Page 48

“We can be safe and help him at the same time. We simply need to find the man on the paper. Then we can find out who hired him. It is the least we can do,” Orris said, shifting in her chair as she felt the unspoken accusation in Violetta’s words.

“What man? What paper, for that matter?” Violetta crossed her arms over herself.

Blast! Orris had not had the opportunity to inform her sisters and cousin. “Lord Abram has a document, a clue, with the name of a man unknown to him. It has details of his comings and goings, so we believe finding the man will lead to identifying the murderer.”

Her sister shook her head, her elegant curls shifting quickly with the moment. “This is worse than I thought. We can help without placing ourselves in danger, Orris,” Violetta responded. “What if we find out who the man is by asking servants first? They are knowledgeable about individuals in various places around the city. They have family, and nothing travels quite as fast as the names of the unsavory through gossip. We can start with the scullery maid and work our way up. We’ll leave Dorchester out of it. I fear he will tell Mama.”

“And the lady’s maids, too. Who does that leave?”

“The footmen, the drivers, the chef. Perhaps the gardener,” Gladys said.

“Then I can ask my household staff,” Myrtle suggested. “They can be quite resourceful. In fact, most of the people living in the city are related in one way or another to those who work in service to the beau monde. Queen Victoria has over two hundred employed for Buckingham Palace alone. This is a connected web. I am sure we will find the man named on this paper. We can start tonight.” She seemed quite pleased with herself.

As much as Orris disliked being prevented from doing exactly what she wanted, Myrtle’s logic made sense.

“I am quite pleased with this notion,” Gladys agreed.

“I prefer asking within our own houses to gallivanting through the streets at night. This seems much safer,” Violetta said.

“Fine. We shall endeavor to find out who this person is and relate the news to Samuel, who can go wherever Abram is and tell him.” While Orris agreed with the resolution, it did not fix everything. Part of her was still mourning the clear rejection of the man who had shown her how fulfilling love could be.

“Come, Orris. I shall braid your hair for tomorrow,” Gladys said.

“Mine next, Cousin,” Violetta said.

As they retired to their bedchambers, Orris rubbed at the all-too-familiar ache in her chest.

*

In order to prevent alarming the staff members, Orris decided to wait until the following morning to head downstairs and inquire whether any of them knew a Mr. Grady Easton. Initially, no one knew. There wasn’t a single person who had heard of or knew of any Easton who lived in the city.

She asked almost everyone on the household staff, from scullery maid to the doorman. The cook, Mrs. Lancaster, said that she had known a young lady with the last name of Easton several years prior, at a different home that she’d worked at. Then she suggested that Orris inquire of the Fredericks’s staff. Myrtle had noted there’d been no word, but she could not continue to wait.

But the thought did spark something in her mind. Samuel had a butler by the name of Harper. He had always given her the impression that beneath his still exterior, he was a man who had well and good knowledge of London’s darker side. If there was a sinister person she was looking for, perhaps she should go find someone who knew sinister things. Myrtle would caution against going to speak to Harper, especially since they were going against Samuel’s advice. Best not to tell her, or any of them, for that matter. Should Harper happen to mention it to Samuel, she did not want Myrtle to be blamed.

Orris would have to plan her trip discreetly and efficiently. There was a ball later that evening, and her mama would expect her to attend. The ball started at seven. If she were late, her mama would have a fit.

She did not bother to don the disguise anymore. In fact, she told Dorchester that she was going to see Samuel’s stepmother under the guise of borrowing a brooch she had seen her wear. One that would complement her dress. It would please Mama that she was taking her appearance more seriously. After all, the better one looked, the easier to pursue a husband.

Dorchester arranged for her carriage, and when she arrived, she walked up to the door and knocked. It was not long before Samuel’s butler, Harper, opened the door.

“Good day to you, Miss Gray. This is a surprise. If you are seeking an audience with the viscount, I should think you would find him within your own domicile.” His eyes held a mischievous twinkle coupled with a wry smirk.

He had never appeared without a witty remark, which Orris appreciated. “Oh, no. I am looking for you. I wondered if you might be willing to help me with something.”

“I will do all I can, if there is anything to be done.”

Orris stepped inside the palatial home where she had once been a neighbor. “Thank you. I appreciate you seeing me about an appointment.”

“I do not take appointments,” Harper said, waving her off.

“I wanted to know if you knew a person. His name is Grady Easton. He is someone who might be involved in a murder.” Orris bristled as she said the words. It is not often that she had to speak to such unseemly things.

“Yes, I received a note from the viscount two days past. Alas, I have never heard of Grady Easton. But I do know a woman owns a cart who sells street food in Whitechapel. I haven’t had a chance to seek her out due to some prior obligations. Could be one of her relations. I cannot say for sure. It is not the most common name, so it is worth going to see her.”

“Thank you. This has been most helpful.”

“It is my pleasure. I will warn you, however, do not venture into that neighborhood alone. It is not safe for a lady such as yourself. People will see you as a mark. If you are going, take someone with you. Preferably a large someone.”