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Henry hadn’t really expected Lady Arlington to spend the next few days at home. He said that merely to needle her. What he hadn’t planned for, though, was her schedule. Most ladies of leisure rose no earlier than ten in the morning and didn’t begin making calls until afternoon. But when he arrived at Fox and Sons at nine a.m. sharp to interview her secretary, a young Anglo-Indian man named Mr. Khan, the viscountess was already in her office examining a document with an intense look of concentration that Henry reluctantly admitted was rather adorable.
Her only acknowledgment of Henry’s presence was a slanted glance in his general direction before she returned to the document. “Give him whatever he asks for, Mr. Khan. Just see that I am not bothered while I’m meeting with the new accountants from Balfour and Company.”
“Of course, my lady,” the secretary practically genuflected before closing her office door and showing Henry to a private room down the hall. The factory itself was large and well lit and already bustling with workers, the majority of whom were women. It took a moment for Henry to realize something else: They all appeared happy. Some were evenlaughing, both with one another and with the foremen who moved around the space.
“This appears to be a…spirited place to work.”
“Oh yes, Captain,” Mr. Khan said as he closed the door behind him. “Lady Arlington is the best employer I’ve ever had. That’s why these threats have been so distressing.”
Henry narrowed his eyes at this admission. It seemed rather overfamiliar. Was something going on between the viscountess and this man? He ignored the prickling in his chest.
“You care about her.”
“Of course.” Mr. Khan frowned in confusion. “Everyone here cares about her. I can’t bear to think what would happen to all of us if she…if she…”
The man seemed unable to evenvoicethe thought, and Henry felt a spike of annoyance at the distress on his face.
“Why don’t you tell me how this started? Mr. Fox said there have been threats.”
Mr. Khan seemed relieved to talk about something specific and stroked his thick black mustache in contemplation. “After Lady Arlington put a formal offer on an old factory on Tremont Street last month, letters began to arrive here. I’d say there have been six in total. They were never signed and had no return address. I’m still not sure how they got mixed in with the regular mail. I’d hate to think that someone hand-delivered them. There are a number of people who are in and out of these doors every day. It would be difficult to know who was behind it.”
“What did the letters say?”
“That she should cancel her offer and sell her factories, if she knew what was good for her.”
That was rather more direct than Reggie had said.
“Hmm. Who would you say are her biggest competitors?”
“DeLacey’s, Moore and Co., and Rigby’s. The list isn’t nearly as long as it would have been a few years ago. Fox and Sons could potentially transform the industry, though sometimes I think that will come at a deep cost to Lady Arlington.” Mr. Khan’s worried expression then turned skeptical as he glanced at Henry’s folded hands. “Shouldn’t you be writing this down? I can fetch you some paper…”
“There’s no need, I assure you,” he said with a grim smile. “Now, was that the only demand made in the letters?”
“Yes.” Mr. Khan then hesitated. “There was also an incident last Friday. After the announcement.”
“What announcement?”
“Lady Arlington placed notices in several newspapers across the city about her plans for expansion and the benefits that would be offered to workers.”
Henry couldn’t help snorting at her brazenness. “This was in reaction to the letters, I take it?”
“Yes. The day after the notices appeared she was followed home.”
All trace of amusement vanished, and Henry leaned forward. “Followed bywhom?”
Mr. Khan shrugged. “All I know is that it was a man. You’ll have to ask her for more details. She’ll never admit this, but I think he scared her,” he added.
Henry’s lips pressed in a thin line.That foolish woman.She clearly hadn’t told her brother about this. And if it turned out this incident was connected to the letters, she could be in real danger.
“I’ll need to speak to Lady Arlington about this. Immediately.”
Mr. Khan shot him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, but she is booked all morning.”
“Booked withwhat?” Henry made no attempt to hide his disbelief.
Mr. Khan chuckled. “Meetings. The viscountess is no mere figurehead, Captain. She really does oversee this operation.”
“Fine. When is her next available appointment?Today.”
