“That is what I believe,” Cecilia said.
“So again, we have strayed. What is the mystery?”
“Someone paid others to kidnap little Christopher.”
“What!” Lady Oakley exclaimed. She set her teacup down abruptly. Tea sloshed across the tablecloth.
Cecilia used her serviette to blot up the puddle of tea.
“Bow Street believes the miscreants were hired months ago to lie in wait for a ship bringing Christopher Sedgewick to England. Their instructions were to keep him away from his uncle by any means.”
“Any means? And how is this known?”
“They captured the men; however, they had lost Christopher before they were captured.”
“Lost you say?”
“Yes. Someone kidnapped the child from them!”
“Dear Lord.”
“But Bow Street does have a lead. They believe the boy was sold to a chimney sweep as an apprentice.”
“Achimney sweep?”
“Yes.”
“Krishan—Christopher—is five, but he is small. Mr. Martin says he is the size the chimney sweeps want to climb the chimneys.” explained Miss Rangaswamy.
“Who is Mr. Martin?”
“Mr. Martin is the Bow Street agent assigned to the case,” Cecilia explained.
Lady Oakley frowned. “And what would you have of me? You obviously did not invite me here just to gossip.”
Cecilia smiled. “I am hoping to use your connections to spread the word about Christopher and encourage thetonto have their chimneys cleaned and be on the lookout for the child.”
“Do you have a picture?”
“Better—we have flyers.” Cecilia crossed to the sofa where she’d sat before and pulled a stack of flyers from her sewing basket. She laid them before Lady Oakley.
“This is the child?”
Rani nodded.
“Good God, he has Alastair’s drooping eyes, poor child.”
Rani bristled. “He is a beautiful child!”
The corner of Lady Oakley’s mouth kicked up in a half smile. “Yes, he is, but those eyes on an adult male do not carry the same charm as they do on a child. No matter. He is obviously a Sedgewick.” She stared down at the flyer picture a moment longer. “Lady Amblethorpe is still in town and has planned a holiday musicale at her home this evening. Anyone remaining in town should be there. You should go.”
“We have not been invited.”
Lady Oakley slid her a sideways glance. “You will be. And so I must go. I will set my housekeeper to ordering my chimneys swept and pay a little visit on Lady Amblethorpe. If the boy is in London, he will be found. Who could miss those eyes!” She rose from the table. “She looked down at Miss Rangaswamy. “I wish you well, my dear, in whatever you do.” She said cagily.
She kissed Cecilia’s cheek goodbye and left.
“What did she mean, she wish me well? Her voice was not nice.”
