“I am terribly sorry, but this leg injury has been acting up lately and I must return home. All the activity of the day has caught up to me.” It was partially the truth. Sitting outside in the heat had made his right leg swell, which it did from time to time. His calf felt like a sausage inside the casing of his boot. The best thing to do was to prop up his leg and wait for the swelling to go down.
“But we can bring a sofa out for you to rest on.” Mrs. Wilcott seemed desperate to keep him at the party.
“That is most kind, but I have a special ointment at home that I must use.” Heath would think of any excuse not to linger.
He made promises to call again but did not commit to any days that Mrs. Wilcott offered. With any luck, his plan had worked, and Miss Wilcott would fix her obsession on the poor, unassuming Duvall. Heath hurried, as much as he could with his leg and cane, to his waiting horse.
When he arrived at the manor, twilight was just setting in. He handed his horse to the groom and went inside. Just as he passed the threshold, he caught sight of a maid. Seeing her reminded Heath he wanted to speak to the housekeeper about Jessica.
He went to the kitchen, which was in the back of the house. There was a small room off the kitchen, which Mrs. Baum used as an office to run the household.
“Mrs. Baum,” Heath knocked on the open door. “Could I have a moment of your time?”
“Of course, sir, whatever you need.” She rose from her chair.
He closed the door. “I wanted to see how the search has been going for your goddaughter.”
The housekeeper’s expression darkened. “Not good, I’m afraid. No one has seen or heard from her.”
“And you’re sure she hasn’t run away?”
“No, sir. Jessica wouldn’t do that.”
“Not even to Paris or London? I know the cities can be tantalizing to girls of that age.”
She shook her head. “Jessica wasn’t like that. She loved being near her family. But I have heard rumors since I have been asking around in Dover.”
“What rumors?”
Mrs. Baum hesitated, as if reconsidering her decision to speak.
“Please Mrs. Baum, if there is anything that can be useful.”
“I’ve heard rumors that sometimes girls are forced into service.”
Heath frowned. “Service?”
“At houses of ill repute.”
Ah, now he understood.
“Do you think someone took Jessica for prostitution?”
“I don’t know,” she choked out between sobs. Obviously, her grief was still raw. “I wouldn’t put anything off as impossible. These are dark times, sir.”
How could someone do something so fiendish? It was appalling. It made him think of Victoria. What wouldn’t he do if something happened to his sister? He had to help.
“Mrs. Baum, do you know any of the places that are rumored to take these girls?”
“I’ve heard The Painted Pony mentioned.”
“I thought it was a tavern.” Heath hadn’t gone to the place himself to know for sure, but he knew some establishments had prostitutes working in them.
“From what I was told, they use back rooms and the second floor for entertaining.”
Perhaps it was time to pay The Painted Pony a visit.
“I’ll take a further look at it. Don’t worry.” Heath gave the housekeeper a reassuring smile and left.