AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“This is all nonsense,” Lord Linfield muttered.
“No,” came a deep voice—one that never failed to soothe Charlotte even in times of turmoil such as now. “Nonsense is you still standing there like a fool, trying to convince a woman of strength to be something less than she is.”
Charlotte turned and smiled at Seth, the front door still open behind him from when he’d walked in.
Taking a few steps, Charlotte wrapped her arm through his. “And you would know,” she whispered low enough only Seth would hear. “You use the term often enough.”
Though he was scowling at Lord Linfield, the corner of his mouth twitched at her words.
“Now,” Charlotte said, “I only need to see that Emma is settled and properly looked after, and then I will be ready to leave as well.”
“I saw what happened,” Seth said, casting Lord Linfield another dark scowl. Apparently, he also believed the lord’s actions to be a far cry from what they ought to have been. “But hurry back,” he continued, speaking to Charlotte. “It may take us all night to find the girl. The sooner we leave, the sooner she’s safe once more.”
“All night?” Lord Linfield sputtered. “Just the two of you? Charlotte, I never thought you would fall so—”
“I have not given you leave to call me by my first name,” Charlotte cut in. “I would kindly ask you to stop doing so.”
Lord Linfield’s brow fell. “We’ve been friends for ages. Your husband would have wantedusto make a m—”
“He would have wantedmeto be happy.”
Lord Linfield didn’t seem to have any words to say to that, and he simply stood there, mouth open.
“If you will excuse me,” Charlotte said, moving up the stairs, “I have a young woman to check in on.”
Charlotte didn’t feel bad about leaving Seth alone with Lord Linfield. Either Lord Linfield could face Seth’s surly silence or take his leave. Either was fine with her.
When she reached the room Emma had been led to, she found all as she had hoped it to be. There were two maids, hurrying about the room. One was stoking up a fire in the hearth, while the other fluffed the pillows and blankets around Emma in the bed.
“I want the doctor sent for immediately,” Charlotte said to the closest maid, even as she tucked the blanket securely around Emma.
“Yes, my lady,” the maid said and then left the room, carrying a pile of old linens with her.
Yet another maid hurried into the room with a large tray. “Broth, my lady,” she said with a practiced curtsy that didn’t spill a drop. “Cook said it would help.”
“Thank you, Martha. Just there would be wonderful.”
The maid placed the tray on the table nearest the bed and hurried off once more. A surprise guest at a little after eight at night—even in London, when bedtime was far later than in the country—did tend to throw a house into a bit of a commotion.
Emma reached out, taking Charlotte by the arm.
Though she was frail and white as the pillow behind her, her grip was remarkably strong. “You have to save Jane. She’s my only family. She’s my little girl.”
In those few words, Charlotte was transported back to over twenty years ago. To that horrid night of pain and tears.
Save my little girl, she’d pled with the doctor.Anything you need, please, just save her.
Charlotte wrapped her hand over the top of Emma’s. Jane may not be Emma’s child, but there was no doubt in Charlotte’s mind that it felt to Emma as though she were.
“Do not worry,” Charlotte said, squeezing Emma’s hand even as tears pricked at the backs of her eyes, “we won’t lose her. Not tonight. We’ll get her back, you’ll see.”
Emma’s eyes closed, and her grip on Charlotte’s arm lessened.
Charlotte allowed herself a brief moment to watch the pale woman breathe and rest.
No more lost girls, not tonight.
Charlotte stood and moved toward the bedchamber door.
“Don’t worry,” Susan said, coming to stand near the bed. “I’ll see to her. I’ll stay up all night, if I have to.”
She hadn’t known that Susan had been made aware of all that was happening. But having her here now, offering to help, caused a swell of gratitude inside her. Charlotte moved toward Susan and wrapped her arms around her daughter-in-law. “Thank you, Susan. I couldn’t do it without you.”
“William and the nurse will see to Samuel,” Susan said, clearly a bit embarrassed. “After all you’ve done for me, it’s about time I helped you in return. It’s not much, but still.” She ended with a shrug.
“But it is a lot. To me, it is.”
They pulled away, and Susan clasped her hands in front of her. “Off with you now. You’ve a young girl to save.”
Charlotte nodded and hurried from the room.
