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Chapter 26
It took a bit of convincing to get Lord and Lady Stanton to allow Charlotte to leave the estate for the night. Lord Stanton’s cheeks shook violently as he blared, “We cannot watch over you if you tear yourself across the county willy-nilly, as though you aren’t wanted for murder. What will happen next to you, darling? Will that horrendous Charles Baxter shove you behind bars, without a single question asked?”
“Father. I promise you. The dinner party this evening is of tremendous importance. I cannot explain now, but I sense that this evening, my name will be fully cleared from Charles Baxter’s mind,” Charlotte said.
She hated how meek her voice sounded. She imagined that if she’d been in her father’s shoes, she wouldn’t have allowed it. Still, her father looked exhausted, stooped-over, as though his muscles could no longer support his back.
“Just promise me you’ll be careful,” he breathed.
Charlotte heaved herself into the belly of the carriage, without waiting for the stable hand to assist her. With a jolt, the carriage bolted out onto the wide country road. The fresh sights around her, entirely different from the banal wall of her bedroom, excited her.
She inhaled that glorious summer air and tried to tell herself the story of the night.Everything will be all right after this. Jeffrey has complete control. He wouldn’t put you in danger on purpose. He loves you. He wants to be with you.
You won’t spend the rest of your life in jail.
When Charlotte’s carriage rumbled up the little trail leading towards Peter’s stable, her heart drummed at the sight of Charles Baxter on horseback. He eased off the saddle, swept his hands across his thighs, then passed the reins towards one of the stable hands. Assuredly, his appearance at the party had been purposeful. Perhaps Jeffrey wanted to prove something to him? Reveal the truth?
Still, Charlotte waited until Charles Baxter was safely inside before she slipped out from the side of the carriage and placed her feet delicately across the grass. She nodded firmly towards the stable hand, then directed her body towards Peter’s mansion.
As Charlotte swept forth, she heard her name, whispered out from the back of the mansion, towards the gardens. She turned to find Jeffrey in the shadows, beckoning for her. She gripped her skirts and dashed towards him madly, her heart racing in her throat.
When she reached him, she threw herself in his arms and burrowed her face in his chest. His large hand swept down her back and collected at the top of her buttocks. His touch was so tender, so loving, that her heart slowed, her thoughts stopped their reckless racing. When she lifted her face towards his, he kissed her softly, then whispered, “It’s going to be all right. I promise you.”
“What’s happened? Why is Charles Baxter here?” she breathed.
“He’s not the only monster in our midst. Florentia arrived only minutes ago. She’s set up her little act in the parlour. Several of the women of the party have already fluttered towards her, demanding readings,” Jeffrey said.
“I see,” Charlotte said. Her heart pounded ominously. “I hate her. So desperately.”
“As do I,” Jeffrey said. “I’m keeping my distance from her for the moment, as I suspect sight of me or you might bring her pause. I don’t want her to know that we’ve set this trap until the last moment.”
“And Charles Baxter?”
“It’s essential he see as much of this as possible. Tonight’s story, along with Brooks’ friend at the bar’s story, along with the letter you found …”
“And the eyewitness account of Brooks being seen with a woman who seemed rich,” Charlotte said.
“Ah! Brilliant. Yes. All of that together should push Charles Baxter to arrest her,” Jeffrey said.
“Who else is here?” Charlotte asked. “Do you think anyone else is in danger?”
“Louisa and Margorie haven’t yet arrived,” Jeffrey said. “The others believe it’s a perfectly ordinary dinner party at Peter’s. Even Peter’s wife thinks this.”
“Good. I only hope she doesn’t convince anyone else to fall for her …”
“She’ll be in prison before anything else can happen,” he told her. “I promise.”
Jeffrey dotted yet another kiss on her lips and cradled her tightly against him. Their kisses grew increasingly wild. Charlotte’s breasts heaved against his chest as he pressed her hard against the red brick garden wall. His fingers shifted against her gown and tugged hard, yearning to remove it. When their kiss broke, he exhaled softly. “I can’t wait until this is over. I want to make love to you properly. I want to feel you against me. I want …”
Suddenly, there was a crank, then a slam of one of the back doors. Charlotte and Jeffrey sprung apart. Charlotte stepped out from the shadows as Jeffrey pressed a finger to his lips and swept to the left, around the side of the mansion.
“Is that Charlotte Stanton, hiding all the way back here?”
The voice sent shivers down Charlotte’s spine.
Sampson. That horrendous, almost-friend, who’d been in and out of her life for several years.
She turned to greet him, wearing a false smile.
