“I would like to hire you to track Mr. William Kendall’s whereabouts. He used to be my solicitor, but I dismissed him when I discovered he was having an inappropriate relationship with my sister.”
“Can you define inappropriate?” Mr. Follett questioned.
“He wrote her a letter.”
“I see,” Mr. Follett replied. “I believe your message stated that this was the first, and only time, Mr. Kendall had written your sister a letter.”
“That’s correct.” He reached for a piece of paper on the desk and extended it towards him. “This is the address of the law firm where Mr. Kendall works.”
Mr. Follett accepted it. “Thank you.”
“Your job is to ensure that Mr. Kendall goes nowhere near my sister, at any cost,” Edward stated firmly.
“I understand,” Mr. Follett replied as he folded the piece of paper and slipped it into his waistcoat pocket. “This assignment appears easy enough.”
Edward leaned forward in his chair and rested his arms on the desk. “I don’t believe Mr. Kendall would be foolish enough to attempt to make contact with my sister again, but one cannot be too careful, especially when we are dealing with one’s reputation.”
“I agree, my lord.”
As Mr. Follett began to rise, Edward said, “There is one more thing.”
The Bow Street Runner returned to his seat and gave him an expectant look. “Which is?”
His eyes darted towards Martin before saying, “I have decided I would like you to investigate Mr. Paul Caney, as well.”
“Who is Mr. Caney?” Mr. Follett asked, his eyes growing alert.
“He is my sister’s suitor, and he can never discover that you have been investigating him,” he warned.
“That will not be a problem,” Mr. Follett assured him. “Our investigations are discreet but very thorough.”
Edward picked up another paper and extended it towards him. “This is Mr. Caney’s address. His grandfather was the late Earl of Stratton, and he resides at the ancestral townhouse with his cousin, the new Lord Stratton.”
“This should be fairly straightforward,” Mr. Follett observed. “Do you have any reason to suspect that Mr. Caney is a rake or frequents gambling halls?”
“No, he appears to be a decent enough chap, but I just want to be certain,” Edward asserted.
Mr. Follett nodded his understanding as he rose. “Very good. Now if you will excuse me, I will start working immediately.”
“I appreciate that,” Edward said, rising.
With a dangerous gleam in his eye, Mr. Follett asked, “Would you like me to rough Mr. Kendall up some?”
Edward blinked. “Heavens, no,” he replied. “I just want to ensure he stays far away from my sister.”
A disappointed look came to the Bow Street Runner’s face. “As you wish, my lord.”
After Mr. Follett exited his study, Martin stared at him in disbelief. “You are having Mr. Caney investigated?”
“Is that a problem?”
“What do you think the Bow Street Runner will find?”
“I assume nothing,” Edward replied, “but one can never be too cautious, can they?”
Martin pressed his lips together. “That is a bad idea,” he said. “Mr. Caney would be furious if he ever discovered that you had him investigated.”
“Why should it matter?” Edward asked. “Miss Blackmore was the one that suggested I should hire a Bow Street Runner to follow Mr. Kendall, and I just assumed I could kill two birds with one stone.”
“Miss Blackmore recommended hiring a Bow Street Runner?”
“Yes, she did,” Edward replied, coming around the desk.
“I sure hope you know what you’re doing,” Martin said, rising. “Investigating your sister’s suitor is quite bold, even for you.”
“Do not fret, my friend,” Edward responded. “It shall all work out.”
Martin stared at him with a puzzled expression. “Why are you so cheerful this evening?”
“I am not cheerful. I am merely being optimistic.”
“Which is so unlike you.” Martin stepped closer to him, and his eyes roamed his face. “Are you feeling all right?” he asked. “Should I call for the doctor?”
As he brushed past his friend, Edward muttered, “Why am I friends with an idiot?”
“I think I’m in love,” Miss Olivia declared just before she spun around in a circle, her blue gown billowing around her.
Amelia laughed as she leaned back in her chair. “I must admit that went well.”
“It went stupendously!” Miss Olivia declared as she stopped spinning.
“That it did,” Katherine agreed. “Not only was Lady Hawkins complementary of you, but Lord George asked to call on you at a later date.”
Miss Olivia beamed. “I stuck to the polite conversational topics that you directed me to, but Lord George still asked my thoughts on a parade of subjects,” she reported. “He actually wanted to hear my opinions.”
“It is evident that