‘You mean to say we may finally uncover every member of the Odd Fellows?’ Sarah asked excitedly.
It was well past one o’clock before they finally fell asleep, too excited and brimming with theories regarding the black book to settle any sooner.
At eight the following morning, Tom wandered into the room to find Charlotte slumped awkwardly across the bed whilst Sarah snored softly upon the couch. Curious, he peered at the parchment clutched loosely in Charlotte’s hand.
Charlotte awoke with a stiff neck and a gasp as Tom tugged it free.
‘What is this, Miss Lucas?’ he asked brightly. ‘Are we learning a new language today?’
She rubbed her neck with a groan.
‘Not exactly, Master Tom. Come—we must get dressed and have breakfast. I need to speak to your mama as soon as she wakes.’
Groggy and sore, Charlotte struggled upright. Her head throbbed from lack of sleep, and deep creases marked one cheek where she had fallen asleep against the coverlet. It took an embarrassing amount of warm water and vigorous scrubbing before they faded.
By the time she reached the morning room, Mrs Wilberforce had already finished breakfast and was taking tea beside the terrace doors in the morning room.
Charlotte was on tenterhooks to share her discovery.
She wasted no time producing the coded parchment.
‘We must send an express immediately, Mrs Wilberforce. Lord Stanley must bring the black book back at once.’
Mrs Wilberforce, though surprised, complied immediately.
‘Why, yes—of course. I shall see to it at once.’
Relieved she understood the urgency, Charlotte watched as she called for a maid.
When the girl arrived, she instructed, ‘Send for the express rider at once. We have an urgent message.’
As they waited, Mrs Wilberforce offered Charlotte tea, and only then did she realise how parched she was. She drank gratefully and soon found herself nibbling biscuits as well.
‘Now that this horrid business is finally over and we have the house to ourselves again, I feel quite refreshed,’ Mrs Wilberforce chattered pleasantly. ‘Especially sitting here. The terrace views are lovely in the morning light. I think I shall tend to the hothouse today. My poor blooms must be dreadfully neglected.’
‘How nice,’ Charlotte replied politely, glancing towards the sparkling lake beyond the windows. ‘What do you grow there?’
‘Oh, nothing especially exotic. Roses, foxglove, chrysanthemums, and various herbs. I once attempted a lemon tree and failed miserably.’
Her laugh tinkled brightly.
‘I used to make rose oil in my youth. It remains my favourite scent.’
Mrs Wilberforce rambled on cheerfully.
‘And of course, I use the herbs to prepare most of the remedies for minor ailments.’
She reached over to affectionately ruffle Tom’s hair, causing him to slosh cordial down his waistcoat.
‘Oh dear. Off you go, sweetums. Find Sarah, change your clothes, and then run outside and play.’
Tom needed no encouragement. He raced from the room at once, no doubt eager for his beloved treehouse.
Charlotte winced inwardly.
Sarah was almost certainly still asleep.
‘I had no idea you were so interested in making remedies,’ Charlotte remarked, genuinely intrigued.
