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“A tradesman, would you say?”

Will hesitated. “My brother-in-law thought he might be a gentleman’s servant.”

Judith’s eyes met Baines’. The words from yesterday seemed to return between them.

Someone no one notices at all.

“Why did he think that?” Baines asked.

“The way he spoke, mostly. Polite, careful. Not from Newcastle but not quite London either. He knew how to talk to tradesmen without talking like one.”

Baines almost smiled despite himself. It was an excellent description of a good valet.

“Did he give a name or leave anything?”

“No, sir.”

“Did he take anything?”

Will frowned. “Not from the printer.”

Baines caught the qualification.

“But?”

“My brother-in-law noticed he was carrying a parcel when he came in. A small thing, wrapped in brown paper, but tied with green cord. He thought it odd because the wrapping was too neat for a printer’s parcel.”

Judith turned her head sharply. Baines saw the same memory strike her.

Baines straightened from the fence. “How small?”

Will held his hands perhaps eight inches apart. “About so. Could have been a book, I suppose, except my brother-in-law said it looked more like a box.”

“A jeweller’s box?” Judith asked.

Will looked relieved that she had supplied the comparison. “Something like that, miss.”

“The repair bills,” she said.

Baines felt a slow satisfaction despite everything else that morning had brought.

“You kept them?”

“Of course I kept them.”

“Judith, at this moment I could kiss every ledger in that room.”

Will looked between them with the uncertain expression of a man who suspected his superiors had both run mad.

“Will, your brother-in-law is to do nothing differently. He is not to ask after this man, follow him, mention him to anyone outside the family, or attempt anything remotely heroic.”

Will’s brows drew together. “I was nay planning⁠—”

“Excellent. Continue not planning it.”

Judith nodded. “He is right, Will. If the man returns, your brother-in-law should remember what he says, what he carries and where he goes when he leaves, but he must not interfere.”

“Yes, miss.”