Eloisa, who sat in a chair by the window, sprang up. “I was so worried, my lady.” The lady’s maid still wore her uniform, and Caroline immediately felt wretched for keeping her up. Would she ever grow accustomed to their change in status?
“Melanie can help me change,” Caroline said. “You needn’t wait so late for me, really.”
Half expecting an argument, she was pleasantly relieved when Eloisa nodded and disappeared into the adjacent dressing room.
“What’s wrong?” Her sister stood unsmiling, hugging her arms in front of her and looking even smaller than usual. Caroline didn’t consider herself a tall person, she wasn’t really, but Melanie’s petite stature made Caroline feel like a giant in comparison. Her younger sister definitely brought out Caroline’s protective instincts.
Melanie hadn’t always been so serious. In fact, before the fire, she’d been the most outgoing, the most light-hearted and boisterous of all of them.
She was the complete opposite of that now. Quiet. Fearful. Anxious.
And unfortunately, her question reminded Caroline that she’d failed to accomplish her mission tonight.
“Scotland Yard is opening an investigation into Reed,” Caroline said. “There’s an article about it in tomorrow’s paper.”
If anything, her sister looked more disturbed than Caroline felt. “What kind of investigation?”
“About the fire.” Caroline closed her eyes for a moment. “About Reed’s part in it.”
Melanie knew the truth, of course—that Reed was completely innocent. Sometimes Caroline suspected her sister knew more than any of them.
“I thought you were going to keep that kind of news out of the paper,” Melanie said.
“I meant to. I am. I will.” Caroline touched her fingertips to her forehead and then, chagrined, told her sister about the door.
“I don’t understand.” Her sister paced across the room while Caroline dropped into the chair vacated by her lady’s maid.
“He was just… so nice about it,” Caroline admitted. Something in her voice caused her sister to halt her pacing.
“Who?”
“Mr. Black. Lord Helton.” Caroline sighed. “Did you know they were one and the same?”
“Of course. It’s not a secret.” But her sister was watching her closely. “But he’s been running articles about Reed all this time. He is the enemy, Caroline!”
Caroline felt terribly guilty. “I know. I know that.” But he had been so very kind. “He kept asking if I was all right. And then he walked me home. I think he almost kissed me.”
“You wouldn’t have allowed it, would you?”
“I might have.” She couldn’t tell her sister she’d been disappointed when he’d taken that step away from her.
“But… But…” Melanie sputtered, if possible, looking more disturbed by Caroline’s admission than she had about the article. “You would have allowed Maxwell Black? To kiss you? Of all the men in London, really?” Slapping one hand against her forehead, she appeared more animated than Caroline had seen her look in months.
“Almost. I said he almost kissed me.” Caroline pointed out the significant distinction. “And it’s possible I’m mistaken. But he isn’t really an enemy, Mellie. He’s a good man.”
“He may be, but this is the man who insists on publishing gossip that could get Reed killed—or worse—put him in prison for the rest of his life.”
“I think being killed would be the worse of those two scenarios.”
“Not for Reed,” Melanie said. And she was right, of course. Before inheriting, Reed had been raised to manage their father’s estate. He’d spent most of his life outdoors, overseeing the fields, working with animals, and visiting tenants. “Goldie would be devastated.”
“That’s why neither of those scenarios can ever happen.” But an itch of unease rolled through Caroline. Goldie would see the article about Reed. But also the article about her mother.
She wished she could talk to Goldie before morning—prepare her—console her. Apologize.
She may have put together a considerably improved society section for the paper, but Caroline had failed her brother at the first opportunity.
Melanie shrugged. “I’ll help you out of your gown.”
