Bluegate Fields - Anne Perry [92]
“I am perfectly capable of looking at anything whatsoever that life has to afford,” she said loftily, “if there is some reason for it! I do not care for vulgarity, but if a problem is to be dealt with, then it must be understood. Kindly do not patronize me, Somerset!”
“I wouldn’t dare!” he replied with a flash of humor. It was almost an apology, and she accepted it with grace.
“I hardly imagine it will be a pleasant subject,” she acknowledged. “Nevertheless it must be done. Our facts must be correct—one grave error and we lose our case. I shall avail myself of all the help I can.” She turned in her chair. “Emily, the best opinion to begin with is that of the people who have the most influence, and who will be the most offended by it.”
“The Church?” Emily suggested.
“Nonsense! Everyone expects the Church to make noises, about sin. That is their job! Therefore no one really listens—it has no novelty whatsoever. What we need is a few of the best society hostesses, the ones people listen to and imitate, the leaders of fashion. That is where you will assist, Emily.”
Emily was delighted; her face shone with anticipation.
“And you, Charlotte,” Vespasia continued. “You will acquire some of the information we shall need. You have a husband in the police force. Use him. Somerset, I shall speak to you again.” She rose from the armchair and went to the door. “In the meanwhile, I trust you will do everything you can to look into the matter of this tutor Jerome and the possibility that there may be some other explanation. It is rather pressing.”
Pitt told Charlotte nothing about his interview with Athelstan, and so she was unaware that he had tried to reopen the case. But in any event, she had not imagined it would be possible once the verdict was in. If anything, she knew better than he did that those with influence would not permit the result to be questioned, now that the law had been met.
The next thing to do was to prepare for Callantha’s party, when she might have the chance to speak with Fanny Swynford. And if the occasion to speak to Titus did not offer itself gratuitously, she would then engineer some opportunity to speak with him also. At least Emily and Aunt Vespasia would be there to help her. And Aunt Vespasia was able to get away with almost any social behavior she chose, because she had the position—and, above all, the sheer style—to carry it off as if she were the rule and everyone else the exception.
She told Pitt only that she was going out with Aunt Vespasia. She knew that he liked Vespasia enough not to question it. In fact, he sent her his very best wishes in a message of what was for him unusual respect.
She accompanied Emily in her carriage, and had borrowed another dress for the day, since it was impractical for her to spend such allowance as she had for clothes on something she would wear probably only once. The minutiae of high fashion changed so frequently that last season’s dress was distinctly passé this season; it was seldom more than once or twice in six months that Charlotte attended an affair like the entertainment at Callantha Swynford’s.
The weather was perfectly appalling, driving sleet out of an iron-gray sky. The only way to look in the least glamorous was to wear something as gay and dazzling as possible. Emily chose light, clear red. Not wishing to look too similar, Charlotte chose an apricot velvet that made Emily slightly cross she had not chosen it herself. She was too proud, though, to demand they exchange, even though both were her gowns; her reasons would have been too obvious.
However, by the time they reached the Swynfords’ hallway and were welcomed into the large withdrawing room, which had been opened into the room beyond, fires blazing, lamps bright, Emily forgot the matter and launched herself into the business of the visit.
“How delightful,” she said with a brilliant smile at Callantha Swynford. “I shall look forward to meeting absolutely everyone! And so will Charlotte, I am sure. She has spoken