‘Fine,’ she said at last, reluctantly. ‘What will you do about the body?’
‘I shall move it to a more... suitable location. And I must discuss matters with the Bow Street Runners, as well as send an express to the Lord Chief Justice explaining the situation.’ He looked suddenly weary. ‘Now, tell me exactly what you saw and heard.’
Charlotte launched into her account, describing everything as clearly as she could recall. Lord Stanley listened without interruption, only occasionally betraying brief, controlled reactions.
When she finished, he regarded her for a moment.
‘I am sorry you had to witness this.’
Charlotte was quietly moved by his concern, though she suppressed the feeling at once. ‘What will you do now?’
He turned the signet ring upon his finger absently. ‘I shall place a few footmen in Wolverton’s room. If the Odd Fellows attempt to search it tonight, we shall catch them. Though I doubt they will risk it, given their plans were thwarted.’
‘What will you say regarding his disappearance?’ she asked, nodding towards the bookcase.
‘I shall inform the guests in the morning that he was called away suddenly on urgent business.’
‘Now,’ he added quickly, before she could protest, ‘return to your room. My footmen will escort you. No more wandering the corridors unaccompanied. It is too dangerous.’
Charlotte turned towards the door, but as her hand reached the handle, she paused and glanced back at him. He tilted hishead slightly, studying her with a contemplative expression. For the briefest moment, she thought he looked almost sad.
A twinge of guilt stirred within her. She tried to speak, but the words deserted her.
Charlotte shifted uneasily beneath his gaze.
‘Get some rest. My men will fetch you once the household has retired for the night, and together we shall find this secret passage.’
Chapter 28
Of course she agreed to help him find the secret passageway, but by the time Charlotte returned to her chambers, her mind was in complete disarray. Two footmen followed in her wake and stationed themselves outside her room.
The moment she entered, she accidentally kicked an empty chamber pot, sending it clattering noisily across the floor. In the adjoining room, Sarah stirred and opened the door, hair tousled and eyes bright with alarm.
‘Did you discover who the Odd Fellows are?’
Charlotte did not so much as blink. ‘You are to congratulate me, Sarah. I am engaged to Lord Stanley.’
Sarah stared at her, wide-eyed.
Charlotte wandered distractedly towards the washstand, poured herself a glass of water with shaking hands, and drank it in great gulps.
‘Huh? What? How?’
Charlotte recounted the entire catastrophe—the concealment in the library, the confrontation, and finally Wolverton’s murder—before sinking heavily into the armchair beside the fire, looking utterly exhausted.
Sarah sat slowly opposite her, stunned into silence. ‘Murder,’ she whispered at last. ‘Right before your eyes. Good heavens, miss... your life is truly in danger now.’ She fetched a blanket and wrapped it gently around Charlotte’s shoulders.
‘I know,’ Charlotte said flatly, too tired and numb to feel much of anything any longer.
‘Who was the third man? This Falcon? It could be anyone...’
‘One of the guests, I'm sure.’ She let out a weary breath and briefly closed her eyes.
‘So if it is a false engagement... how do you plan to end it?’
‘I have not the faintest idea,’ Charlotte sighed.
‘If he ends it, you will be ruined.’
