Raising her head slightly, Sarah said, “So that heavy purse was stolen—?”
“From a friend of Mr.Whitridge’s and now you know how I met him. He caught me, but I escaped him and, well, the important part of the story is that some of what was in that heavy purse should have gone to Leo—”
“Who is Leo?”
“He oversees the criminal territory of this area. He leads a group called the Seven because there are seven of them. They are all quite close. They are boys actually but they can be very menacing, especially when they are together in a pack. They do most of the pickpocketing and some general thievery in our section of town.”
“Interesting.”
Char knew Sarah didn’t mean that. She could tell her aunt was overwhelmed, and yet she needed to know all. “They were a bit of a problem for me. They were trying to blackmail me, and then they would have eventually blackmailed the duke, but Mr.Whitridge talked to Leo and now all is fine.”
Sarah sat in stunned disbelief. Char placed a comforting hand on her arm. “I am sorry for all that I’ve done. I was trying to help us stay in this house. Before Lady Baldwin managed an invitation to Baynton’s ball, everything had seemed so bleak and you were working very hard just to feed us—” She took a deep breath and released it. “Oh my, I am so happy to have that off my conscience.”
“And on to mine.”
Char shook her head. “Why? You have done nothing wrong.”
Sarah didn’t act as if she agreed. She lightly danced her fingers on the table as if thinking.
Char watched her carefully. “I’m sorry, Sarah.”
Her aunt reached for her hand. “I wish you had confided in me sooner. Or hadn’t been so worried over the rent. It will all work out, Char.”
“I know it will. Mr.Whitridge will see to it.”
At the mention of Jack’s name, her aunt gave a thin smile, but she didn’t comment.
“I plan on telling Baynton of my feelings this evening,” Char said. “However, I believe I should talk to Mr.Whitridge first.”
“That is a good plan,” Sarah agreed, but she was not happy. Actually, she acted distracted. However, before Char could question her, she picked up her book. “I need to go to the theater.” She walked to the door, and then stopped. “Char, I feel I’ve failed you. Your parents would never have wanted you to rob people.”
“I didn’t consider it robbing, Sarah,” she confessed.
“How did you think of it?”
“I considered it a retribution of sorts. There are those who stole all my father owned, including his dignity, and called it gambling. And here we were, going into debt and in danger of being tossed into the street. I was not right to do what I did. I lost my way. But, I must confess, it was a brilliant adventure—”
“Charlene.”
Char shrugged. “It was. For a span of time, I felt as if I had some power in this world. You talk about how it is hard for women to manage alone. However, when I was out on the street, moving along, I felt strong, alive. That being said, I’ve promised Mr.Whitridge I have set aside my breeches and I shall be all that is feminine from this day forward.”
“Your breeches? You have been parading around town dressed in breeches?”
“Of course,” Char said. “You didn’t believe I would go pickpocketing looking like this. I’d not be able to close in on a mark without being recognized. I needed a disguise.”
“Close in on amark?” Sarah shook her head in outrage. “Oh, Lady Baldwin has much to answer for—and you will not do anything illegal again. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I mean it, Char. I don’t know what I will do if I catch you in that sort of behavior, but I will do something.”
Char tried to look contrite. “I promise I will behave.”
Sarah appeared doubtful. She took a step and then rounded back on Char again. “And don’t be too hasty in rejecting the duke. See what Mr.Whitridge does. Time helps us discern the true character of a person. Will you promise me that you will not do anything rash or foolish until you talk to Mr.Whitridge?”
Since that was Char’s intention, she nodded, and yet her aunt did not seem mollified. “Is something the matter? I meant what I said about never doing something like picking pockets again.”
Sarah shook her head, a small, tight movement. “I love you, Char, as if you were my own. Let me tell you something I have never spoken of to anyone else—I can never have children.”
