Callander Square - Anne Perry [48]
It was on Charlotte’s tongue to tell her younger sister not to be bossy, when she took into account Emily’s passion for the matter, and the possibility of her boredom with the pointlessness of her own social round, and instead merely agreed to do her best, and leave no chance unexplored.
When Pitt arrived a moment later, Emily was just leaving, a broad, anticipatory smile on her face.
“She looks like a cat who has spied the canary out of its cage,” Pitt observed when the door was closed.
“She is very well,” Charlotte said noncommittally.
“Beyond doubt,” he agreed. “A cat in excellent health. Who is to be the unfortunate canary this time?”
“That is unfair.” She was very reluctant to let him know anything about it, because as yet he knew only that she was assisting General Balantyne in some clerical work, in which she herself had a longstanding interest that her father had not let her indulge. He had no idea that she was, or planned to be, concerning herself in the Callander Square affair; still less that Emily had ignored her promise to let the matter drop. “She was only indulging in a little speculative gossip,” she finished. That should satisfy him as likely enough, without in any way giving him to believe an untruth.
“About whom?” he asked.
“Pardon?”
“Come, Charlotte,” he put his hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him. The warmth and the strength of him still thrilled her. She raised her eyes to look at him, in part quite genuinely because she loved him, and wished him to know it, and only in small part to distract him from his question.
A moment or two later he let go of her.
“Charlotte, what is Emily doing in Callander Square?” he repeated. “And even more important, what are you doing—apart from sorting papers for General Balantyne?”
She considered lying, but as Emily had said, she was no good at it. Instead she made a strategic withdrawal.
“Emily has not been calling at Callander Square lately. To do so too often would be obvious, and so defeat the purpose. She asked me if I had learned anything about Christina Balantyne. Of course I have not. She is in bed with a chill, and I haven’t even met her. Emily persuaded me that I should endeavor at least to find out who her lover is, and why she does not marry him, instead of taking to her bed.”
“Charlotte?” he frowned, and there was a mixture of amusement and apprehension in his eyes.
She felt totally innocent.
“Yes?”
“What makes you suppose Christina has a lover?”
“Oh,” she realized she had given herself away. Pitt was waiting and there was no evading him now without lying, which she could not do. “Emily found out,” she admitted. “and she told me; Christina is afraid she may be with child. That naturally must mean that she has a lover.”
He stared at her, and she had no idea what thoughts were in his mind. His eyes grew wider and his eyebrows climbed higher. He had the clearest, most penetrating eyes she had ever seen; she felt as if the very inside of his mind reached out into her. Then just as suddenly his mood changed.
“How very enterprising of Emily!” There was a lift of admiration in his voice, and she thought of amusement, also. “That explains why Lady Augusta would not let me see her,” he went on. “That is a most interesting question; why not simply marry, albeit a little hastily?” The interest faded from his expression. “Charlotte, you must tell General Balantyne you cannot assist him any more.”
She was horrified.
“Oh no! I can’t possibly do that! I am less than halfway through—”
“Charlotte. If they have something to hide—”
“There’s no danger!” she said quickly. “I haven’t asked any questions! I merely listen to the servants at meal times. I’m not like Emily, I shall be very discreet—”
He laughed outright.
“My dear, you are nothing like Emily; she is a model of discretion compared with you. You are to make your apologies, say you are unwell, or your mother is—”
“No! What can they do to me? I have no social position to lose: and they