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Chapter 17
Charlotte had begun to speak the inner language of Jeffrey. She found this ability within herself as time stretched forth, found that as she peered into those dark and mysterious eyes of his, she drew various conclusions about his inner state. Thus, as he stood before her in the garden and translated just how little he trusted the investigator to actually pull through for them, she felt a story lurking behind the sentiment.
Clearly, Jeffrey had been through a great deal.
Charlotte’s initial thought involved Jeffrey’s brother. But hadn’t that been deemed an accident? Of course, there had been some who’d wanted to label Brooks’ death as an accident—stating that the bruise on the back of his head was synonymous with a horrendous fall.
She burned with it, now: the idea that anybody might bolt into the investigation into Brooks’ death and declare it an accident, above all things. It was so clear that there was evil at play, evil that stirred around the event—darkness that both she and Brooks had to fight.
But not this night. No. Now, she found her fingers fluttering against his hand as she followed the others into the dining hall of Peter’s estate. Yet again, she was seated next to Jeffrey—it seemed almost an organic, natural thing, now, although she had a hunch that Peter had orchestrated it. He continually cast these funny glances in their direction, so much so that she finally mentioned it to Jeffrey.
“He’s quite taken with the idea of my settling down,” Jeffrey affirmed.
“But you’re not quite so taken with it,” Charlotte suggested.
“You know how it is with the people in your life who’ve already settled,” Jeffrey said. “They deem it to be the only appropriate way forward. In reality, there are numerous ways to live.”
“Are you interested in that sort of experimentation?” Charlotte asked. Secretly, her heart thudded with dread. Was it possible that Jeffrey didn’t yearn for a similar existence—that he didn’t want marriage, children?
Not that she thought that was the sort of utopia it had always been advertised as.
“I don’t want to rule anything out,” he told her with an attractive, crooked smile.
Dinner was served: an immaculate round of chicken and quail, simmering rosemary potatoes, gorgeous freshly-baked bread. Charlotte found herself dipping in and out of various stories, ones she’d never bothered to tell anyone beyond Louisa. Jeffrey chuckled, seemingly fascinated with her, demanding questions that nobody had ever thought to ask.
Occasionally throughout dinner, Charlotte cast her eyes towards the far end of the room, where she found Louisa in a similar state alongside Zachary. It seemed that the two had endless topics to discuss, so much so that Louisa seemed on the verge of biting her tongue, she spoke so quickly. It wouldn’t have been the first time Charlotte saw her do such a thing. Still, she’d never seen her do it alongside a man.
Dinner crept into dessert, which then flung itself forward for another round of drinks in the garden. The quintet gathered once more, and the sounds of string instruments flew out across the stars. Charlotte hovered near Louisa for a moment, while Zachary and Jeffrey said hello to one another.
Under her breath, Charlotte murmured, “You look as though you’re floating, Louisa.”
“I should say the same to you,” Louisa whispered.
“Don’t be silly. I’ve only drunk too much wine,” Charlotte affirmed.
Louisa scrunched her nose and twirled her finger through Charlotte’s dark blonde locks. “It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?”
“Terribly so.”
Beside them, Zachary and Jeffrey discussed a business situation that had occurred some five years before. Charlotte rolled her eyes towards Jeffrey, just barely catching his eye.
“I’m terribly sorry, Zachary, but I’m afraid I must tend to something,” Jeffrey said.
“Quite all right. I don’t remember the details of that affair, anyway,” Zachary said. He delivered a sterile smile.
Jeffrey hunkered back towards Charlotte. He placed a hand on her lower back as they walked slowly towards the side of the garden. Charlotte felt again as though they walked on floating clouds.
“Thank you for saving me,” he whispered. “That man—he’s swell—but we’ve never had much to discuss.”
“He seems fine,” Charlotte affirmed. She flashed her eyes back towards Louisa and Zachary, who’d fallen into another round of laughter.
“I cannot imagine what sort of jokes he’s told her this evening,” Jeffrey said. “I find him rather dull.”
“Perhaps he’s the sort of man who only finds life with very particular people,” Charlotte said contemplatively. “Louisa is that sort of soul. She makes people less anxious, allows them to act as though they’re alone in a room together. It’s a bit of magic that only she can fully operate. I adore her for it. She’s calmed me in countless situations.”
Jeffrey furrowed his brow. “I couldn’t have imagined. What a marvellous gift.”
“It really is.” It pleased Charlotte to hear Jeffrey compliment her dearest friend.
