.
“I was ten years older than my brother. I married young while he was off at school. I’m sure the boy you knew at naval college wouldn’t have much to say about an old married sister.”
The woman wore black bombazine. For her brother or someone else?
His question must have shown on his face as the lady said, “I’m a widow. First my brother and then my husband. I feel as if I’ve been wearing black for years.”
The lady sat up straight, no self-pity in her expression.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“My husband was lost on the HMS Defence ,” she closed her eyes an instant. “He loved the Navy and his men. I really should do more for the veterans who came home.”
Now was not the time to solicit a volunteer for the registry office, so he merely asked, “Your father is ill?”
“His physician says he's experiencing early dementia. It has been coming on for some time, and now he rants and raves quite often. Someone is with him day and night so he doesn’t injure himself.”
“I’m very sorry.” He paused. “He wasn’t involved in the recent hiring of a new groom?”
She pursed her lips as if in thought before replying, “I believe the butler, Sampson, contacted the registry office. He lost two sons in the war and wanted to make sure we employed returning veterans.”
“And you know nothing about the disappearance of the veteran who was to be your new groom?” He watched her closely.
“He disappeared? How peculiar. What can I do to help, Lord Harbury?”
“Might I speak with your butler about the man?”
“Of course. I’ll ask Sampson to speak with you.” She got to her feet. “I forgot to ask if you wanted refreshment. Tea?”
He shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.”
“Do let me know if I can be of further help, Lord Harbury. “You may speak with Sampson, and then he can show you out. I must see to my father.”
And with that, she exited the room. An elderly, distinguished-looking gentleman entered the parlor shortly thereafter.
“Lord Harbury, you wished to speak with me?”
He would not ask the man to sit as he knew the butler would never see that as proper behavior.
“Were you the only person in the household involved with procuring an employee via the Veterans Registry Office?”
The man nodded. “Yes, my lord.”
“And Mr. Davidson never appeared for his position.”
“No, my lord.”
“You have heard nothing from him or about him since?”
The butler shook his head. “The runners asked me about him, but I had no information other than his name and where he lived.”
Nathaniel got to his feet. “Thank you.” He handed the man a registry card. “If you think of anything that might help us locate Watch Captain Davidson, please let me know.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Lady Devon also assured me the earl was not involved in the hiring process.” He studied the butler’s expression.
The man cleared his throat. “If I’d not be speaking out of turn, my lord, Lord Norwich hasn’t had control of his faculties in nigh on a year.”
His interview with the man was over. If Lord Norwich had ever been a part of the RA, he was no use to the organization now. He doubted the butler was a part of the Rogue’s Alliance, but Cecil could do some digging into the man’s background.
He sighed inwardly. Another possible avenue of investigation that had led nowhere.