Page 67 of The Virgin Duchess

“It is settled then. I will get to the bottom of this for myself.”

Going to her door, Charlotte unlocked it and called out for one of the maids to bring her hot water to wash with. As she stepped back inside, she pulled off the chemise she’d worn to bed and discarded it among the laundry. Stepping behind a privacy screen in her room, Charlotte began the work of brushing through her hair. She knew it would not do to wait and allow it to get wet.

You will settle this, Charlotte. You will learn the truth of the situation from the source itself, and then, if necessary, you will speak with both your husband and your brother.

After a few moments, Diedre entered with the hot water. They made quick small talk, during which Charlotte asked for a carriage to be made ready. She informed Diedre where she wished to go, and though there was a brief fight about it, before long, Charlotte was dressed and headed downstairs to get into the prepared coach.

There was quite a bit to be done this day, and Charlotte wouldn’t wait a single moment to begin it.

Walking up the stone cobbles that led to the front of St. Peter’s. It was a long brick building of three stories, and each section across the front expanse held its own pointed uppermost windows and two chimneys poking up from the roof. At the far right end of the building was a curved section that Charlotte had to assume was where the chapel and receiving areas were.

A handful of nuns walked the path through the front gardens as she approached, and Charlotte nodded politely at them. She’d had the staff at her estate ride ahead to make them aware of her visit, and she’d been granted time with Lady Margaret, who Charlotte had to assume was being called Sister Margaret now.

Once inside, Charlotte was directed by the Mother Superior to the gardens at the rear of the convent, where Sister Margarethad been instructed to wait for her. They were truly lovely as Charlotte navigated the slim paths that led between the bushes and plots of plants—both floral and edible. And there at a small table near a fountain was Sister Margaret.

Charlotte took her seat, waiting for the Mother Superior to leave, and then smiled at the woman across from her.

“Thank you for meeting with me, Sister Margaret. I understand that I did not give you much notice of my arrival.”

The young woman, likely a handful of years older than herself, nodded with a gentle smile, which was so fit for her face it helped to ease Charlotte’s nerves.

“Of course. It is easy to accommodate visitors here. Unless we are currently in prayer, it is our delight to speak with anyone who wishes to know more about the convent’s services and programs.”

Clearly the servant who had gone on ahead of her had not informed Margaret why Charlotte wished to speak with her.Blasted…ugh, I shall have to do this myself.

“Apologies, Sister Margaret. I have actually come to speak specifically with you.” She straightened in her seat some, her brows rising. “I am an…acquaintance of the Duke of Mullens, Frederick Lawrence.”

Magaret’s features blanched as the shock worked through her. Her expression was so natural that Charlotte had to assume there was no possible way she might have ever thought to prepare herself for a visit from one of Frederick’s new…ladies.

“Frederick?” The Sister whispered, shaking her head. “What could…I’m quite sorry, but I don’t understand. Why is a woman from Frederick’s life coming to speak withme?”

“I…I will be frank.” Charlotte nodded, and Margaret returned the gesture, silently agreeing to dispense of formality for now. “I am his wife, and I was recently made aware of his time with you. It is stated in a scandal sheet that I was given that he ruined you, forced you to go to this very convent to get away from it all.”

Margaret’s eyes flared all the wider, and she bobbed her head in a steady nod. After a moment, she sighed, slumping slightly into her chair as she reached up and rested her arms on the table. There, Margaret fiddled with the sleeves of her long dress, the customary black color, and after another long pause, finally met Charlotte’s eyes.

“It is something to know that after all this time, there is still so much weight set upon that exchange. I truly had thought it had faded from all memory.”

“It likely has, for the most part. Still, my brother had found the sheet somehow, and he has been… adamant about his position regarding Frederick.”

At once, Margaret took Charlotte’s hands, gripping them tightly as her wide-eye countenance bore into the Duchess with intensity.

“No, no, no. Your brother does not understand. Frederick did not force me into the convent. Iwantedto be here.”

Charlotte sat back, her jaw dropping slightly. “Pardon?”

A choir of sighs, that’s what they had both become at this point, and Margaret started up again.

“I knew of Frederick’s reputation. I’d heard the talk about his rakish exploits, and I sought him out. My parent and I…you see, we had never seen eye to eye on what I wanted to do with my life. I was not interested in marriage or becoming the mistress of a house. I wished to be here.”

Margaret scanned her eyes across the landscape around them, that soft smile lifting the corners of her mouth as she appreciated the building and grounds that surrounded her.

“You wished to be at the convent?” Charlotte cocked her head, trying to understand.

“Yes. I wanted to be a nun, but my parents did not support it. I had sought out several men who I’d heard possessed a rakish nature, but it wasn’t until I found Frederick that I found the person I needed to ensure my plan succeeded.”

“And what kind of person was that?”

Grinning, Margaret lowered her head to meet Charlotte’s stare hard. “One who was not a true rake but possessed the reputation of one.”

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