Unable to resist, she slowed her steps and moved quietly closer. The study door stood slightly ajar, affording her a clear view of Mr and Mrs Wilberforce with Lord Stanley.
Mr Wilberforce’s voice rang out first. ‘What do you mean you are cutting me off?’ he demanded furiously.
‘You heard me.’ Lord Stanley spoke in measured tones, his expression wholly unimpressed. ‘After today’s theatrics, it has become far too dangerous for me to continue. I must also consider the welfare of my sister and nephew.’
Mr Wilberforce slammed both fists upon the desk. ‘You cannot do this, Stanley! I rely on you. My work is infinitely more important than your gaming and wagers. You will squander fortunes on foolish bets, yet refuse to support something of actual consequence!’
Lord Stanley rose slowly to his feet. ‘I have no interest in your parliamentary crusades,’ he said evenly. ‘You must find another patron.’
‘But I have no one else!’ Wilberforce burst out. ‘With Huntley and Conant gone, I shall be ruined—forced to abandon everything.’
Conant. The last Chief Magistrate.
Charlotte felt a sickening realisation come over her. Nathaniel Conant’s death had not been coincidence either.
‘I have housed you out of love for my sister,’ Lord Stanley continued, his voice hardening into steel, ‘but I will not continue financing you. You are welcome to remain here, but nofurther assistance will be forthcoming. I have never shared your convictions and, frankly, I find myself increasingly opposed to them. You ought to let the matter rest.’
Wilberforce looked distraught. ‘How can you say such a thing? Stanley, I am shocked by your turn in sentiment.’
Mrs Wilberforce looked miserably between husband and brother. ‘William, what if these people target us next?’
‘This matter is larger than either of us, Minerva,’ Mr Wilberforce replied through clenched teeth.
Mrs Wilberforce gave a broken sob. ‘You cannot mean that. I only wish to keep you safe, William. Why must you persist in this cause?’ she cried.
‘You have never supported my mission,’ he said bitterly. ‘I see that clearly now.’
‘It is not that I do not support you,’ she pleaded, ‘but you are placing yourself—and me—and Tom—in danger. We are receiving threatening letters now, William. I do not feel safe anymore.’
He stared at her for a long moment, his face rigid with anger and disappointment.
‘Very well,’ he said at last. ‘Once this house party concludes, I shall make my own way. Clearly I have no allies here.’
Charlotte barely managed to step aside before he stormed from the study. He swept past her without even noticing her presence, too consumed by fury to see anything before him.
Inside the room, Mrs Wilberforce had collapsed into tears.
Lord Stanley crossed to her at once and drew her gently into his arms, stroking her hair.
‘It is for the best, Minerva. I am sure he will see reason once he cools down.’
At that moment, Lord Stanley lifted his head.
His gaze met Charlotte’s through the narrow opening of the doorway.
Then, without a word, he closed the study door.
Charlotte turned—
—and found herself standing face to face with Wolverton.
He had clearly overheard the exchange as well. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Was he pleased by what he had heard?
To Charlotte, he certainly appeared so.
Hushed murmurs soon spread along the corridor as several guests emerged from the card room, eager to discover the source of the disturbance.
