Sixteen. Just a lad.
“How old was Judith at the time?”
“I…I am not sure. But her son was only two years younger than Jack.”
“Wait, I’ve got it. I’ll be right back.” Setting down her plate, Livy dashed off.
Charlie remained where she was, mired in panic and self-recrimination.
How could I have overlooked this? How could I have assumed the worst of Jack when I did not have all the facts? But why did he not speak up?
She shut her eyes then, remembering. Remembering that he had tried.
It is not what you think,he’d said.It wasn’t what I wanted.
Livy returned, lugging a massive red leather volume.
“I knew I had a copy of Debrett’s. Esme was using it as a stepstool.” She sat next to Charlie, leafing through the pages. “Ah, here it is. The Fayne family tree. Judith Alice Courtenay, nee Berry, born 1800.”
“She was sixteen years older than Jack.” Charlie’s heart splintered as the facts sank in. “If he was sixteen when their relationship began, she was thirty-two. A woman who’d been married and had a child. He was her servant, a poor orphaned bastard starting his first job. Whereas she was his employer, twice his age, and a wealthy woman of privilege. Between them, she was the one with more power.”
“It seems unlikely that Mr. Granger had the clout to force Lady Fayne into anything. Or that she was innocent in all of this,” Livy said thoughtfully. “But why didn’t he counter her claims?”
“He tried to.” Charlie’s eyes heated with shame. “I wouldn’t listen. After reading that noxious diary, I was so distressed I wasn’t thinking properly?—”
“It’s the work we do,” Livy said. “The darkness predisposes one to think the worst. Many of our clients are victims of the crimes Judith described. Since you’ve made it your purpose to help those women find justice, it is natural that you would give credence to her assertions.”
While this was undoubtedly true, Charlie knew it did not excuse her behavior.
“I jumped to the worst conclusions about Jack,” she said with self-loathing. “It’s true that he didn’t tell me about Judith, but I can understand why he didn’t.”
From everything Charlie knew of Jack’s character, he was a protector who put everyone before himself. Indeed, he had left her because he thought she would be better off without him. Yes, he hadn’t always been honest, but that had been part of being a spy. His intent was to do good and avenge his friend, whose death he felt responsible for even though it wasn’t his fault. He couldn’t control Sebastian’s actions any more than he could those of Sebastian’s mother.
Yet that was Jack: noble and selfless to a fault. If Lady Judith Fayne had seduced him, an impoverished, young lad, thenhewas the victim and not her. But Jack wouldn’t see it that way. He would blame himself—as was his habit—and Charlie had inadvertently reinforced his erroneous belief.
“I thought he was a monster.” A tear spilled over, wending down her cheek. “I didn’t give him the benefit of the doubt, a chance to tell his side…”
“Given what you read in the diary, your reaction was understandable,” Livy said gently. “Judith seems quite clever, twisting the narrative to suit her purpose. She used her position of privilege to her advantage. Even if Mr. Granger countered her version of events, who would take the word of an orphaned bastard servant over that of a marchioness?”
“I would. Ishouldhave,” Charlie said fiercely. “The reason I started the Angels was to serve those who have been subjected to abuses of power—no matter who the abuser is. You know we have stopped both male and female predators. We protect those who cannot protect themselves. That is the true mission of our sisterhood.”
“Do you know why Judith might have wished to discredit Mr. Granger?”
“I have a few ideas,” Charlie said grimly.
According to Jack, his superior had negotiated with the woman to gain her acceptance of their plan for him to become Sebastian. She’d agreed out of self-interest: to continue living in the style to which she was accustomed. It was no stretch to assume that a mama who would sell her dead son’s name would have little difficulty fabricating a diary to use for extortion. For more money or some other sort of leverage.
Livy nodded. “And have you thought about who sent you the diary? Clearly, he or she wanted to create trouble between you and Mr. Granger.”
“Jack’s superior comes to mind,” she said flatly. “He probably sees me as a threat to Jack’s career, especially since Jack proposed again.”
“Oh, Charlie. I am so happy for you!” Livy clasped her hands in delight. “Will the Angels and I be your matrons of honor?”
“If there is a wedding.” A spasm hit Charlie’s chest. “After how I’ve acted, I don’t know if Jack will forgive me. If Ideserveto be forgiven.”
“Love is about forgiveness,” Livy said. “I deceived Hadleigh for most of our courtship. Look how well that turned out.”
Charlie gave her protegee a wry look. “Are you certain that is the lesson of that experience?”
