Chapter Twenty-Eight
E dith’s father had been miserable over supper, clearly concerned about Lady Sandhurst. He could not be coaxed to play chess or cards, and Louisa had tried to help Edith cheer him up to no avail. He retired early, leaving the two girls alone in the drawing room.
“Your father is unhappy,” Louisa said with a frown. “He cares about the lady.”
She nodded. “I think you’re right.”
“And how are you feeling about Lord Wycliffe?”
“Lord Wycliffe?” She frowned.
“You don’t seem as fascinated by his presence as you once were.”
“I’m not.” She shrugged. “I admit I was infatuated with him, but it has mostly worn off. Perhaps I need more than a handsome face.”
Louisa winked at her. “As in someone like Lord Harbury?”
She replied slowly, “Perhaps. Lord Harbury likes me, really likes me. And he listens to me, talks about subjects I’m interested in.”
“And his tragic past is attractive?” Louisa leaned forward in her chair.
“I wouldn’t say attractive. It does make me want to understand him better.” She paused as her cheeks bloomed with color. “To offer comfort if he would accept it. He is far more complicated than I had imagined.”
“I’m surprised your father hasn’t forbidden you to see him or Lord Wycliffe after he found out they told us about the murdered scullery maid and the dead footman.”
“Charlotte actually told us about the murder,” she pointed out, “and my father is preoccupied with worrying about Lady Sandhurst.”
“Are you going to tell him we’re invited for supper at the baron’s mansion?”
“Oh my! I’d forgotten!” She pulled at the earbob in her right ear. “Under the circumstances, I’m not sure he would allow us to go to Lord Harbury’s home.”
Louisa chewed her lip for a moment. “You could tell him Charlotte is giving a supper party.”
She winced. “I already told him Charlotte and Ashford were leaving for the countryside in the morning.”
Louisa let out a sigh. “Rotten luck. You’ll have to tell him the truth or produce a plausible lie.”
“Lady Cairs is hosting a musicale on the morrow. Father would never consider attending such an event, especially if I tell him the Sears sisters will perform.”
Louisa laughed. “Oh my! That would put anyone that wasn’t tone-deaf off. Will he believe we would go to the musicale?”
She shrugged. “I’ll convince my father we have to attend.”
“Tell him we must appear to support Miss Tilford’s performance.” Louisa grinned, obviously pleased with herself.
“That is a brilliant idea.” She added, "Louisa, I have a theory about what you call our convoluted mess of an investigation.”
“Do tell!”
She replied slowly, “What if everything that has been happening, the murder, the tainted supper, is to distract us from the missing veterans?”
Louisa remained silent. After a moment she replied, “You could be right. Lord Wycliffe has been busy investigating Lord Sidmouth, Lady Sandhurst’s household, and the gaols. The murder has taken Ashford out of Town. Lord Harbury is now preoccupied thinking about whether or not someone is trying to hurt or kill him.”
Edith hadn’t wanted to connect the tainted food or the murder at Lady Sandhurst’s to Lord Harbury. Could someone be trying to hurt the baron? Her stomach felt queasy at the mere thought.
She pulled at her earbob, realized what she was doing, and dropped her hand. “Perhaps we’re meant to be diverted from why the veterans were taken. What if the snuffbox we found in the registry is a red herring? The RA may not be involved.”
“I think it is a sound theory to share with Lord Harbury tomorrow evening.”
“And your friend Lord Wycliffe,” she added with a grin.
Louisa grimaced. “As long as Wycliffe shows you the respect you deserve, I will put up with him.”
“He’s not so bad.” She giggled. “You must admit he does have style.”
So she hadn’t slept much that night, alternately thinking about how they could board a prison hulk, how kind Lord Harbury always was to her, what she would wear to the supper, and alternately what she would tell the baron about her theory about recent events.
Edith had just fallen into a deep sleep when her maid entered the room the next morning. Mary apologized as she quickly backed out of the bedchamber and did not return with a breakfast tray until much later.
“Good morning, my lady!”
She rolled over and yawned. Groaning, she sat up so Mary could put the tray on her lap. “I need some tea.”
“There is also toast and sliced pears. All your favorites, my lady. Shall I air out your blush dress for the musicale? Lady Louisa’s maid told me you’re attending one this evening.”
“Mary, I’m finally ready to wear the newest gown I ordered.” She felt heat on her cheeks. The dress was daring, like nothing she’d ever worn. Of a minimalist design, when the current fashion was to add ruffles to evening dresses. “I will wear my mother’s diamonds. They will be the perfect addition to the elegant simplicity of the dress.”
The maid clapped her hands. “My lady! You will be the belle of the evening, the most beautiful woman at the musicale!”
Edith hoped someone would think so. She was surprised to discover she wanted to look nice for Lord Harbury; he liked her and respected her opinions. Might he also think she was pretty? Or even beautiful?
Her mind turned to the white lie she would tell her father. Louisa had already guaranteed the story would reach her father’s ears by servant grapevine before Edith confirmed it.
She told herself the falsehood was for the good of the missing men. She must think of the veterans so she wouldn’t lose her nerve.
“Thank you, Mary! I’m sure it will be a wonderful evening.”
* * * * *
N athaniel was resplendent in full evening dress, and Alicia was excited to play hostess. It was a shame Charlotte and Ashford had left London, but he agreed that Charlotte should not be in Town at present.
He was eager to share his idea with Lady Edith that the tainted supper at Lady Sandhurst’s card party, amongst other events, was meant to be a distraction.
Several candelabras were lit in the larger of two drawing rooms. Alicia informed him that using so many wax candles at once was a vulgar display of wealth.
“The expense!” His sister shook her head. “Do you know how much candles cost?”
He shrugged. “I do not care. I like to see my guests, and I don’t like the dirty soot left behind when you burn tallow.”
Although his sister had winced at the money needed to run his household, Nathaniel’s solicitor did not advise him that he needed to economize.
Cecil arrived at the house first, alone. Nathaniel was quick to offer his friend a glass of port.
Lady Edith and Lady Louisa arrived soon after. Edith wore a pale green gown, simple in construction, cut lower at the bodice than he’d seen her wear before. He felt his pulse ratchet up a notch merely by looking at the lovely lady.
Her hair was dressed high, a light green ribbon woven through her shiny blonde locks. She wore a diamond necklace around her neck with diamond drops at her ears. Edith sparkled whichever way she turned, and he was dazzled.
“Steady on,” Cecil said in a low voice. “Your lady is looking her very best this evening.”
He didn’t reply to Cecil but stepped forward to greet their two new arrivals. “Lady Edith and Lady Louisa, welcome.”
“You have a beautiful home.” Edith raised a brow as she looked at Louisa. “Do you not agree?”
Louisa nodded. “It is beautifully decorated. Tasteful and not ostentatious.”
“High praise indeed!” He nodded to Louisa. “My sister tells me you have excellent taste, my lady.”
Cecil joined them. “Good evening, ladies. You look quite lovely this evening.”
Nathaniel observed Edith as she replied to the viscount. She was polite but nothing more. He felt his hopes rise further. The lady did not appear as in awe of the viscount as before. Louisa was civil, as the lady and Cecil had never warmed to each other.
“Refreshments?”
Both of the women shook their heads. “No, thank you.”
He wondered if it was too early in the evening to bring up the subject of the missing veterans.
“Have you any news?” Edith asked, her gaze flitting between him and Cecil.
“There are no new developments.” He glanced at Alicia, who had come to greet the new arrivals. “My sister knows everything that has occurred in the last few days.”
Alicia nodded vigorously. “Even that someone wanted to poison my brother! Although Nathaniel thinks the attempt was very sloppy.”
He had wanted to tell Lady Edith his thoughts.
The lady replied, “I agree! Perhaps the tainted food was merely to distract us from the missing veterans.”
“My thinking exactly.” He was gratified to learn Lady Edith thought along the same lines as himself.
The dinner gong sounded, and a moment later, the double doors on one side of the room were thrown open by Binns. “Dinner is served!”
Nathaniel escorted Alicia into the dining room. He was seated at one end of the table, Alicia at the other. Edith and Louisa to his left and right, Cecil next to Edith. Alicia had decided it was best not to seat Cecil next to Louisa.
The first course of soup was served. Alicia had selected an exemplary menu. As the meal was served by servants instead of al fresca , there was no discussion of the missing veterans.
“I didn’t think there was a cook in London to rival Ashford’s; your new chef has proven me wrong.” Cecil had eaten heartily of most dishes presented to him.
“Your cook is a pretender,” he replied with a shake of his head.
Cecil nodded. “I usually eat at one of my clubs.”
“You need someone to take care of you,” Alicia said with a smile. “Lord Ashford is quite content being married.”
To his surprise, the viscount nodded in agreement. “If any couple is an excellent advertisement for the married state, it would be Ashford and Charlotte.”
Alicia did talk a bit during the meal, but not as much as he was used to. She listened to their guests and even coaxed more words from the usually taciturn Cecil. He was pleasantly surprised to see his friend on his best, most charming behavior.
The last course arrived, and Alicia informed their guests, “I’ve advised Nathaniel that we will all repair to the drawing room after dinner.”
There was no disagreement.
When their party entered the drawing room, Alicia rang for a tea tray. She was then seated on a settee at the far end of the room, Edith beside her, Louisa on a matching settee. The ladies declined anything stronger than tea. He poured himself and Cecil a healthy portion of brandy.
A tea tray arrived directly and was set before Alicia.
“Please close the doors behind you,” his sister said to the departing maid, “and see that we are not disturbed.”
When tea cups were sorted, he sat next to Louisa on the settee while Cecil took up a standing position near the cold hearth.
Nathaniel asked, “Is there a consensus that there is an ongoing attempt to distract us from the missing veterans?”
Cecil nodded. “You and Lady Edith are correct. After years of investigating Lord Sidmouth, I believe his veteran going missing is merely a diversion.”
“Perhaps the veteran Lord Sidmouth was to hire, Seaman Wilson, isn’t important.” Edith waved a hand. “As far as he was not the primary focus of our villain or villains.”
“I agree! For the moment, let us discount Wilson and his family as targets.” Cecil sounded as impressed by Edith’s train of thought as Nathaniel was. “His employer, Lord Sidmouth, has never been a threat to the Rogue’s Alliance.”
Louisa asked, “You believe Wilson’s disappearance is a red herring?”
Edith nodded. “It is possible. Perhaps only one of the veterans was the real target.”
“That is an excellent hypothesis,” he replied.
“How much do we know about the other two veterans?” Alicia asked.
He replied, “James Fleet has no known family. He lived in a boarding house. Henry Davidson lived in Cheapside with his wife, children, and in-laws. Both men are navy veterans accustomed to working with horses.”
“How much do you know about your employees?” Louisa asked Nathaniel.
He replied, “Diana put an advertisement in The Times and was inundated with people who wanted to work at the registry. I know Taylor and vouched for him. Porter and Mrs. Stafford were granted interviews, and Diana hired them. Cecil looked into their backgrounds for us.”
Cecil nodded. “I found nothing unpleasant attached to any of them.”
“Mrs. Stafford is a wonder with the veterans,” Alicia chimed in.
“Yet the snuff box was found in the registry office.” Edith took a sip of tea.
“We’re assuming it was lost by a veteran,” Louisa replied.
He smiled grimly. “To assume anything could be a mistake.”
“So we don’t trust anyone.” Cecil added, “I’m sure Bones can get Porter and Taylor out of the registry long enough for Nathaniel and me to search their quarters.”
Edith gasped.
“It has to be done.” He didn’t like it either.
“Louisa and I will visit Mrs. Stafford.” Edith looked at her friend, who nodded in agreement. “We can talk to her about her past, family, and interests. Perhaps she will give something away if she’s involved in any of this.”
“What about me?” Alicia asked in a small voice.
He was already regretting having so many people know about their investigation. Nothing could be done now. At least Ashford, Charlotte, and Diana were not involved at present.
“Don’t you have plans tomorrow with Lady Kettering?” he asked hopefully.
“Well, yes. She has invited me and several other ladies for tea.”
He thought quickly. “Excellent! You will be perfectly placed to hear the latest gossip in Town. Who knows what morsel of information you might hear.”
“I didn’t think of that.” Alicia nodded and smiled, looking content.
He breathed an inward sigh of relief.
“We all have our marching orders for the morrow,” Cecil commented. “Diana being absent from London may be fortuitous. Mrs. Stafford might be easier to speak with if she doesn’t feel you ladies are there to discuss her work. We all should go about our daily lives and remain calm, and after tomorrow’s activities, we will meet at Thorne’s at three o’clock.”
The party broke up soon after. Nathaniel observed that Edith barely noticed Cecil's presence. He took that as proof that she wasn’t in love with the viscount.
His inner voice said he knew no such thing, but he chose to ignore it.