“Yes, Mrs. Montgomery informed us she hadn’t moved in yet. We are actually here to see you,” James said.
“Me?”
“You are Mr. Curling, Mrs. Montgomery’s new butler, are you not?” James cajoled.
“Yes.” The man’s wariness made James smile.
“I am Sir James Branstoke, and this is my wife, Lady Branstoke. Might we come in? It’s deuced hard trying to stand talking at the door.”
The man frowned; however, he did pull the door open to allow them to enter.
“We understand from Mrs. Montgomery you had the chimneys cleaned yesterday.”
The man looked at them askance, but nodded. “Didn’t know when they were last cleaned so decided it was safer to get them cleaned before Mrs. Montgomery moved in.”
“Excellent notion. What we would desire to know is the name, and direction if you know it, of the chimney sweep.”
The butler shook his head. “Don’t know his direction, but said his name was Peasey, Percival Peasey.”
“Peasey. Excellent. With that we should be able to locate him. Thank you,” James said, turning to leave.”
“Oh, if you wants to find him now, he’s across the street,” he added.
“What?” Cecilia and James turned back to look at the butler.
More relaxed now, he went on. “Lady Newcombe’s butler came by when the sweep was here with his climbing boys. Said he wanted to engage him for today.”
“We saw a sweep on a roof across the street and down a bit as we approached. Would that be the house? The light-gray townhouse?” James asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“One last question,” Cecilia said, as she pulled another flyer from her reticule. “Does this look like one of his climbing boys?”
The butler took the paper from her and pulled it close to his eyes. He squinted as he peered down at it.
Cecilia and James exchanged glances. The man needed glasses. Cecilia doubted he could discern the features of the child. She wondered if Mrs. Montgomery was aware of her new butler’s vision challenge.
“Can’t say rightly,” he said, “however, I think so. The little one.”
“Thank you. We will leave you to your day. You have been most helpful.” James opened the door and escorted Cecilia through it.
“I thought you said the man was using a mechanical arm sweeper,” Cecilia said, as James hustled her down the steps.
“It appeared so. He may use both. Let’s find out.”
“I wish we could get word to Mr. Martin.”
“As do I, but if we leave to attempt to contact Mr. Martin, he may finish up here and be gone. We cannot chance that.”
More people and conveyances were appearing on the street, as much for the later hour as well as the fog lifting. They had to wait for a tinker’s cart to pass before they could cross the street.
James rapped the door knocker. A footman opened the door. “Lady Newcombe is not available,” he said. “You shall have to come back later.” He started to close the door; however, James’s booted foot stopped him.
“We’ve come to speak to the chimney sweep,” James said, keeping his voice neutral.
“The chimney sweep?” repeated the footman, confused.
“Yes. We believe he is here with two climbing boys?”
