Page 53 of With Good Grace
‘We were not sure how long we would be away,’ she added evasively, apparently thinking she owed Olivia an explanation. ‘It seemed more practical to have the house lived in. You hear such terrible things about properties being vandalised if they are left vacant for too long.’
‘Quite.’ Olivia realised that Sarah’s husband had let the house because he needed to, and Sarah was attempting to save face with her explanation. She ought to change the subject, ask about Italy and how Sarah had enjoyed seeing that country, or enquire after her children’s welfare, but thoughts of Tom made it impossible for her to do and say the right things. ‘It must be a surprise to see us here and so I shall come straight to the point.’ Olivia swallowed, beset with nerves and a fresh wave of despair that she somehow managed to shake off. ‘My son Tom went to the park with Molly this morning and…well, he has disappeared.’
‘Oh my dear!’ Sarah leapt up and engulfed Olivia in a fierce hug. ‘What is being done to find him? Have you involved the police? You must be beside yourself with worry and, given the circumstances and Lord Torbay’s presence, I imagine this is not a social call. I assume that you think I can help in some way. Needless to say, you can depend up me.’
‘We wondered what you can recall about Molly’s background,’ Jake said, presumably noticing that Olivia was fighting a fresh bout of despair and was momentarily unable to speak for herself.
Sarah widened her eyes; her shock seemingly genuine. ‘You imagine Molly deliberately colluded with the kidnappers—assuming that he has been kidnapped?’ She shook her head. ‘I cannot think of any reason why she would do such a thing.’
‘We have our own reasons for not involving the police,’ Jake said. ‘Suffice it to say that the matter is of the utmost sensitivity. We believe we know who has him, but not where he is being held or how Molly came to be involved. And she must have been involved. The matter could not have been contrived so easily otherwise. Indeed, she arranged it so that Tom’s regular nursemaid was called away upon a fool’s errand, knowing she would be asked to take her place and accompany Tom on his morning excursion to the park.’
‘Oh dear.’ Sarah looked genuinely distressed. ‘And to think I recommended the girl to you.’ Her eyes flew wide and two spots of colour appeared high on her pale cheeks. ‘I hope you do not imagine that I had anything to—’
‘The thought did not enter my head,’ Olivia told her friend, even though she was fairly sure that it would have entered Jake’s. ‘However, we did not know where else to start asking questions. That is why we came to you first.’
‘Let me try to remember what I know of Molly.’ Sarah fell into momentary contemplation. ‘I recall her being a serious sort of girl, but she gave good service and no trouble.’ She shook her head. ‘That does not help very much, does it?’
‘Do you know where she went or who she consorted with on her afternoons off?’ Olivia asked.
Sarah shook her head. ‘As far as I recall, she had no family and she never mentioned any particular friends.’
‘Is there another servant in this house who was friendly with her?’ Jake asked.
‘I doubt it. We let all the servants go when we closed up the house. Only old Mrs Dale and her husband remained. She is the cook and he turns his hand to just about anything. They were in the employ of my husband’s family long before we were married and he felt that he could not repay their loyal service by putting them out of work. So, they stayed on and worked for our tenant, but I understand he simply employed a maid of all work to help them out and she is no longer here. Besides, she did not know Molly. Now that we are back, Mrs Dale has resumed her duties as cook for us and Dale does whatever we need him to.’
‘My man is in the kitchens as this moment,’ Jake said. ‘I hope you don’t think it presumptuous but in situations as sensitive as this social mores must be set aside in favour of expediency.’
‘No apologies are necessary, Lord Torbay.’ Sarah smiled at them. ‘In your situation I would do precisely the same thing and if Mrs Dale knows anything about Molly, I am sure she will be forthcoming.’
‘Have you seen or heard anything of Hubert recently?’ Olivia asked after a short pause.
‘Hubert? You think he is behind your son’s abduction?’ If Sarah’s surprise was contrived then she could have earned a living treading the boards herself. ‘I know harsh words were exchanged between you when Marcus died but surely he has no reason to gothatfar?’ Sarah looked very disturbed. ‘But of course, you would not ask without good reason. And to answer your question, I have not seen Hubert since we returned to London, but then we have only been back for a week and have not entertained or been out in company. However, it is entirely possible that Daniel may have been in contact with him.’
Olivia shared a speaking look with Jake.
‘Your husband and Sir Hubert are friends?’ Jake asked.
‘They are business partners.’ Sarah raised her brow. ‘I assumed you were aware of that but clearly this is news to you.’
‘How did they become involved?’ Olivia asked.
‘When Marcus and your brother parted ways, Olivia, Hubert saw how well Marcus had done with that trade and decided to try his own hand at it, so he threw in his lot with Daniel.’ Sarah stared at her hands, folded neatly in her lap. ‘As you have probably already surmised from the shabby state of this house and our need to economise for a year or two, Daniel’s import business was not in a good way. Hubert was willing to invest in it and, well, not to put too fine a point on it, the influx of cash saved Daniel. He and Hubert came to an agreement. Hubert looked after this end of things whilst Daniel cut a swathe through Italy looking for new clients. That is what we were really doing there. The talk of a grand tour was to save face. Trust me,’ she added, shuddering, ‘there was nothing in the least bit grand about some of our lodgings while we were away.’
‘I am sorry,’ Olivia said, reaching across to touch Sarah’s hand.
‘My troubles are nothing compared to the loss of Tom. What shall you do now to try and find him?’
Olivia spread her hands. ‘Wait, I suppose. Whoever has him wants something from me and I am sure it will not be long before they contact me.’
‘Where are your husband’s business premises, just as a matter of interest, Mrs Granville?’ Jake asked.
‘Why do you wish to know?’ Sarah had clearly taken offence. ‘I can assure you that my husband did not abduct Tom and he is not being held there.’
‘Not for one moment did I suppose your husband played any part in this matter,’ Jake assured her, sounding completely sincere. ‘But I cannot make the same claim in respect of Sir Hubert. A warehouse, you must admit, would be a perfect hiding place for a small child; the last place anyone would think to look. Especially since it is a place that Sir Hubert must be familiar with and which he assumes we know nothing about.’
The tension left Sarah’s body and she gave Jake the address of the warehouse, situated in New Thames Street.
‘Thank you, Mrs Granville. I must ask you please not to share particulars of this conversation with your husband, just in case he mentions the matter to Sir Hubert. That gentleman could be innocent of all involvement and so I would prefer not to insult him if he is, or give him advance warning that we are on to him if he is culpable.’
