“Have you been happy, as well?”
“Yes, my dear. Very much so.”
“I thought so, but I wanted to make sure.” She let her head fall back. “I hope I will find someone to be happy with.”
“You will. I’m sure of it.”
They were distracted when one of the kittens came prancing from her dressing room, dragging a fur-lined glove between its legs with pride. Serious conversation was lost in the chase, and Charlotte left Elizabeth playing with One and The Same while she went down to see if there had been any word from Gabriel.
There had been no word. Uneasy, Charlotte paced the front of the house, but there was no sign of young Miss Perry, or anyone else, either. With a sigh, she asked Margie to have dinner brought to her room on a tray. “Enough for two,” she whispered. “I’ll keep Elizabeth with me.”
After dinner, Elizabeth went to her room to read. Charlotte was grateful. She was growing more and more worried and finding it more difficult to hide it from the girl.
Once more, she went to check with Alfred, but there was still nothing from Whiddon to indicate his whereabouts or when he would return. She fetched her sketchbook and curled up in the parlor, trying to duplicate some of the images of the lost heirlooms, but she could scarcely concentrate.
Relief flooded her when a knock sounded on the door. She rushed out—to find Julia, Lady Chester striding toward her.
“Do forgive me, Charlotte! I know it is not the time for a social call, but I have been feeling very uneasy this afternoon. I thought I would come and consult with you.”
“Not at all. Do come in. I’ve been restless, as well.” She closed the parlor door and clutched Julia’s hand. “I don’t know why I feel so nervous! Is Whiddon with Chester? Do you know?”
Julia took off her bonnet. “He is. I think they are all together, in fact, but I do not know for sure. I only saw Chester for a short time this afternoon and he was acting so strange! He would tell me nothing, except that if I should need him, I should send a footman to fetch him from Green Park.”
“Green Park? What could they be doing there?”
“I was hoping you would know,” Julia confessed.
“I haven’t seen or heard from Gabriel since last night.”
Julia reached out suddenly and gave her a spontaneous embrace. “Could they be more maddening?”
“Yes,” Charlotte said thickly. “But they would have to work at it.”
They both laughed through burgeoning tears.
“Would you mind if I stayed a while?” Julia asked. “Lady Chester is out and if I must wait, I’d rather do it with you.”
“Not at all. I should love the company.”
Julia took her arm. “Come, distract me with a tour. Show me all that you’ve accomplished since last I was here.”
They roamed the house and talked and talked. About the house, and society and the possibility of introducing Charlotte’s siblings to Chester’s young ward. Julia teased her about the library not being done when they went through that part of the house.
“I’ve not let anyone in there,” Charlotte said with a shudder. “It’s going to be a large and disruptive job. I can’t bear the thought of starting it until we have all the rest of this trouble put to rest.”
“I well understand,” Julia assured her. “Too much chaos is as bad as too much quiet.” She sighed and took Charlotte’s hand. “Perhaps I should not say so, but I do think you are getting on splendidly with Whiddon. Chester cannot believe the change you’ve wrought. I think he feared his friend would never be able to open up to you.”
“I’m not sure he has, not completely. Everything had been going so well, but these last days, I can feel the distance growing. And I admit, being left out today has me worried and frustrated.”
“Perhaps all he needs is time.”
“I hope you are right.”
“I think I am. Just hold on a little longer, Charlotte.” Squeezing her hand, Julia drew a deep breath. “And on that note, I suppose I should head back. Lady Chester will be returning home soon. I’ll see if she’s heard anything from any of those rascals of ours. If she has, or if there is any word left for me, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
“And I will do the same,” Charlotte promised.
She bid her friend farewell and saw her out. Once more, she found Elizabeth waiting and watching from the first landing.
