They approached the main door and Mr. Moore knocked. The door opened and the butler greeted them with a wary look. “How may I help you?” he asked.
Mr. Moore removed a calling card from his waistcoat pocket. “I do believe that Lady Charlotte is expecting me.”
The butler looked rather uncomfortable as he responded, “Yes, but she was not expecting Lord Rushcliffe.”
“I am sure that won’t be an issue,” Mr. Moore said.
The butler hesitated for a moment before opening the door wide. “Do come in,” he encouraged. “I will be just a moment while I go speak to Lady Charlotte.”
Greydon stepped into the entry hall and watched as the butler disappeared into the drawing room.
Mr. Moore turned to face him and lowered his voice. “Whatever happens in there, just know that I intend to root out the truth, one way or another.”
Before Greydon could reply, the butler stepped back into the entry hall and announced, “Lady Charlotte will see you now.”
Greydon followed Mr. Moore into the drawing room and saw Lady Charlotte was standing next to the settee. Her hair was neatly coiffed and she was dressed in a pale pink gown. Which was an odd choice. It seemed much too bright and cheery since her sister was in Newgate on charges of murder.
A smile came to Charlotte’s lips as she addressed Mr. Moore. “It is so good to see you, sir,” she said.
Mr. Moore bowed. “The pleasure is all mine, my lady,” he responded. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with us.”
Lady Charlotte’s smile disappeared when she turned her attention to Greydon, her expression turning into contempt. “Well, I must admit that Lord Rushcliffe’s presence took me by surprise.”
Mr. Moore flicked his wrist and said, “Just pretend he isn’t even here. I do that all the time.”
She giggled. “That is awful of you to say.” She lowered herself down onto the settee. “Would you care for some tea?”
“No, thank you,” Mr. Moore replied as Greydon followed suit and sat down on an upholstered armchair. “I came to see how you are faring.”
“Thank you,” Lady Charlotte said, tilting her chin. “No one has asked how I am doing. Everyone is only asking how Eugenie is doing.”
“That is wrong of them,” Mr. Moore acknowledged.
A pout came to Lady Charlotte’s lips. “I think so, as well. But to answer your question, I am doing as well as can be expected, given the circumstances.”
Greydon resisted the urge to roll his eyes at Lady Charlotte’s selfish responses. Did she not care that her sister was in Newgate in a misguided attempt to protect her?
Mr. Moore moved to sit on the edge of his seat. “I just need to ask you a few questions, assuming you don’t mind.”
“I suppose one or two wouldn’t hurt,” Lady Charlotte said as she moved to lean her back against the settee.
With a glance over his shoulder at Greydon, Mr. Moore asked, “Is it true that the late Lord Rushcliffe promised to marry you?”
Lady Charlotte bobbed her head. “Yes, once he divorced his ghastly wife, he was going to marry me.”
“Did he explain that Parliament might not grant his divorce?” Mr. Moore asked.
“Whyever not?” Lady Charlotte asked. “His wife was awful, just awful to him. He was constantly complaining about her.”
Greydon couldn’t resist saying, “Having a disagreeable wife is not grounds for divorce.”
“She also didn’t give him a child,” Lady Charlotte said. “He needed an heir and she hadn’t done her duty.”
Mr. Moore spoke up. “Do you know if he spoke to his wife about the divorce?”
“Yes, and she was furious, but Phineas assured me that he wasn’t about to back down,” Lady Charlotte replied. “Besides, he was used to her bouts of anger, especially when she would show up to his apartment unannounced.”
“She has been to his apartment before?” Greydon asked.
