“Is there a Mrs. Walker?” She glanced about the room as if looking for a sign that he had a wife.
“No.” He sat back on the settee, wondering what he could say to reassure her. “My brother and his wife also live in the city, not far from here.” Would mentioning that his brother was the Earl of Aberland aid him or only cause her more concern?
“Oh?”
“I intend to call upon them this afternoon and advise them of your predicament. Perhaps they could also help in some way.”
“How?”
He smiled, appreciating her bluntness. “I suppose that depends on you and your plans. I don’t know what sort of position you were hoping for, but my sister-in-law is well connected with other ladies in London. She might know of someone in need of your skills, whatever they might be.”
“How kind. That would be very helpful.” She adjusted the gown to keep it on her shoulders, drawing his attention to the smooth skin visible above the gaping neckline. “I confess I’m still trying to determine how to go about finding a position. The thought of using another registry office is far from appealing.”
“Understandable, given your experience.”
He shifted the conversation to other topics to distract her from the interview ahead. Recounting the details of what happened would be painful enough without further dwelling on them. Hopefully, some of his own questions would be answered once the Runner arrived and she shared her story.
Nearly three-quarters of an hour had passed before Pierre announced the arrival of Thomas Hurdy, a former sergeant with a beefy build and receding hairline, who now spent his days investigating crimes that were reported to him. While paid a salary, Runners also received a reward for the conviction of criminals, encouraging them to see their investigations through to the end.
Daniel appreciated his military background. Surely that aided his efforts to conduct an investigation with efficiency and thoroughness.
“Now then,” Hurdy began as he settled into a chair after introductions had been made. “Why don’t you tell me how I can be of assistance?”
Daniel gave Miss Linfield a reassuring nod, and she told Mr. Hurdy her story, managing to share the details concisely.
“Where was the brothel located?” Hurdy asked.
“I couldn’t say for certain. I’m not familiar with London and I was never told the address. I only know it was run by a Mr. Finch and a Mrs. Cole.”
Hurdy frowned, shaking his head. “There are numerous brothels in the city. Without more details, I’m not certain what I can do.”
Miss Linfield glanced at Daniel in concern before returning her attention to the Runner. “Can’t you make inquiries based on their names?”
“I’ll do what I can, but I can’t make any promises.”
“What of the registry office?” Daniel asked. “Perhaps starting there would be wise.”
“I don’t see how. Just because a worker there slipped Miss Linfield’s information and whereabouts to a brothel owner doesn’t mean it happens on a regular basis. And it would be difficult if not impossible to prove.”
“Perhaps not.” Miss Linfield clutched her hands that rested on her lap into fists. “There was another woman in the brothel. Mary. Something similar happened to her.”
“Do you know Mary’s surname?”
“No.” Miss Linfield’s reply was barely above a whisper. Daniel could hear the defeat in her voice even though her posture remained perfect.
“I’ll have a look at the registry office, do a little digging, and see if I can locate the brothel. If you remember any additional details, such as the name of the place or the address, send word.” Hurdy rose. “Otherwise it’s a bit of a wild goose chase.” The man turned to go only to turn back. “A word of advice, miss. London is full of people willing to take advantage of those in need of assistance. You’d be better off finding a position through a personal recommendation.”
Miss Linfield rose as well. “Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Hurdy. However, those of us new to London have difficulty knowing who to trust, let alone gain a personal recommendation. One would expect a registry office to be just that—an office where one could register to help find employment.”
Hurdy nodded as he retrieved his hat from a nearby table. “True enough. I’ll be in touch when I know more.”
“Why does it feel as if that were a waste of time?” Miss Linfield asked after Hurdy took his leave.
“We’ll have to hope he finds something when he starts to dig.” Yet for Daniel, that wasn’t enough. “Which registry office did you use? I should very much like to have a closer look.”
She shifted, hesitating before she advised him of the name and address. “Why?”
“I don’t want anyone else to experience what you did. It won’t hurt to make a few inquiries of my own there to see what I can find. Something foul is afoot, and I should like to get to the bottom of it.”
The weight of her regard now had him shifting. He didn’t care to examine the reason for his outrage overmuch. But he detested the idea of people taking advantage of others for their own personal gain.
Richard wasn’t the only one who believed in doing his part to make their country better. His brother had risked his life for the good of England. The least Daniel could do was try to shut down a scheme that took advantage of those seeking honest employment.
Chapter Three
Beatrice paused after Mr. Walker assisted her to alight from the carriage later that afternoon and stared up at his brother’s home with dismay. “My goodness.”
The mansion had the look of a Georgian villa and shouted wealth, with a three-story red brick exterior, wrought-iron garden fence and balconies. Just who was his brother to have a home like this? It was even nicer than Mr. Walker’s.
The imposing appearance made her even more nervous than she already was. When Mr. Walker had suggested she stay with his brother and sister-in-law instead of him, she’d been reluctant
