‘Lord Stanley has everything under control. Please, Mrs Wilberforce, return to your room. There is nothing you can do now.’
Nearby, the remaining maids huddled together whispering anxiously amongst themselves.
Turning to the butler, Charlotte said, ‘Please, Holden, can you organise the staff today in place of Mrs Dent?’
He nodded solemnly.
‘At once, Miss Lucas.’
Then, with quiet authority, he began shepherding the servants towards the kitchens.
Charlotte’s attention shifted towards Lord Stanley descending into the servants’ quarters whilst speaking in low tones to several footmen.
Slowly, she and Sarah returned upstairs and dressed in uneasy silence. From their position within the family wing, they had heard enough to know the truth.
Mrs Dent was dead.
And Holly most certainly had not been suffering from a nightmare.
Some time later, a knock sounded at Charlotte’s door.
‘Are you dressed?’ came Lord Stanley’s clipped voice.
She turned quickly towards Sarah.
‘Stay here with Tom—and do not let anyone else inside,’ she whispered urgently.
Sarah nodded at once.
Wrapping a shawl tightly about her shoulders, Charlotte opened the door.
Lord Stanley stood before her fully dressed despite the early hour. Shadows darkened the space beneath his eyes, though his expression remained hard and composed.
‘I require your assistance. Come.’
Without another word, she followed him downstairs.
At the threshold of Mrs Dent’s chamber, he paused and studied her closely, as though searching for some sign she might collapse at the sight awaiting them. Apparently satisfied by whatever he saw, he gave a brief nod and stepped aside.
‘You do not faint at the sight of a body,’ he observed.
Charlotte swallowed.
‘I have seen death before,’ she replied quietly, her father’s face flashing suddenly through her mind. She pushed the grief aside before it could surface.
‘I would rather not risk it.’
He held out his hand.
After only the briefest hesitation, she placed her fingers in his.
His grip felt warm, steady, reassuringly firm.
‘No one has disturbed the room,’ he said as they entered. ‘I need your keen eye for detail, Miss Lucas. You have encountered these people before. If you notice anything unusual—however small—I want to hear it.’
She nodded silently.
The moment she crossed the threshold, her gaze fell upon the body.
