The silence that followed those words was absolute. Mary then giggled. Phillipa stood abruptly; her mother also.
“We are leaving. Good day,” she said, and they sailed from the room with chins raised.
“Oh, well done, Abby!” Mary hurried to her friend and hugged her hard. Then she did the same to Beth and left still giggling.
“I cannot abide that woman,” Abby said, taking a mouthful of tea. “It is always a wonder to me how Mary can be of the same blood as that venomous Phillipa.”
“Amen,” Nathan said, looking at Beth. “And now that is done, I feel there is nothing further holding us here.” He stood and took the infant from its mother, settling the babe in his large safe hands. Hands that would never comfort their child or her again.
“Thank you, Miss Carlow,” Abby said. “Stay away from my brother,” she added softly before heading to his side.
“I’m not entirely sure what has happened or why you walked away from Nathan,” Miss Saint-Bonnard said to Beth so only she could hear. “But as someone who was not party to the original crime, I will reserve judgement on your character, Miss Carlow.”
“You would be best suited to follow your betrothed’s family’s lead, Miss Saint-Bonnard,” Beth said. She wanted no one to look too closely at anything she did. Once her tasks were completed, she would leave London and hope to never return.
“On closer acquaintance, you will come to understand I rarely do as I’m told.” With a sweet smile, she left with the Deville siblings.
Beth sat feeling as if she’d been run over by a carriage.
“I like that Miss Saint-Bonnard,” Beth’s mother said. “They say she once worked as a companion for the Duchess of Yardly.”
“How is it you know this when you haven’t frequented society for years?” Beth rested her head on the back of the chair.
“Why, I like to gossip, dear, you know that. Others are more than happy to return the favor.”
Beth snorted at that.
“A note has arrived for you, Miss Carlow,” Leonard said, entering the room to clear the tea tray.
“Thank you.” Taking the note, she opened it and read the words.
Dear god!
“What is it, Beth?”
“Merely from Mary. She must have scrawled a hasty missive in the hallway.” Beth forced out a laugh. “Nothing more than an apology for the behavior of her family.”
“It is their way.” Her mother sighed. “They’ve always been snotty, officious types. I’m sorry you had to see Mr. Deville again, Beth.”
“Don’t be. It’s easier now that I know he was not the man for me. Do you know, Mother, I think I would like to stay in tonight. I know you are visiting Lady Jonkers and I was to accompany you, but would you mind if I had a quiet night here at home?”
“Of course not. This entire business is very stressful on you, as it is for me. I miss your father and cannot help but worry over his recovery, even though Hilda’s letters assure me he is doing well.”
“He has the best of care, Mother.” Hilda was their housekeeper and had been with the Carlow family since Beth was a child. “We must carry on as if nothing has changed in our lives.”
“Yet we both know that is not true,” her mother said softly.
Amen.
Retiring to her room with a headache that wasn’t exactly a lie, Beth lay on her bed and read the note again.
Lord Lithgow will be at Madam Bolade’s in Chessen Lane tonight as he is every Thursday at 10:00pm. He takes a room upstairs, second door on the left, where he meets Miss Chartreuse. You’ll enter that room on your knees. There will be a screen; behind that will be his jacket. In the pocket will be some papers. Leave and enter by the rear door, as it will be open. There are stairs that will take you up to the floor you need. Don’t fail me, Miss Carlow. Your father is only just regaining his health; I would hate for him to have a relapse.
Control and manipulation, Beth thought. Justin Logan wanted her to know that no matter the task, she had to complete it or see her father jailed for treason. That if she failed, then life as she knew it was over.
She’d only met him once, four days after her father’s seizure. Logan had told her that as her father was now incapable of doing what must be done, it was up to her to take his place. Up to her to ensure her father’s reputation stayed pristine and Beth and her mother would not become outcasts from society. He’d then tried to kiss her. She’d fought free and slapped him hard enough to make his teeth rattle. From that day on, he’d been determined to make her pay for rejecting his advance.
“Dear god, how am I to do this?” Doubt, fear—they both gripped her. How was she to walk into a brothel, which she was sure it was, and retrieve those papers, when it was likely Lord Lithgow would be doing things with Miss Chartreuse that she had no wish to see.
