Cecilia laughed. “I don’t believe it was that she was not being nice. She was telling us she knew Owen Sedgewick employed you, and not a close friend of his wife.”
“I was her friend.”
“I know. And a good friend,” Cecilia said quietly.
10
James arrived home shortly before dinner with Mr. Thornbridge and the Amblethorpe invitation to their Holiday musicale.
“I met the Amblethorpe footman as we were about to mount the steps before the house,” he explained to Cecilia, as he handed her the invitation and the note from Lady Amblethorpe apologizing for the late invitation as she did not know they were in town.
“Lady Oakley suggested we go this evening.”
“Lady Oakley? When did you have occasion to see her?”
“I invited her for tea. I told her about the child. She will do her part to spread the word, and you know she has a wide circle of acquaintances, not all of whom are part of society.”
“Yes, she’s a patroness to many otherwise starving artists and artisans.”
“And their circles extend outward.”
“But why did she think we should go to the Amblethorpe musicales? Not because she knows we met at one of Lady Amblethorpe’s musical entertainments, I trust.”
Cecilia laughed. “No. She believes all thetonwho remain in London will be at the musicale, and it will be an opportunity to spread the word.”
“Do you wish to go?”
“Yes, I think we should. How was your day with Mr. Thornbridge?”
“Enlightening. The gentlemen responsible for Krishan’s kidnapping have been seen loitering around the docks since early October. They have been there so much—and obviously with no employment or other reason to be there—that the Thames Marine Police have been watching them.
“What is unfortunate is the officer Miss Rangaswamy and I spoke with did not think to connect the men he had been observing over the last month with the kidnapping of the boy, particularly as the actual kidnapper was a woman.
“He saw them not long after Miss Rangaswamy and Mr. Thornbridge had talked to him. They were moving quickly off the wharf, far quicker than he typically saw them move, which is why he noted them.”
“I cannot believe we could have possibly resolved the kidnapping issue if the officer had connected the men with Mrs. Patterson,” David lamented.
“And what about the warehouse break-in?” Cecilia asked.
“There was a man in the area, perhaps in his forties or fifties, based on witnesses’ descriptions. Dressed like a man who would work in the city—neat, subdued, and professional. He stood out for that reason. And he walked about as if he had every right to be there. That is how he was able to enter Waddley’s.”
“The night clerk is young, and Waddley’s is his first position since coming out of school. He was afraid to stop the man, as he looked so comfortable with where he was. He even let him study the account book, which is how he discovered where the Sedgewick luggage could be found.”
Cecilia closed her eyes briefly as she shook her head. “Thankfully, the company will soon no longer be our concern. Assign him to days with a senior clerk for at least the next two weeks.”
David laughed. “Mr. Smith makes up the schedule, and I told him to assign the man to days for the next three weeks.”
Cecilia nodded. “Well done. I don’t know why I felt I had to make a recommendation. I should have known you would have had it well in hand.”
He inclined his head. “Where is Miss Rangaswamy?”
“She went off with Mrs. Dunstan when she came back for more flyers. She didn’t like sitting here and just waiting for news. But I expect them to return shortly.”
“I don’t blame her for her restlessness,” said James.
“When Mrs. Dunstan came back, enthused with the response she’d received from her peers, Miss Rangaswamy’s eyes gleamed with excitement. It was the happiest I’ve seen her since we met. It is good for her to get out.”
“Yes, I believe that would put her in good humor. I look forward to seeing her at dinner with her renewed good cheer,” said Mr. Thornbridge.
