“Well, I cannot rightly remember. I didn’t converse with her much,” Adelaide frowned. “Then, she approached me in the park. It’s quite the wrong thing to do, but she came up to me as though she knew me. She was so forthright in her manner that everyone was quite appalled. The next thing I know, she is at the Potterton’s ball.”
Trenton squinted into the fire absently. “So, that was about eight or nine weeks ago? Can you remember her being around before then?”
“Not that I can recall, no,” Adelaide replied. “What is this, Trenton? What’s wrong?”
“Tell me; were any of the Sinnertons around last year?”
“No, definitely not.” Adelaide gave him one of ‘those’ looks. “She is not somebody one would forget, I can assure you.”
“I know. So the Sinnertons appeared at the very start of the season and immersed themselves by making ‘acquaintances’ during walks.” He sighed and looked at Adelaide. “Have you heard any rumours about Mrs Sinnerton pressing anyone for an invitation?”
“Well, everyone knows she is pushy, but then some people are, my dear.” Adelaide sighed and watched him glance, not for the first time, toward the door. “What is going on, Trenton? What are all of these questions about?”
Trenton sighed and told her what he had discovered about the Sinnerton family.
Adelaide stared at him in stunned horror when he had finished. “So, who recommended them in the first place?” she demanded. “I mean, you can’t turn up anywhere within the ton without a letter of introduction, or at least connections who can introduce you in person.”
“There are all sorts of social engagements on offer if you put on a façade and make your presence felt with the right people,” Trenton murmured. “She has to have an acquaintance somewhere who gave her a letter of introduction she could use.”
“But they would have to have a recommendation that was worthy enough to ensure that people would ignore their lack of other connections, or titles, to want to invite them.”
“I know, so who let them in, and why?”
“Well, they are fraudsters and clearly putting on a front.” She stared at Trenton. “Do you think it was them who tried to take Ursula out of her bedroom? Do you think they were kidnapping her for blackmail?”
Trenton closed his eyes and mentally cursed. He fervently hoped not but given the near-misses she had had of late, he couldn’t be altogether sure.
“I don’t know, Adelaide. I need to find out if the houses they have visited have had any break-ins of late.”
“Oh dear. That couldn’t be right, surely to goodness? How could they do that?”
“They are living in dire straits in slums, Adelaide. Heaven only knows what drove them to it, or whether they have always been a part of i
t and are just chancing their look while searching for an opportunity,” Trenton muttered dourly.
“Do you think they have forged a letter of introduction to obtain invitations to social events so they can get details about the houses they want to rob?” Adelaide was aghast at such a notion and couldn’t help but think that Trenton was right.
Trenton shook his head. “I don’t know, but I certainly mean to find out. Would you be able to make up a list of people whose social engagements the Sinnertons have attended? I can then find out if anyone has had anything stolen.”
“I can do better than that. I shall endeavour to put it about that Mrs Sinnerton is a fraudster. I can tell you now that nobody likes any of them. They may dress the part, and may be able to dance enough to get by, but their manners are atrocious. They have appalled many by their rather crass behaviour. Although nobody would ever declare as such publically, there have been rumours that Mrs Sinnerton is trying to find her son a wife.”
“The daughter a husband, do you mean?” Trenton frowned as Adelaide slowly shook her head.
“No. She ignores the daughter. The son is the one she pushes forward.”
“Does he work in London, do you know?”
“Nobody knows much about any of them. Mrs Sinnerton says that he does business in London, but nobody knows what business that is. It could be robbing houses.”
“I think that you shouldn’t let that woman into this house. Be careful who you ask about the Sinnertons. I don’t want them getting wind of the fact we are on to them. From the look of their accommodation, they are desperate. Desperate people do stupid things. Don’t challenge them, and please don’t let Ursula anywhere near Alfred Sinnerton.”
“I agree wholeheartedly.” Whatever else Adelaide was about to say was interrupted by another knock on the door. “Oh, what is it now?” she groused in a rather unladylike fashion.
“There is a gentleman to see you, ma’am,” Eadie declared quietly.
“Who is it?” Adelaide snapped with an impatient scowl.
“A Mr Jeremiah Proctor,” she replied nervously.