Muldrow stepped away. “That’s enough. Get out of my sight and don’t come near me in the street again. I don’t want you seen with me.”

“Now, my lord, don’t you be like that. I’ll be needing some blunt to set things in motion, won’t I?”

“Here,” said Muldrow. “This is all you’ll get for now. The rest’s for when I have her safe.”

He strode away. His companion stood a moment longer, flicking coins over in his hand and biting one with his teeth. He half turned and Hugh caught a glimpse of his face in the lamplight. A bush of unkempt hair hung down over a low forehead. The man’s mouth, open to bite on the coin, showed a gap where the front tooth should be.

Recognition struck Hugh like a hammer blow. The man matched the description James, the footman, had given of a strange visitor to the Hall at Christmas. Thin, with long hair and a missing tooth. Hugh could not doubt that this man was the same one who had called at the Hall asking about Philomena. Hugh had no further details. He had assumed the man had taken a fancy to the nursemaid on seeing her in the village.

Could there be a link? Philomena was in London. The strange man was also here and seemed, by all that was incredible, to be plotting with Arthur Muldrow.

Hugh’s cigar burned unnoticed in his fingers as Joseph wandered away into the distance, whistling. What could this mean? Why should Muldrow be meeting with this man? Was Philomena really the “her” they discussed?

No name had passed Muldrow’s lips. The thin man had simply said he had found “her.” Hugh’s heart thudded. If indeed they were referring to Philomena, she must be in danger. Hugh’s hands tightened into fists. He had never discovered the truth but he knew there was a mystery associated with Philomena’s former life. The thin man must be part of it.

What could Muldrow possibly want with her? The mystery of Philomena seemed deeper than ever. Hugh could not begin to see any pattern that fitted the facts. Nevertheless, one truth stood out starkly, so clear that Hugh’s head ached with shock.

If the thin man planned to kidnap Philomena, Hugh must find her first.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Philomena looked forward to a busy day. The balls and dances of the night before had been hard on the debutante’s dresses. While their own maids could clean the gowns, mend small tears to the lace, or sew a ripped hem, several young girls wished to return their dresses for Philomena to repair serious damage. Others, especially the thriftier among them, wanted creative alterations so they could wear the same dress again without attracting derision.