Mr. Moore gestured towards the door. “After you,” he encouraged.
Enid nodded her thanks before she stepped inside. She stopped in the entry hall and waited for Mr. Moore. A rounded-faced guard sat at a desk in the center of the room and he had a frown marring his features. It went away when Mr. Moore appeared by her side.
The guard rose. “Good afternoon, Mr. Moore,” he greeted. “Are you here to see Lady Eugenie?”
“I am, Allen,” Mr. Moore confirmed. “And this lady will be accompanying me.”
The frown returned to Allen’s features. “Sir David said Lady Eugenie was to have no visitors.”
“This lady is not a visitor but, rather, she works for me.”
Allen’s eyes perused the length of her with disbelief in his voice. “Since when did you hire women?”
“That is none of your concern,” Mr. Moore replied. “Will you go retrieve Lady Eugenie or do I need to speak to Sir David about this?”
“And what is this lady’s name that you so graciously hired?” Allen asked with his thick eyebrows raised up.
Enid closed her eyes, knowing her luck had run out. How would this stranger know her name?
To her surprise, Mr. Moore did not hesitate as he revealed, “Her name is Lady Enid Longbourn.”
Allen glared at her for a long moment before he came around his desk with keys in his hand. “I will bring Lady Eugenie to Room A, but I will remain outside of the door.”
“I would expect no less of you,” Mr. Moore said.
As the guard walked away, Mr. Moore pointed towards a corridor and asked, “Shall we?”
“Thank you, sir,” Enid replied, feeling conflicted. How did he know her name? She was quite certain that they hadn’t been introduced before. But perhaps she was wrong. It had been over two years since she had been in Society.
Mr. Moore matched her stride and they walked in silence down the dimly lit corridor. Once they arrived at Room A, he opened the door and allowed her to enter first.
Enid stepped into the small room and saw a table with two chairs that faced one another. The lone window had bars over it and offered little in the way of light.
Mr. Moore pulled out a chair and reached into his pocket for a handkerchief. He dusted off the chair before he asked, “Would you care to sit?”
Enid murmured her thanks as she sat down. She wasn’t quite sure what she should do in this situation. Should she just ask how he was acquainted with her? But would he think of her as brazen for asking such a thing? Although, what did it matter what he thought? She was already alone with him in a room, and she didn’t even know his name.
Mr. Moore smiled as he placed his satchel down onto the table. “It is evident that you don’t remember me, my lady, but I am a friend of your brother’s.”
“I am afraid I am at a disadvantage, sir,” Enid said. “I don’t recall being introduced to you.”
“We were never properly introduced, but we attended the same social events,” Mr. Moore shared. “Since we have no one to introduce us, allow me the privilege.” He bowed. “My name is Samuel Moore and I am the eldest son of Lord Harrogate. I also happen to be Lady Eugenie’s barrister.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Enid said with a polite tip of her head.
Mr. Moore gave her a pointed look that was no doubt meant to intimidate her. But it failed to do so. She had seen too many things, done too many things, for her to be affected in such a way.
“Does Malcolm know that you are here?” he asked.
“No, he doesn’t,” she replied, “and I would prefer to keep it that way.”
“You want me to lie to Malcolm?”
“No, I would just like you to keep this conversation private,” Enid replied. “I assume you know how to keep a secret, Mr. Moore.”
“More than you know, but I have no intention of keeping a secret from my friend. He has a right to know what his sister is up to.”
“Then I shall hire you as my barrister.”
