The footman unconsciously relaxed, and he stepped back. “Yes, he’s on the roof.”
James used the moment to push the door open and pull Cecilia inside with him.
“And the climbing boys?” Cecilia asked.
“In the parlor, madam,” the footman said, pointing vaguely to one of the closed doors on the left.
“Take me to the chimney sweep,” said James.
“I can’t! Mr. Konrude… Let me get Mr. Konrude,” said the flustered footman.
“Quickly, then,” Cecilia said.
“Sir James? Is that you?” came a thin, reedy voice from the stairs.
“Lady Newcombe!” warmth and delight colored James’ voice. He quickly strode toward the staircase to meet the elderly woman, elegantly attired in a plum-colored morning gown coming down the stairs. He took both her hands in his and kissed her knuckles. “It is a delight to see you! I am actually surprised to see you in the city still.”
“I don’t leave for Newcombe Hall until St. Nicholas Day. I love my grandchildren; however, they fatigue me, and I keep my Christmas visit to strictly between St. Nicholas Day and Twelfth Day. That is long enough! It will take me two months to recover,” she confided.
James laughed. “Let me introduce you to my wife.” He led the elderly woman tenderly across the foyer.
“Lady Newcombe, may I present Lady Cecilia Branstoke. Cecilia, this is Lady Newcombe. She is a great friend of my mother’s, and our two families often visited as I was growing up.”
“I have fond memories of those years,” Lady Newcombe said nostalgically. Then briskly, looking over her wireframed glasses at James, “But what brings you and your beautiful bride to my home, I’m sure it wasn’t to visit an old woman.”
He acknowledged her observation with a nod. “You have a chimney sweep here today,” he stated.
“Yes,” she said slowly.
“We need to speak to him and see his climbing boys.”
She drew her head back, her brow furrowing. “Whyever for?”
“If the chimney sweep is the fellow who did the chimneys across the way yesterday, one of his climbing boys may be a child we are looking for.”
“A child you are looking for? What do you mean?” She shook her head, obviously confused.
“A small boy was kidnapped from the East India Docks three days ago,” Cecilia said softly. “They afterward sold him into service to a chimney sweep. We have reason to believe he is now apprenticed to the chimney sweep cleaning your chimneys.”
“I am confused. Why do you have an interest in this child? I’ll grant you a child kidnapping is disturbing, but the child sold into service to a chimney sweep, or a blacksmith or a tailor or other trade is not unusual. It is often to the benefit of the child.”
James inclined his head. “I understand. I am not in favor of the practice; however, I understand the practice.” He patted her hand and sighed deeply. “In this circumstance, the child is not from the poorer denizens of our city. He is the nephew of the Earl of Soothcoor.”
Lady Newcombe’s face drained of color. “A member of society? Who is his father?”
“Owen Sedgewick. He had sent his son, Christopher, to England with his nursemaid. Sedgewick was in fragile health and wanted his son to be with family in case anything happened to him.”
“I say, what’s going on here? I’ll take care of things, my lady,” said a granite-faced gentleman without a whit of hair on his head. He strode toward them from the back hallway, the footman scurrying behind him. The man’s lip curled at James and Cecilia as he rudely looked them up and down.
“It’s quite all right, Mr. Konrude,” Lady Newcombe loftily assured her butler as he approached.
“But—” the butler began, coming to stand near her.
“Forgive Mr. Konrude,” Lady Newcombe said as she extended her arm gracefully to stop him coming closer. “He hasn’t been with me long. My butler retired last month, and my son’s steward hired Mr. Konrude for me.”
Cecilia raised an eyebrow at the man’s manner and expression, and more so at the set-down Lady Newcombe gave him with her tone and countenance. She exchanged glances with James, a half-smile pulling at her lips.
“It is quite all right, Lady Newcombe. It is an early hour for callers. As I said, we would like to speak with the chimney sweep and his climbing boys, if we may,” said James. “I saw the sweep on your roof, and according to your footman, the boys are in the parlor.”
