“I believe I saw her at the club,” Tewkesbury ran a hand along his jaw, “but she wore a mask. Which means she was a staff member. As for the theater, that information comes to me secondhand.”
He looked at Monkton, who smiled confidently.
“I have it on good authority. Impeccable sources that when he arrived at the theater with your good self, he was heard to use the nameCharlottewhen in the privacy of his box. Presumably, you had left at that point?”
Charlotte wanted to laugh again, but contained herself. It might make them suspicious.
“I… see. Yes, now that I recall, I did leave. I felt somewhat fatigued and did not stay for the entire performance,” she noted instead.
“As we thought,” Tewkesbury exclaimed, smiling in triumph. “But as I vowed, we can save you from scandal and embarrassment, Lady Amelia. Mr. Monkton has an affidavit that states that the Duke has been unfaithful, and as a consequence, to formally dissolve the betrothal between the two of you. It includes witness statements to his infidelity and only awaits your signature.”
Monkton reached into his bag to produce a piece of paper crowded with writing, but with an empty space at the bottom. He then produced an ink pot and pen. Charlotte looked at the paper and tried to keep the horror from her face. She knew very well that this paper would doom Seth and form the evidence that he had broken the rules of the marriage clause. But how could she avoid having to sign it without causing suspicion?
“May I ask, my lord, why are you so keen for me to do this?” she directed at Tewkesbury, slowing her pace to a crawl.
“Outside of a moral obligation, let’s say… I have a moreemotionalstake in this matter,” Tewkesbury enunciated slowly. “My sister was once betrothed to this man, this…rake. He made her think he was in love with her and then betrayed her. She was left with a tarnished reputation and a shattered heart. I seek a measure of revenge,” he uttered coldly, “but most of all, to prevent any other woman from falling into his dastardly clutches.”
He had taken Monkton’s paper to be signed and held it before Charlotte, stopping and facing her now. Monkton held the ink pot in the palm of one hand and was dipping the pen into it. Charlotte licked her lips and exchanged looks with Marie, who frowned and gave the smallest shake of her head.
I am not naïve enough to see that signing such a document would be a mistake of huge proportions, but how can I refuse? I do not want them to question that I am Amelia.
“This is hardly the place for such an undertaking. I will take this,” she took the paper from Tewkesbury’s hand, “and read it at home so that I may thoroughly examine it.”
There was a tremble in her voice. She cleared her throat, padding it.
“You should take a cool drink to soothe your throat, my lady, and a fitful rest. It is all such a sudden and troubling revelation,” Marie put in.
“You are quite right, Marie,” Charlotte nodded soberly.
“Then allow us to escort you. The Chinese Pavilion is not far, and they will give us a private table where we will not be overheard,” Tewkesbury said solicitously.
“I thank you for the offer, my lord, but I think the sun has been too much for me this morning,” she mumbled, forgetting the parasol she carried. “I should return to Prescott Estate and rest.I did not sleep well, and I fear this recent news shall do no good for my constitution.”
Charlotte had a sudden moment of terror that they would not let her leave, but would browbeat her into signing. She began to panic until her eye fell on a small man with brick-red hair beneath his tricorn hat. He was sitting on a bench a few yards away and was watching Charlotte with interest. She turned away, smiling.
“And I declare that the man over there on that bench is a journalist for a scandal sheet. I have no desire to accuse a man of adultery and be accused in turn of the same,” she put in shrewdly.
The effect on Tewkesbury was greater than she had anticipated. He whirled, staring about him in consternation. Monkton cursed under his breath, stoppered the ink, and thrust it back into his bag.
“We will bid you a good day, and I will send a clerk to your house to collect the signed papers, Lady Nightingale,” the Earl whispered hurriedly.
Charlotte watched, astonished, as he chivvied his solicitor back along the path at a fast walk.
“I did not think that would work so well…” Charlotte gawked after the pair. “Perhaps as his solicitor, it is Mr. Monkton’s job to keep the Earl out of the gossip rags.”
“Who is the man you spotted?” Marie asked curiously.
Charlotte looked around for the man, but he had already disappeared. She glimpsed the red hair briefly in between the trees.
“A man that Seth pointed out to me back at the Theater. And someone that those two men are deathly afraid of. I wonder why…”
CHAPTER 22
Seth glanced around the main chamber of the Almack Assembly Room. It was a large hollow with a high ceiling and expansive floor space that would serve mingling and dancing. The room was complete, the air humming with the mumble of conversation. He stood aloof from any of those gathered, waiting. Elliot emerged from the crowd, his wife on his arm. Seth smiled politely.
“Good evening to you, Your Grace,” Elliot’s wife, Margaret, hailed warmly.
“And to you, Lady Arkendale. You are looking rather splendid.”
