AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty-Six
Charlotte and Elizabeth moved out of Charlotte’s bedroom quietly. They needed to hurry, or else they might be sent back to the safety of their rooms by Lord Darling. He certainly wouldn’t want two women underfoot as he dispensed his form of justice. Charlotte also didn’t want to meet anyone else along the way until she got what she needed. Good thing her father was away for the moment. He was completely under Lord Darling’s control, and he would not be on her side any longer. She had to help him get out of whatever spell he was under, and she had to do that by finding those documents.
Charlotte told Elizabeth that not only had her father written a note of judgment for George Whiteman, but he also retained the evidence to prove Whiteman’s foul play and fraud. There was the faked tax book as well as the stolen money and a description of the trial of John Campbell and his punishment.
The relevant authorities had been pleased with her father’s account of the proceedings, and so there was no need for further trial. Once the King found out about Whiteman’s treason, he was no longer concerned about calling for the death of John Campbell, or so her father had been told. All had been truly well. These documents would prove Angus’ innocence. Either Lord Darling knew nothing about them, or he had already taken them and would destroy them to avenge his brother. He had the wrong man, and Charlotte would not let despair weaken her when there was still a chance she could save Angus. She held onto Elizabeth’s hand tightly as they took the servant’s passage towards her father’s study.
He took the same study that General Whiteman had occupied, even though it had been the scene of Whiteman’s crime. But Charlotte had not taken the same room that Julia had done, for she preferred the one on the far side of the Fort. She was chiding herself for her choice now, for Julia’s old room was merely steps away from the study. They rushed through the upstairs passages. They passed a few soldiers, and when they saw them, Elizabeth and Charlotte slowed their steps and lowered their heads demurely.
The men nodded and smiled, never suspecting a thing. At that moment, Charlotte was grateful that she was a woman. She could at least move through some spaces undetected. The two of them soon found themselves at the base of the stairs leading up to the study. Charlotte paused and looked up. “Let’s go. Lord Darling will soon begin the supposed trial for Angus, I’m sure.” She took Elizabeth’s hand again and walked slowly up the steps before pushing open the study door.
No one was there. It was a miracle! Since the men had had their training increased, there were fewer of them about the inside of the Fort, guarding certain rooms. It was the perfect chance to do a bit of sneaking. They rushed inside and shut the door behind them, locking it. “At least this will give us some time to find what we need.”
“And if someone finds us in here, Charlotte? What can we say?”
Charlotte didn’t look at Elizabeth but rushed to the desk. “We’ll say that there was a letter I had left with my father and wished to collect. No one shall suspect. You’ll simply bat your eyelashes and freeze the men where they’re at. Just like you do with Liam.” Charlotte looked up for a second and smiled at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Where shall I look?” She spun around, scanning the room for places to begin her search.
Charlotte said, “The bookcase, please!” The two of them began looking in earnest. Charlotte was making frustrated noises as she shuffled through everything, closing, and opening drawers. Elizabeth was searching the book spines, attempting to find the faked tax book. “Nothing!” Charlotte cried out. “Where could it be?” She threw up her arms in desperation. They were running out of time.
“Maybe he hid it somewhere? They are important documents, after all.” Elizabeth shrugged, and Charlotte nearly kissed her.
“Elizabeth! Once again, you do not even know how brilliant you are! Yes—let us try the hidden spot. Julia showed it to me once everything was finished.” Charlotte knelt down next to the hearth and moved her hands over the wooden floor. “This is where General Whiteman placed everything when he was head of the Fort. I just have to find the right board.” She pushed gently around a few adjacent boards until one gave with a squeak. Her heart beat faster. Her father was cleverer than she thought! Certainly more than Lord Darling gave him credit for. But she couldn’t trust him not to reveal this to Lord Darling even though he had gone to the trouble of hiding it.
Inside, she saw all of the documents tied together with string. She reached down and pulled them up. “Elizabeth. This is everything! We will use these to help prove Angus’ innocence. But we must tread carefully. If your father finds these documents, he will destroy them for the sake of his brother. Then, he will kill Angus for certain!” Charlotte’s eyes were wide as she stared at Elizabeth.
She continued with hesitation. She did not want to offend Elizabeth, but she had to say, “You are my friend, but please, tell me you will not reveal any of this to your father!”
Elizabeth replied softly, her cheeks burning red. “Of course not, Charlotte. I do not wish to assist my father when he acts like a tyrant. Angus is innocent! And you’ve seen me. You’re teaching me how to stand up to my father. I can keep this from him.”
Charlotte smiled. “Thank you. Now come, I will wrap these documents in my shawl so that they’re hidden as we walk back. We need to discuss how to deal with this. I need to find out what your father’s plans are somehow.”
They left the study and shut the door quietly behind them. Their hearts were in their throats as they tried to walk slowly back to Charlotte’s room. They passed by the opening to the Hall and could see a few men inside. Charlotte prayed fervently that nothing would prevent them from getting back to her room and hiding the documents away from Lord Darling’s hands.
But just as they moved by the doorway, their names were called, and the voice filled Charlotte with heavy dread. “Miss Andrews. Elizabeth! Come in here!”
Elizabeth and Charlotte glanced at each other. They moved back slowly into the room, and Charlotte’s hands were clasped tightly to her shawl. Charlotte pushed her shoulders back, and she stared directly at Lord Darling, not willing to show weakness any longer. He would be defeated. She could feel it deep within her, but she continued praying that he wouldn’t notice the slight bulge in her shawl.
He looked at the pair of them crossly. He was surrounded by two Scotsmen. One of them she recognized. It was John Campbell, and he watched her silently. She remembered his appreciative gaze the last time they’d met when she was the one who’d revealed that Whiteman’s book was not a true tax record. She’d also let them know that it was Whiteman’s handwriting that had filled in the book, incriminating him in the case of stolen money.
The other man was watching her as well. There was a slight resemblance to John, and she figured this was his brother, the laird, although he paled in comparison to John’s good looks with his rotund, rather unkempt appearance.
Normally, she might have taken offense to these stares, but she returned her gaze to Lord Darling, whose eyes were dark with anger. He spoke slowly and sharply. “You ladies must take your leave. This is a man’s business. Why are you wandering about? Elizabeth, I told you not to spend your time with this conniving woman. She will be a bad influence on you. Good thing her father agreed to have her married off right away.”
To Charlotte’s surprise, Elizabeth wrapped her arm around Charlotte’s and said back to her father, “You are wrong, Father. Charlotte Andrews is a wonderful woman. She is strong, brave, and she has taught me many things.”
Charlotte held her breath. She appreciated Elizabeth’s strength, but she wasn’t sure if now was the right time in which to show it off. Lord Darling moved closer to the two of them and stared down at his daughter. His face was reddening more and more with each second. “Did she teach you to be so disrespectful to your own father?”
Charlotte worried that Elizabeth was going to break, but she merely set her chin and said, “It is not that, Father. But I will not take orders on who I can be friends with any longer. We will leave you to your men’s business.” She began to pull Charlotte away from a flabbergasted Lord, but Charlotte stopped. She was inspired. She turned back to the two Scotsmen. Her voice was strong, but a thin thread of pleading was woven in its notes.
“You all know that Angus is innocent. You know of these documents, the documents that will prove that it was not Angus who did this!” She glanced at John, who looked ashamed, and his brother, whose eyes were wide with surprise. She still didn’t reveal the documents.
“Aye, she’s a lass tae remember, true enough.” There was a little chuckle as Archibald tried to ignore her words, but it was soon silenced by Lord Darling’s sharp look.
“Charlotte Andrews, you will leave the room this instant! You have naught to say in a man’s trial. He is guilty, and we have the witnesses to prove it!”
“Oh, do you?” She felt her strength growing with each moment. She turned back to him. “These men?” She pointed at the Campbells. John looked down, unable to meet Charlotte’s gaze any longer.
