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Mr. Walker gave her a sad smile. “Frankly, I am not sure there is anything else we can do. The constable will do his due diligence and investigate this case, but his workload is great. Hence the need for a Bow Street Runner.”
“How soon do you think it will take before the Bow Street Runner will take the case?”
“Hopefully, straight away, but there is a chance it might take a few days before they truly start investigating,” Mr. Walker replied.
“That won’t do,” Madalene mused. “Has anyone spoken to her family yet?”
“I hadn’t realized that Miss Hardy had any family,” Mr. Walker said, giving her an odd look.
Madalene nodded. “She isn’t entirely forthcoming about them.”
“Do you know where they are residing?” Mr. Walker asked. “I would be happy to notify them myself.”
“I do,” Madalene replied, wincing. “But I daresay Miss Hardy would be furious if I revealed where they are living.”
Mr. Walker lifted his brow in disbelief. “Miss Hardy is missing. Why would it matter if anyone discovered where her family is residing?”
“I can’t explain the reasons without betraying her trust,” Madalene explained.
Mr. Walker wiped his hand over his mouth, the disapproval evident on his features. “A woman’s life is at risk, Miss Dowding. I am surprised that you would do something to hamper the investigation.”
“Perhaps I could go speak to Mrs. Hardy and her daughter and ask them to seek out the constable directly,” Madalene suggested.
Frowning, Mr. Walker said, “That seems like rather a foolhardy thing to do.”
“I disagree,” Madalene replied, coming to her decision. “I shall go speak to them immediately.” She rose from the settee.
“With all due respect, Miss, I believe we should let the constable and Bow Street Runner handle this case,” Mr. Walker stated.
“If nothing comes from seeking out Mrs. Hardy, then I will notify you at once of their location,” she said, her voice firm.
“As you wish, Miss Dowding.” He bowed. “I will be awaiting word from you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Walker.”
After her solicitor had departed from the room, she walked out into the entry hall and saw Graham standing next to the staircase.
“Has Mrs. Foster already left to do her shopping?” Madalene inquired.
“Yes, Miss,” Graham confirmed.
Drat! It was evident that she was going to have to do this errand by herself.
“I have an errand to run,” Madalene explained, “will you ensure the coach is brought around to the front?”
Graham bobbed his head. “As you wish.”
Madalene glanced down at her gown. Fortunately, this gown was perfect for her errand. It would garner much less attention than her afternoon gowns. Now she just had to have her lady’s maid fix her hair.
Her plan was simple. Go to Floyd’s Coffeehouse and speak to Mrs. Hardy about her daughter’s disappearance. With any luck, Edith would be with them and this whole mess would be sorted out.
The sun mayhave been high in the sky outside, but the inside of Floyd’s Coffeehouse was dimly lit by sconces fastened to the wall. Baldwin sat with his back against the wall and watched as the patrons flocked in and out of the establishment. Some were dressed in raggedy coats and others in the finest clothing, but they were all seated at the same round tables. Despite this, he knew it wouldn’t be long before he rooted out the radicals. That, he was sure of.
Coffeehouse conversation always seemed to conform to a specific manner. Politeness was essential to the conduct of debate and conversation, thus hoping to keep out the undesirables. If people did not conform to the unwritten rules, then they would be asked to leave, never to return again.
Most of the conversations centered around fashion and politics, and he had yet to hear anything that was suspect or traitorous.
An older woman with faded red hair sashayed up to him with an empty tray in her hands. “Can I get ye anything to eat, love?”
