The servants knocked, then entered.
“Please sit down,” Heath said to them. “I’ll get right to the point.” He cleared his throat. “Mr. Badgely will be staying here for the indefinite future.”
There was no response from the servants.
“He informed me yesterday that he came into some money and wants to invest in the brewery and other opportunities in the area. He will no longer be under my employment. Furthermore...” His voice faded, the wind going out of his sails.
“It will be so nice to have Mr. Badgely staying,” Mrs. Baum said in her kind voice. “He has been a great help to all of us. Since he arrived, we have all noticed a change in you, sir. You work well together, and I’m sure that will continue.” She gave a knowing smile.
Heath was stunned. Kane thought he would have to pick his jaw off the floor. In Kane’s experience, there were more people accepting of two men being in a relationship than previously thought.
“Thank you, Mrs. Baum,” Kane responded.
“Will there be any other changes?” Jenkins asked.
Heath found his voice. “Mr. Badgely will take the room adjoining mine.”
“Very good, sir.” The butler turned to Kane. “Would you like me to have your belongings moved, or would you prefer to do it yourself?”
“I would appreciate the help. Perhaps this afternoon.”
Jenkins nodded. “And I will also add to Mrs. Baum’s sentiment that it is nice to have Mr. Badgely stay on. I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.”
There, it was out in the open. The butler had politely put into words what Heath couldn’t say.
Kane stuck out his hand. “Thank you, Jenkins.”
The other man grabbed his hand, returning the handshake. After that, the servants went back to their duties while the couple discussed their future together.
* * *
Later that day, Caroline and Harvey called. Kane elbowed Heath when he saw Caroline had her arm looped through Wells’. It seemed love may have blossomed between them as well.
After greetings, they all settled in.
“I thought you would like to know what happened after last night's arrests,” Harvey said.
“Yes, please go on.” Heath answered from beside Kane.
“I took the girls to Caroline last night. Three of the girls were from the orphanage. We are trying to find the families of the others.”
“Were any of them the girl from the bakery? Or from the factory?” Kane recalled the baker’s wife mentioning a young girl had gone missing.
“A few of the girls were from the sewing factory, but the missing girl from the bakery was not among those found. I questioned Miss Wilcott and her accomplice. Seems they’ve been doing this for quite some time, so my superior has tasked me with going to France to track down the other girls, if I can.”
“I’m going with him,” Caroline spoke up.
Kane frowned. “What about your job?”
“It’s more important that we find those missing girls. I need to help. I can’t just sit here and wait.”
“When will you leave?”
Harvey spoke up. “In a few weeks. We must gather as much information as we can before leaving. Miss Wilcott has been most forthcoming with the locations of where the girls were taken.”
Heath shook his head. “I just can’t believe this happened. Josephine Wilcott is the last person I would think capable of such a deed.”
“Sometimes it’s those we least suspect who do the most damage. She had the perfect advantage of helping at the orphanage. It allowed her to pick out any girls she wanted. I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner.” Caroline shuddered. Harvey put his arm around her, pulling her close.