And she fully intended to eavesdrop.
Then, from across the room, she felt someone watching her.
Her eyes locked with Lord Stanley’s.
A curious flutter of awareness passed through her before she could suppress it. She schooled her features into a picture of innocence. There was certainly no point informing him of her plans; he would only interfere.
Chapter 26
Charlotte had eaten far too much roast dinner and was now half-dozing in her chair within her hiding place in the library. She had convinced Sarah and Tom to help her painstakingly drag a bookcase across the stone floor, wedging it before a narrow alcove—leaving only the smallest gap through which Charlotte could squeeze. In front of it, they had strategically positioned a tall chest table topped with a flower vase, which she could pull across the opening once safely inside.
They had checked the arrangement again and again to ensure no one might spot her.
Tom, delighted by the entire affair, had declared it a fortress and played in it for half an hour, much to Charlotte’s and Sarah’s quiet amusement.
Now Charlotte had been sitting upon the small spindly chair for what felt like hours—though it was likely only one—and still there was no sign of Lord Wolverton and his cronies.
Her nerves were in tatters. She clasped her hands tightly in her lap, willing them to stop shaking, which only caused her body to tremble all the more.
Through the narrow sliver in the gap, she had a clear view of the library entrance and the tall windows beyond, beside which several armchairs were set. The perfect place for an evil meeting.
Charlotte also had a plan should they discover her. She would shove the bookcase onto them, flee for the door, and raise the alarm. A small pocketknife remained hidden in her sleeve, just in case.
She checked the time. Nearly ten.
Another few moments... then surely they would arrive. And finally, Charlotte would discover who amongst them belonged to the Odd Fellows.
Her legs began to cramp. She second-guessed herself—had she misheard? Had the meeting been moved elsewhere? When her right leg went numb, she shifted and stretched it carefully. A painful rush of pins and needles made her bite her lip to stop herself from crying out. She briefly considered abandoning her post altogether.
Then she heard the turn of the handle.
She snapped upright, holding her breath.
Footsteps echoed across the stone floor.
Through the narrow gap, she saw Lord Wolverton enter. And behind him—
Lord Stanley.
Disappointed, Charlotte slumped back in her chair as the two gentlemen settled themselves in the armchairs beside the window. Lord Wolverton placed his snuff box upon the table so he might indulge in frequent sniffs of the vile substance.
Charlotte’s backside ached, but she persevered. Leaning forward once more, she strained to hear.
‘Well, Wolverton—what is your outcome? Will the Grand Fellows meet me?’
Wolverton offered a wry smile. ‘I did my best, my friend, but they are not yet convinced of your loyalty. Perhaps you could offer them a gift?’
‘A gift?’ Lord Stanley sounded wary. ‘What sort of gift?’
‘A girl, perhaps... the lovely Miss Lucas? You must be growing tired of her by now?’
Charlotte’s eyes widened. She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. Her heart thundered frantically. Were they... bartering her?
A chair scraped violently across the floor. Lord Stanley had risen so abruptly it toppled backwards behind him. In an instant, he lunged at Wolverton, seizing him by the lapels and hauling him bodily to his feet.
‘How dare you?’ His voice shook with fury. ‘If you so much as look at Miss Lucas again, I will kill you. Do you hear me?’
Wolverton raised his hands quickly, his expression tightening. ‘Easy, old friend—I was only jesting. I know she is your favourite. Any girl will do—one of the maids, perhaps.’
