Fancy was distracted from thoughts of murder and mayhem, her mind on more pleasant things.
27
After the breakfast ended and the well-wishers saw the bride and groom off on their wedding trip, a few guests lingered to chat, hosted by the groom’s brother and sister-in-law. Severin took the opportunity to speak with Garrity and Kent whilst their ladies carried on in their own group.
Having known Garrity for years and fought side by side with both men during the rescue of Tessa Kent’s grandfather, Severin respected and trusted their judgement. Kent and Garrity knew the darker side of life just as he did. The three of them might have had territorial disputes and other minor skirmishes, but as men of honor they shared a sacrosanct code: women and children were to be protected.
In the past, when the mates of these men were threatened, they had set aside their differences to help one another. Knight knew they would do the same for him. Especially since their wives had taken a liking to Fancy.
“Her Grace’s origin is the key to all this,” Kent said, his bespectacled gaze thoughtful. “Why would someone want to harm a babe?”
Severin shared his theory. “Perhaps the babe was born out of wedlock, and the parents needed to get rid of her for fear of scandal.”
“True,” Kent allowed, “but why dress the babe in such finery? Why leave the babe in a field and not some place like an orphanage or foundling hospital? And I hate to say this, but if someone wanted to be rid of a babe, they could have done so in a more…permanent fashion.”
Severin nodded starkly. These were questions he’d also mulled over.
“Don’t forget money and revenge as motives.” Shadowy emotion flickered in Garrity’s dark gaze. “In my experience, those are the most common roots of evil.”
“You think someone might have taken the babe out of revenge?” Kent asked.
“Anything is possible,” Garrity said coolly. “It could also be a kidnapping gone wrong. Someone might have taken the babe and perhaps they didn’t receive the ransom they demanded. Or they did, but they didn’t bother returning the babe.”
“Why leave that note?” Kent pondered aloud. “If some bastard was heartless enough to steal an infant, then surely he wouldn’t pen a missive trying to keep the babe safe.”
“You are assuming that the point of the note was to protect the babe. But perhaps the real impetus behind the note was to keep the babe away from London so that she was never found. Which brings us back to revenge as a possible motive.”
Kent stared at his business partner. “Devil and damn, that’s a pessimistic take on the matter.”
“I call it realistic. One of us has to leave off the rose-colored glasses,” Garrity said wryly.
Garrity’s hypothesis about kidnapping sparked a thought in Severin.
“How would one go about seeing if a babe, likely from a wealthy family, went missing in London twenty-two years ago?” Severin asked.
“Good question.” Kent stroked his chin. “Back then, before the establishment of the police force, I suppose a family with means would hire Bow Street Runners or other investigators to look into the case.”
“The Charleys might have sounded the alarm that a child had gone missing,” Garrity added.
Charleys were the night watchmen who had patrolled the streets prior to the establishment of Sir Robert Peel’s policing force. There were still a few around, mostly in wealthier enclaves where the householders could afford to pay the parish fee for additional security.
“I could have my men locate Charleys who were working at the time,” Severin said. “It won’t be easy, given that it was over two decades ago, but if Fancy was indeed taken from a wealthy family, that would narrow down the neighborhoods at least.”
“You could concentrate on the Charleys of the most affluent parishes,” Kent agreed. “St. James’s, St. George Hanover Square, and Piccadilly.”
“Even so, it will be no small task hunting down the old watchmen,” Garrity remarked. “I’ll lend you some of my men.”
“My brother Ambrose runs an investigative agency,” Kent said, “and he has old contacts who were Bow Street Runners. He could see if any of his cronies recall a case of a missing child fitting our time frame.”
“I am in your debt, gentlemen,” Severin said.
He wasn’t someone who accepted help easily. Perhaps because help had been so rarely offered. He would, however, do whatever it took to ensure Fancy’s safety.
“We shall call it even,” Kent said. “After all, you helped Tessa and I in our time of need.”