“He will,” she said, “But you need help from the living too. Promise me you’ll write the moment you get there.”
“I will.”
“And if he tries anything before six months are up,” Temperance added, “you tell me. I don’t care if you think it’s improper, but you must let me know.”
“I will.”
“I hate that you’ll be so far,” Temperance admitted with a sad sigh. “But, if it keeps you safe for now, then go.”
They did not exchange goodbyes. Charity always hated the concept of them; instead, they exchanged one last reassuring look.
The next six months were going to be a trial, but Charity had faith that she was going to get through it.
CHAPTER 2
Six Months Later
“Charity, Charity,” Matilda came running down the corridor, catching her older sister entirely off guard. The girl was huffing, and hunched over to catch her breath as she caught up to Charity.
“What’s happened?” Charity got to her feet immediately.
“There is a carriage outside,” Matilda announced, still out of breath. “A rather large one.”
Immediately, Charity understood why this was such an alarming fact for Matilda that she had to deliver it immediately. Owing to the remoteness of their estate, it was rare that they got guests. Augusta appeared in the doorway a moment later.
“I am certain that it must be Uncle,” she said with an obvious look of disdain on her face. “It has been six months.”
Ah. It had been.Charity had been counting down the days and had learned that grief made time pass by in a blur. It felt as if it was almost yesterday that she had arrived in York with her sisters, and now the period of mourning had come to an end already.
She had tried her hardest to find a way out of this situation, speaking to solicitors. But they had all said the same thing to her. Their uncle was the legal guardian now, and that put him in an important position.
“He didn’t even wait a day more than six months, which is exactly what he promised, and somehow that makes me hate him more, because it means he planned this down to the hour,” Augusta went on, shaking her head. “Conniving, that is what he is. Now trust him to be all diplomatic when he speaks to us, and pretend that he cares about our loss.”
“Is Uncle Edward coming inside?” Matilda asked, looking between the two older sisters.
“Yes, he is, but you’re not going to be alone with him, and neither is Charity, and we are not going to let him push us around as if this house belongs to him,” Augusta maintained. Her anger had not faded even a bit, even though it had been exactly six months since they had seen their uncle last.
A knock sounded downstairs, and the maid hurried past the sitting room and returned a moment later.
“My lady,” she said to Charity, “the Viscount of Orton has arrived, and Mr. Robert Mowatt is with him. They request to be received.”
“Send them in,” Charity said, feeling her stomach drop already.
“Charity…” Augusta said, and there was a slight hint of fear in her voice, which surprised Charity, for she was always brave.
“I will handle it,” Charity said, grabbing her hand firmly. “The matter will be resolved, and you do not need to worry about anything.”
Hearing her talk with such certainty, Augusta calmed visibly. Over the last few months, Charity had taken on this role where she would be the one to comfort her sisters. It had brought them closer, emotionally, as she now felt an even stronger bond with them.
“Let us go now,” Charity announced, mustering up the last of her courage. She had to put on a brave face, no matter what she felt like on the inside.
Footsteps sounded in the corridor outside the sitting room, and then Edward entered without hesitation. Robert followed him, half a step behind, and looked older than he had six months ago.
“Miss Charity,” Edward said, inclining his head. “Miss Augusta. Miss Matilda.”
Augusta curtsied just enough to satisfy propriety and no more. Matilda dipped awkwardly, then grabbed Charity’s hand again.
“Uncle,” Charity kept her face calm. “Robert.”
