Charlotte shook her head numbly. “I… I left something in my room. I will see you later.”
She needed to think, to find out exactly what Cecily had seen. Charlotte barely paid attention to where she was walking, completely caught up in her own thoughts. “I have been looking for you,” a voice said behind her.
Charlotte turned and found herself facing Dominic’s slightly odd cousin, Batty. She had not spent much time with the other woman and found that she often had a sort of dreamy, faraway look about her.
“Well, now you have found me,” Charlotte said, smiling kindly. “Was there a particular reason you were looking for me?”
“I have something for you,” Batty said, in a dreamy voice. “I must remember where I put it.”
“Perhaps it can wait; I am rather busy right now.” Charlotte took a step away, wondering what on Earth Batty might have for her.I do not even know her real name.
“Ah! Here it is!” Batty grinned broadly and procured a folded piece of paper. “I thought you should have this back.”
Charlotte took it from her and saw that it was a letter addressed to her. A letter from Dominic. And it was not a letter that she recognised.
Her breath caught, and she looked at Batty, her eyes wide with shock “Where did you find this?”
“I cannot remember. But I thought it seemed rather… Well, it seemed wrong that everyone should see something so personal.” Batty frowned. “Though it is well written, it is not meant for any eyes but yours I would think. Well, possibly Grandmama, but she would not spread such a thing about the estate.”
“Thank you,” Charlotte said though her voice sounded oddly far away.
“For what?” Batty canted her head towards her.
“For returning this to me.” She waved the letter at the woman.
“It seemed the right thing to do. I love my family dearly, but they can be a little… excessive… at times.” Batty shook her head, a mix of amusement and affection on her face. “Absolutely no sense of privacy, any of them. And horrible gossips.”
“You do not care for gossip?” Charlotte asked.
Batty gave her a frank look before shaking her head. “I find it hard enough to keep my own business in order; why should I seek to add others to the mix?”
“A sensible approach.” Charlotte found herself warming to the other woman and made a mental note to get to know her better. “I cannot say I particularly care for it either.”
“I imagine you would not.” Batty sniffed disapprovingly. “Imagine rifling through someone’s private things just so you have something to talk about when there is an entire world to explore!”
“Some people find the lives of others far more interesting than their own,” Charlotte said.How often have I heard people talking about this person or that? It is just seen as part of the ton.
“It is probably because they are removed from it. It is much easier to be interested in something that will have no real impact on you,” Batty said sagely.
Charlotte nodded and then a thought occurred to her. “Do you know how many people have read this?”
“No idea, I am afraid. Though even if they have not read it, most will have heard it or at least some version of it. Like I said, they are terrible gossips. Or I suppose quite good gossips, depending on how you look at it.” Batty stroked her chin thoughtfully.
“Either way, I am not sure I enjoy the result.” Charlotte frowned.We did want them to find our letters, but I did not think it would be anything like this when they did.
Batty patted her arm reassuringly, giving her another sympathetic look. “It is why I prefer the company of my terriers. At least they cannot read. Well, I do not think they can read.”
Charlotte laughed. “I think we would all be in rather a lot of trouble if dogs could read.”
“Less than if they could talk,” Batty added seriously. “I would advise you to put that somewhere it will not be found. At least, if you would like to keep it. I recommend the bible.”
“The Bible?” Charlotte asked, trying to work out how serious Batty was being.
“Yes. My family are oddly superstitious about the book, and I doubt any of them would dare take a letter that had been hidden in it.” Batty paused and then added, “Your other option would be keeping it in your socks. Few people wish to explore another person’s socks.”
“Thank you, I will keep that in mind.” Charlotte smiled at her, trying not to imagine how she might feel if any of Dominic’s relatives were rifling through her socks.
“See that you do.” Batty nodded firmly.
