Forcing herself to climb out of the bed, Cecily groaned when her feet landed on the cold floor. Only then did she remember that she was completely nude. Oh, Lord, she was a heathen! Vulnerable and exposed, she hurried to locate the nightgown she’d happily shed the night before and covered herself modestly. When she’d done up the final button, she tugged at the bell rope and awaited Sally’s assistance.
Resolved to notify Nigel of last night’s attack, she wrote out a simple missive. Perhaps her father’s employees had discovered something about Miss Daphne Cunnington. She was the main suspect as far as Cecily was concerned. She wished Stephen hadn’t dismissed her suspicions so handily.
After dressing and taking tea, Cecily felt no better than she had upon waking. Drat, she hoped she was not coming down with something. This was not a good time for her to take to her bed! She had plans to return Emily’s books to the lending library and then meet up with Madam Chantal for a final fitting on a few more of her new dresses. She hoped that whatever was sickening her would pass quickly so that she could perhaps meet up with Rhoda, Sophia, or Emily later on that day. She was curious as to how Sophia’s evening with Lord Harold had gone. She felt guilty that her friends were giving so much of their time to her problems as of late. It was not as though they all didn’t have equally important lives. Yes, Cecily was determined to spend quality time with at least one of them after her fitting with the madam.
Salaam waited patiently for her outside of her chamber, and Chadwick was planted right beside him. “Do you plan on going out today, my lady?” Salaam asked after a deep bow. “Mr. Nottingham has given me strict orders to watch over you both while you are at home and in public. I shall do my best to remain as inconspicuous as possible.”
Thinking about the long fitting she had planned, she smiled at Salaam. However would this giant, foreign-looking man be inconspicuous in such a feminine setting?
She informed him of her plans and resigned herself to having less privacy than normal. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, catching sight of Peters, she beckoned to him and requested he take her missive to Nigel’s office. She winced slightly as she pulled it from her reticule and handed it over but was not going to let her plans be foiled for the day. Perhaps a brisk walk would help.
Waving off Sherman’s attempt to have the carriage brought around, Cecily stepped outside into the sunshine and headed toward the library. Salaam and Chadwick followed stealthily behind her.
After rising early,Stephen interviewed most of the staff in regards to any strangers who may or may not have had access to the house the previous evening. Completing his notes, he heard Cecily leaving but did not step out in time to catch her. He did, however, catch Peters as the servant was departing to perform the errand the countess had given him. This was most fortuitous indeed.
Stephen opened the door to the study and indicated for Peters to enter. Once inside, Stephen closed the door and addressed the servant. He used a conspiratorial tone. “I am sure you realize, Peters, that an adder of that size did not arrive in Lady Kensington’s room by accident.”
Nodding solemnly, the footman looked earnestly serious. “I did at that, sir.”
Stephen frowned. “Then I think, perhaps, you realize the necessity of investigating the identity of the person who is threatening the countess.”
The footman nodded again.
“She has given you a missive to deliver.” Acting on instinct, he added, “To her man of business. I need to have a word with him, and am of mind to deliver it myself. We must discuss her safety.”
“Yes, sir,” Peters said, handing over the missive a bit doubtfully.
Stephen glanced down at it and was relieved to see that the direction was written clearly on the outside of the envelope. “My thanks then, good man. I shall inform the lady of any response the gentleman has.”
Peters withdrew, and Stephen tapped the envelope on his desk thoughtfully. He was tempted to open the envelope and read the contents but could not quite bring himself to invade her privacy to that extent. With that, he grabbed his hat and departed to finally have a meeting with Cecily’s — and thereby Thomas Findlay’s — man of business.
The building he arrived at was rather unremarkable, a dull red without any noticeable signs or distinctive ornamentation. It was the perfect place to set up when one had no wish to draw attention to himself.
He entered and climbed to the second floor. The office was marked only by a number. Without knocking, Stephen let himself in.
He ought to have known! “Niles Waverly, as I live and breathe. How the devil are you?” Stephen was surprised and pleased when he recognized the man behind the desk. He had met Niles in India years ago while negotiating with some rather slippery suppliers. Ah, yes, Waverly had been there at Findlay’s request.
Standing up with as much of a smile as Waverly ever cracked, Nigel reached over and grasped Stephen’s hand heartily. “Nottingham, I’m doing well. So you’ve finally returned to England then? I suppose a man can’t stay away from his homeland forever.”
After dispatching with the normal requisite exchange of platitudes, Stephen sat down in the chair in front of Nigel’s desk and leaned forward.
After a moment’s hesitation, he finally spoke, “I’m here on behalf of Cecily Nottingham.” Stephen handed over Cecily’s missive and waited while the other man read through it quickly. After a moment, Stephen continued, “There have been a few bungled attempts to harm her. Upon discovering that some of her father’s men were, in fact, watching over her, I thought it might be a good idea to put our heads together to discuss what, by Jove, is going on.”
The nondescript, solemn solicitor pondered Stephen’s words before speaking.
“Mr. Findlay will not be happy when he returns. His daughter is everything to him.”
Stephen swallowed hard. He’d begun to feel this way himself. “She is… a very special lady indeed.
These words drew a slight lift of one eyebrow from Nigel. “I would not normally discuss Findlay’s business, Nottingham, but knowing of your solid reputation and character, I believe collaborating with you would be in Lady Kensington’s best interest. We have been watching the situation and are concerned as well. Am I correct in the understanding that an attempt was made on her life just last night?”
Stephen explained the incident in detail. “We haven’t any solid evidence whatsoever, and after interviewing the staff earlier this morning, I’ve learned nothing that can be considered useful. Did your men see anybody unusual entering the house yesterday? We think it may have been two people, rather than one, based upon the placement of the snake.”
Nigel nodded. “Sixtus said there were two people seen entering the house who did not appear to be servants. One was a man, similar height to you, and the other appeared to be a woman. But they were dressed in unrelieved black from head to toe. My men thought at the time that they must be a couple of beggars.”
“Did they say what time the two entered?” Stephen asked.
“Late in the evening before darkness fell, they departed about thirty minutes later. I’ve given my men orders to follow and question them if they appear on the scene again.”
