“Yes!” she answered back instantly, slamming her small palms on the table. “That was his name!”
Seth would have been lying if he claimed to be entirely surprised. In truth, he had begun suspecting something along those lines after the incident at Catesby’s and the former solicitor’s intent to run with an erroneous story told from a very hyper-specific perspective.
“So, it is Tewkesbury who is the heir to the Bellmonte estate. That… makes a strange sense.”
“What are we going to do?” Charlotte whispered, leaning in with gravity.
“I am beginning to think that waiting for a letter from your sister is a luxury we can no longer afford,” Seth ruminated aloud. “Perhaps we ought to take more precipitate action to get the proof we need. There are only three weeks left.”
“What do you suggest?”
“We find her ourselves.”
CHAPTER 24
Two days later, Charlotte was taking tea in the gardens of Prescott Estate. Rain had plagued the previous day, and Charlotte had felt cooped up inside. The night before that, Seth had said goodbye to her with a passionate kiss at the estate’s grounds. She looked up as Marie ambled out of the house, coming towards her with what looked like an envelope.
“Is that a note from the Duke of Bellmonte?” Charlotte said hopefully.
“I do not believe so, my lady. Are you expecting something from him?”
“Only regarding our trip to the north,” she nodded, “I have not yet broached the subject with Aunt Phyllis, though.”
“From the postmark, this comes from York, my lady,” Marie replied.
Charlotte felt a surge of excitement, taking the envelope and tearing it open without accepting the letter opener that Marie had offered. She unfolded the letter and began to read. The door to the house opened again. Aunt Phyllis appeared, escorted by Reginald.
Charlotte had time to read that the letter was addressed to Amelia and felt her hopes dashed. Skimming to the bottom of the page, she saw it was from Aunt Judith and Uncle Henry. Regretfully, she folded it and put it back into the envelope, concealing it under her napkin.
“Cousin Amelia, may we have a word?” Reginald asked, overly polite.
“Of course, Cousin Reginald. It is your house, after all,” Charlotte smiled, and Marie took the cue to step away.
Aunt Phyllis shook her head silently as she sat, Reginald sitting beside her.
“We are concerned about your choices,” her cousin began earnestly.
“Which in particular?” she asked.
“Your behavior at Almacks,” Aunt Phyllis put in abruptly. “I have never known anyone to be asked to leave before. I should not be surprised if your voucher is revoked after that exhibition.”
“My voucher?” Charlotte asked, confused.
Aunt Phyllis looked at her as though she were mad. Reginald seemed unsurprised, even smiling to himself, though concealing it from his mother.
“Good Lord, I do not know where your head is today. Are you sickened for something?” Aunt Phyllis demanded.
“Almacks' Assembly rooms are accessed by invitation only,” Reginald started. “The patronesses provide vouchers to the ladies of the ton considered worthy of admittance. And can remove said vouchers at their whim. But, of course, I am reminding you of basic facts you were well aware of. The events of the last couple of nights have momentarily driven it from your mind.”
Charlotte sat, mouth agape for a moment. Then, she quickly replied, “Indeed, it had. Yes, I should not be surprised if that happens.”
Amelia will not care either way. I certainly do not, now that I know Amelia does not desire to live in London.
“You do not seem to regret that catastrophic fact at all!” Aunt Phyllis wailed.
“Catastrophic, Aunt?” Charlotte said, brows pinching, “I would hardly call it that.”
“Everyone who is anyone attends Almacks during the season! To be excluded is to be ostracized. And you are Amelia Nightingale. It is unthinkable!”
