James looked around. “Yes, you are correct, my love. Excuse us, Lady Soothcoor, Dr Lakewood,” James said, with a slight inclination of his head before he led Cecilia away.
“Lady Amblethorpe, Janine!” Cecilia enthused as they approached Lady Amblethorpe and her daughter Janine near the doorway.
Cecilia and Janine exchanged cheek kisses. They had become friends when Cecilia was investigating her husband’s death. At one time she’d considered Lord Havelock, now Janine’s fiancé, as one of the murderers. Janine had been quite vociferous in her defense of the man, even when all the evidence strongly suggested his guilt. It turned out Janine’s instincts and loyalty were well-founded, for Lord Havelock had actually been a government agent investigating the disappearance of young women.
“What are you doing in town?” Janine asked.
“An emergency brought us here,” Cecilia said.
“Oh?” Mrs. Amblethorpe asked, for that lady had a fondness for gossip.
“There was a kidnapping from the dock two days ago,” Cecilia said softly.
“Oh, no!” Janine said. She reached out her gloved hand to Cecilia. She understood how such an event could affect Cecilia.
“Not the same as last spring, I am relieved to say,” Cecilia hurried to add. “But related to this, I’d like to ask if there will be a break in Mrs. Billington’s program to allow her to rest a few minutes and have refreshments?” Cecilia asked.
“Oh yes,” Lady Amblethorpe said. “She quite insisted on it.”
“Good. During that break I would ask a boon of you,” Cecilia said.
“And what is that, my dear?”
“I should like to make an announcement to the assembled guests and a bit of a request.”
“A request?” echoed Janine.
“Yes, you see a child has been forced into an apprenticeship with a chimney sweep. He never should have been in a position for this to happen.”
“I don’t understand,” said Lady Amblethorpe.
“The Earl of Soothcoor’s nephew, Christopher Sedgewick, the Honorable Owen Sedgewick’s son, arrived in England two days ago and was kidnapped off the dock as he and his nursemaid were attempting to arrange transportation to the Soothcoor London home.”
“What?” Lady Amblethorpe and Janine said. They looked at James for confirmation. He nodded.
“It is true,” he said solemnly.
“There is a Bow Street agent on the case; however, my idea,” Cecilia said eagerly, “is to have everyone in society request their chimneys be swept—it is that time of year, after all—and to have their staff, who will have the direct communication with the sweep, to be on the lookout for the little boy.”
“But how should they recognize him? All sweeps have small climbing boys.” said Lady Amblethorpe.
“He has the same downward slanted eyes Soothcoor and his brothers have, though his are brown. The set of the eyes carries strongly in the male line.”
“They are quite distinctive,” Janine agreed. “And you say the child has them?”
“Yes. We have seen a portrait of the child. It is quite amazing the strong resemblance to Soothcoor. Bow Street has had flyers made up with an etching of the boy’s face that they are passing out. We have them as well, and our staff is distributing them to their peers. I think it would be wonderful if society would encourage their staff. There is a five-hundred-pound reward for the recovery of the child.”
The ladies’ eyes opened wide at the reward amount. “I should like to see this flyer,” Janine said.
“I have one in my reticule,” Cecilia said enthusiastically, as she opened the reticule and pulled out the flyer. She showed it to Janine and her mother.
“There is a strong family resemblance,” Lady Amblethorpe admitted. “But announcing it at my musicale?” her voice announced her doubt.
“Mother, it is not like Lady Branstoke wants any of your guests to search for the child. It is something their staff can do,” Janine said.
“But it is such a depressing subject for an uplifting night,” she complained. “I want people to enjoy themselves. How can they enjoy themselves thinking of kidnappings? No, no, no. I can’t allow it,” Lady Amblethorpe said.
“Mother!” Janine stomped her foot. “This is not the time of year for selfish behavior.”
