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She studied the woman for a minute. “Is your secret so very terrible that it is better to continue paying someone than have it come to light?”
“Oh, yes!” Miss Gertrude reared back, her eyes wide. “It was something I had no control over, but if it is discovered, I would lose my position in society, church, and even here in the book club.” She shook her head furiously. “No. I could never let that come to light.”
From Miss Gertrude’s demeanor and words, Amy suspected they could cross her off their list of suspects. She was much too distraught. Unless, of course, she was upset at the idea of having to kill another person. Two down and one more to go?
One would think that picking up where Mr. Harding left off in blackmailing his victims could be risky, since the man had been murdered. Amy squeezed the woman’s hands. “Lord Wethington and I will do everything possible to help. But I wish to restate, do not agree to meet anyone, anywhere. The situation is much too dangerous.”
Miss Gertrude slumped. “Thank you. I feel better just knowing the two of you might be able to help. I can’t continue to pay. I’ve been taking the money from the inheritance our father left me and sister. It was supposed to last the rest of our lives. If I keep paying, the rest of our lives would not be more than a few more years.” She shook her head. “That is so unfair to Penelope.”
Amy wasn’t sure if Miss Gertrude was attempting humor or if she was serious about how dire their money situation had grown.
“I will be in touch with you. Please try to calm yourself. You have a friend in me and Lord Wethington.”
A lone tear tracked down Miss Gertrude’s cheek. “Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have you and Lord Wethington as friends.”
Mr. Colbert called the meeting to order, and the members took their seats. Lady Wethington had come with Mr. Colbert, and she sat right at the front no more than five feet from him.
Mr. Davidson and Mr. Rawlings entered and took seats together on one of the settees.
Amy considered herself a sophisticated woman of the world, so she tried very hard not to stare at the two men. She had no feelings one way or the other about their sort of relationship; she just wished she didn’t know quite so much about them as she did now.
“Friends, this week our discussion is on The Lady in White. I hope the ladies did not find it too strong for their nerves.”
The women all shook their heads.
“In that case, let us start our discussion.”
Mr. Davidson raised his hand. “Before we begin, Mr. Colbert, have you received any more information on Mr. Burton? Will he or will he not appear?”
“The latest news is the publisher is certain he will appear.”
Several people smiled and nodded to each other. Amy felt her stomach sink to her feet. Papa had not said anything more about her appearance at the book fair since she handed him the last letter from the publisher threatening a lawsuit.
She’d been so thrilled when William disagreed with her papa in suggesting that they find a man to take her place. William was truly a remarkable man. If she ever were to consider marriage—she gulped at the thought—William would be her choice.
The meeting seemed to drag on forever, since Amy was anxious to speak to William about Miss Gertrude’s revelation regarding her blackmailer. She was also eager to find the ledger in her room to make sure she still had it. How it would have disappeared was questionable, since she had servants in the house at all times. However, common sense said there must be some way the author of the letter to Miss Gertrude had gotten her name.
Near the end of the discussion, Aunt Margaret took a seat at the back of the room and was mostly ignored by everyone as she sketched her drawing. She’d managed to angle herself so she could see Mr. Davidson’s face clearly.
Eventually, Mr. Colbert closed the meeting, and Amy, William, and Aunt Margaret left the room. Since Amy didn’t want Aunt Margaret to know too much about what she and William were up to, she decided not to speak about Miss Gertrude while in Aunt Margaret’s presence.
As their carriage pulled away, Mr. Colbert was helping William’s mother into his carriage. William noticed and snorted.
“Here is your sketch of Mr. Davidson,” Aunt Margaret said as she handed the drawing to Amy. “I just hope you aren’t going to use this to get yourselves into more trouble.”
Amy held it up to the lamp hanging on the wall of the carriage. “This is wonderful, Aunt Margaret.” She passed it off to William, who also viewed it.
“Yes. You are a very good artist, Lady Margaret. It appears your family is quite talented.” They chatted about the book they had discussed that night and would continue to read the coming week. Some books took two or three weeks to discuss to everyone’s satisfaction, whereas others required only a week. Since this book was more complicated than some of the other tomes they had read, it would most likely take three weeks.
Silence fell as the carriage made its way through the Bath traffic and onto the quieter streets where Amy and Margaret’s house lay.
“You are both so quiet,” Aunt Margaret said. “Is something going on that I don’t know about?”
Amy shook her head. “No. I don’t know about his lordship, but I’m just a bit tired.”
Just a few minutes later, they arrived. William helped Aunt Margaret out of the carriage, and when she waved him off, he climbed back in. “I have the feeling there is something you want to tell me.”
“Yes. I spoke with Miss Gertrude tonight—you might have seen us when we first arrived at the bookstore.”
