“I told her that it was ridiculous to think so,” Lucy said.
But Emma kept Caroline pinned with a piercing look. She looked down and smoothed away nonexistent wrinkles from her skirt. Damn it, she couldn’t lie to her dearest friends. She met Emma’s gaze. “All right. Yes, it’s me.”
“What?” Lucy gasped.
Emma closed her eyes briefly before responding. “Tell me this article is an exaggeration.”
“Well…” Caroline hedged.
Lucy found her voice. “Why do you not look as surprised as I feel, Emma?”
“Because she told me about the first girl. I knew you weren’t going to leave this alone,” Emma muttered to herself. “I should have been keeping a closer eye on you. I’m just so damn tired all the time.”
Caroline held up her palms to stop further conversation. “Ladies, I can explain. Alice came to speak with me to thank me for getting her out of the brothel. She explained that Mrs. Gwyn had kept her for something special. That Alice would be the virgin auctioned to the highest bidder for this bacchanal. She was so happy to have escaped her fate. At the end of the conversation, she said it had been worrying her about who Mrs. Gwyn would get to replace her. I couldn’t stop thinking about her comment.”
“Who is Alice?” Lucy asked.
“She is the sister of a footman here at Gilchrest House. George was distraught when his younger brother came to tell him that his father had sold his sister to a brothel owner named Mrs. Gwyn.”
“Sold her? Can he do that?” Lucy paled.
Emma nodded. “But Caroline, how did you go to this party unrecognized? Please tell me you didn’t go alone.”
“I didn’t go alone. I overheard some gentleman, and I use that term loosely, speaking in the maze at your garden party, Lucy. They used the term bacchanal, and it caught my attention. They said it was Devonshire’s annual party. Lord Wrotham was with me. Later, I convinced him to help.” She scrunched her nose. “Well, I’m fairly sure he helped me, because he was afraid I would go by myself if he didn’t.”
“Wait. Before or after you were engaged?” Emma asked.
“Before. You know Morgan worked with Jack during the campaign in Portugal. I’m pretty sure he was a spy also.”
“Lord, tell us the whole thing, please. From the start.” Emma scooted up, readjusting her position.
Caroline filled them in on the details of the night of the bacchanal. “I originally met with the editor ofThe Spectatorto pass on information about the party to embarrass Devonshire and his friends. It’s men like him and his cronies that fuel the prostitution trade. But I guess she thought the juicier story was about me. I’m still mad about the double cross.”
Lucy sat back in her chair. “My head is reeling about the part where you cut the girl’s bonds with your knife. Where in heaven’s name did you get a knife like that?”
Caroline grinned. “It was a gift from Vivian’s father. She showed me how to use it.”
Both sisters nodded.
“And the girl who you saved from being debauched? Where is she?” Emma asked.
“I had William take her home the next morning. Dolores was happy to be reunited with her parents. They live in Holburn.”
“First off, no one tells any of this to Gilchrest or your mother. I don’t need additional tumult in my life.” She laid a hand on her belly. “Secondly, I am proud of you, Caroline.”
“You are?” That was the last thing she expected to hear after her confession.
“Yes. You are never one to sit back when you can help others. It is one of your best traits. But…” She held up a hand. “I do feel that your behavior has been reckless. What if you got hurt, or your identity was compromised? You would not be the only one to suffer a scandal. Your family would as well.”
Lucy looked over at her sister with an arched eyebrow. “Don’t be too harsh, Emma. I believe that was also a lesson you had to learn not too long ago.”
Caroline looked back and forth between the two women as they glared at each other. What was going on?
“Too true.” Emma grimaced. “That’s why I want to warn her now. All I’m saying is that perhaps we can put our heads together and figure out a respectable route to help some of these women in need if that is what you feel passionate about.”
Caroline mulled over Emma’s words and thought about the barb that Cage had thrown out the other night. How would embarrassing a few lords solve the problem? How could she put her money to good use?
A knock at the door startled all three of them. Emma called out, “Come in.”
