He turned back to face Branstoke. "Since Mr. Waddley's death, another manager at the company, a Mr. William Karney, a brash young man with only one year seniority to my David, has become the Waddley's contact for the shipment of this heinous cargo."
"Does your son have any clues as to the society member involved?" Branstoke asked.
The older man nodded. "He believes it to be either Sir Harry Elsdon or Charles Dernley, Lord Havelock. He says your brother is involved, albeit as of late, reluctantly. But he is not the leader."
Cecilia nodded, a rueful smile touching her lips. "I would find it hard to believe Randolph having the intelligence to mastermind something of this nature. I suppose I should be thankful for small favors."
Reverend Thornbridge nodded, taking his hand from her shoulder to reach into his pocket, pulling out a crumpled slip of paper. "David also believes there is another shipment due to leave within the next ten days. He has identified what orders for finished cotton goods are orders for these poor pathetic creatures. They are all stamped with this device." He held out a paper for them to see. On it was stamped a rose with a sword through it.
Cecilia shuddered at the symbolism. Closing her eyes, she saw it again. This time on a signet ring. Her brother's signet ring.
Chapter 15
"Jessamine, how many visits like the last do you suppose we'll have today?" Cecilia asked, collapsing in a chair near her aunt.
Lady Meriton ensconced, on the daybed amid a nest of pillows and covers, laughed. "Branstoke certainly set the cat among the pigeons yesterday. Mr. Rippy must have made the rounds of all London's gossiping haunts after he left here. Can't you imagine him whispering in some prominent society belle's ear the latest on dit: Branstokeis taken!Then when neither of you appears at any party or play last evening, society went wild with speculation. I think our three charming guests who just departed will only be the first of many coming here today to ferret outthe truth!"she said in dire accents, her narrow eyebrows wiggling dramatically.
"You could avoid this by remaining above stairs and claiming your recent illness continues to lay you low."
"Nonsense! I'm having too much fun! This is just the restorative I need."
Cecilia made a face at her. "It is all so dashed awkward. Some of the questions those old tabbies asked quite put me to the blush! All I can do is agree he is a frequent visitor here; admit he is allowed to enter unannounced, and I swear I'll have words with Loudon about that, and then admit—in the face of sympathetic—nay, pitying looks—that he has not made me an offer! The entire situation is unbearable. To say nothing of the fact that I have more pressing concerns than assuaging society's voracious curiosity."
"I know, my dear. Frankly, I cannot help but agree with Sir James. There may be extended safety for you in having his intentions publicly known."
"That's sheer arrogance. Furthermore, he has not stated that he has intentions," Cecilia added petulantly
Lady Meriton smiled and shook her head. "When do you expect him?"
"Not until later today. He's gone to talk with Bow Street about setting a watch on Mr. Karney. Then he wants to visit with members of that Select Committee investigating corruption and flash houses to see if they might take an active interest in this matter as well."
She did not add that she hoped he would come soon, for she found among the items she took from her brother's rooms at Cheney House a certain ring and a very disturbing note.
A knock on the parlor door was followed by Loudon's entrance announcing Lady Amblethorp and her daughter. Cecilia groaned while her aunt, chuckling, instructed him to show them up.
"Ah, my dear friend, Lady Meriton," gushed Lady Amblethorp surging into the room, her hands stretched out before her. "I'm so delighted to see you recovering from that nasty indisposition. We have missed seeing you these past few days, and so I've several times told Janine. Isn't that right, Janine? I said I do so miss seeing my dear friend Lady Meriton." She pushed aside the covers at the foot of the daybed and sat down on the end. "Now that you're feeling better, we have time for a nice, comfortable coze. Janine, why don't you talk to Mrs. Waddley. I'm sure you two younger women have much news to share."
Cecilia exchanged wry glances with her aunt and received an apologetic one from Janine. Obligingly, Cecilia led Janine to a sofa closer to the windows. "You don't need to tell me," she told her young friend, a wry smile on her lips. "You've been sent on a reconnaissance mission. Your instructions are to discover all you can about the truth of the gossip regarding Sir James Branstoke and the Widow Waddley."
Janine blushed, pursed her lips, and nodded. "It is all the talk. London is buzzing with speculation." She looked up and smiled mischievously.
Cecilia was stunned at the transformation in her plain little face. Her eyes sparkled, and dimples carved into her cheeks. The expression lent her an attractive gamin prettiness.
"Miss Cresswell is livid," Janine continued. "She is doing her best to discredit Mr. Rippy. Dropping nasty innuendos about him on the side, but no one is paying her much mind. I believe society wants to see Miss Cresswell get her comeuppance. Beautiful though she may be, she is a spiteful cat without much else to offer besides her looks. Society is wearying of her."
"She will learn the hard way that beauty does not last. It is style, countenance, and wit that provides a woman with the wherewithal to stay in society's forefront. She should look to Lady Melbourne or Lady Hertford to see that," Cecilia said.
"Yes, but our regent's tastes are a bit out of the norm," Janine said drily.
Cecilia laughed. "True enough. But now, so you will not be embarrassed at asking, I will tell you Sir James has not asked me to marry him. He has been a frequent visitor here during which time we have had more arguments than pleasant chats. I don't know why Loudon lets him come up unannounced. I suspect he's been bribed, but I do not know. What he said to Mr. Rippy could, in Sir James's dry way, be taken several different ways. It is obvious which way Mr. Rippy took it."
Janine looked at her shrewdly. "I believe that is what you tell yourself. I will not press you for confidences you'd rather not give. I will say I am happy for you, though I admit I'd hoped it would have been Lord Havelock."
"Havelock! But that's the gentleman you bear a tendre for—"
"Didbear a tendre for in another time and place. He is not the man now he was then. I was hoping you could help him recover a bit of himself."
"Me? Oh, Janine, my dear. I don't know that anyone could." She bit her lip. How would this fragile young woman take the notion that the man she adored may well be a warped monster? She licked her lips. Now was the time when she could discover when Havelock's cousin disappeared if she dared to ask.
