Page 73 of Lady Charlotte and the Lending Library
“What about the cloaked man? And Lord Meers?”
“Lord Cecil made up a story to protect the family of Lord Meers.” William paused. “The cloaked man was stabbed while he was in the custody of the Bow Street Runners. He is dead. That is everything Lord Cecil told me. It’s over, Charlotte. You’re safe.”
She wasn't surprised the cloaked man was dead. The alliance wouldn't want him alive to answer the runner's questions. To her relief, William didn't mention Lord Ashford’s declaration of love.
When Charlotte was finished recounting the events at Hyde Park and her recent conversation with William, Edith and Louisa were silent for several moments.
“All of this violence over some land.” Edith shook her head.
“I don’t think we’ll be visiting Hyde Park in the near future,” Louisa remarked.
Charlotte felt laughter bubble up in her throat. Edith shot Louisa a quelling look.
“Edith, I’ll be fine. I’m stronger than I look.”
Her friend giggled in reply. “There is one good thing that came from the events last night. You found out that Lord Ashford loves you.”
“He might have merely said it to convince James Landry not to harm me.” She was afraid to believe what the marquess had said. “His actions to save Thorne’s were merely to help Lord Cecil with his efforts against the Rogue’s Alliance.”
“Charlotte, enough with this silliness,” Louisa said irritably with a frown. “Lord Ashford loves you. From the first moment he met you, he has tried to protect you. The marquess helped save Thorne’s for you. He put himself in harm’s way for you. Twice. If that isn’t love, tell me what is.”
This time Charlotte couldn’t contain her laughter. She laughed until she cried; Edith laughed along with her. Louisa merely sat, arms crossed until her friends were done laughing.
“Does that mean you’re warming up to Lord Ashford?” Charlotte asked, wiping tears from her cheeks with the back of one hand.
“Do tell,” Edith said, brows raised.
Louisa raised her chin. With a shrug, she replied, “The man has sense enough to fall in love with my wonderful friend, so he can’t be all bad.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Three days after the incident in Hyde Park, Diana returned to Town. Upon arriving at the house in Grosvenor Square, Diana retired to her bedchamber to wash off the dust of the road. When she returned downstairs, Ashford was waiting for her with their mother. His sister used rose water as liberally as their mother, and the room was filled with fragrance.
“Oh, my dear! It is good to have you home,” the marchioness said to her only daughter as they embraced in the drawing room. With the recent threat of scandal averted, Ashford thought his mother was genuinely glad to see her daughter.
“Hello, brother,” Diana said playfully when the countess released her. “Rumors have reached Bath about you and a Lady Charlotte Beaumont.”
He shot a look at the marchioness, who was now seated on a settee. Diana took a seat beside their mother as she replied, “I haven’t said anything to Diana about any ladies.”
“I intend to ask the lady to be my wife,” he said stiffly to both women in the room.
“You don’t look happy about it,” his mother replied. “Sit down, Ashford. Tell me all about the lady who has won your heart.”
He took a seat in a hard-backed chair, unsure of what to tell his family about Charlotte.
Diana said into the silence, “Miss Tilford wrote to me about the lady. She says Charlotte is lovely, a great reader like yourself, and a bit unconventional.”
“Unconventional?” The marchioness frowned.
“The lady dressed as a beggar to peek in the bow window at White’s to save a lending library from closure,” Diana answered with a mischievous grin. “She also visited a businessman in Bishopsgate to help the library.”
“Is this true, Ashford?” his mother asked, her eyes dancing.
He replied quickly, “She had the best of intentions. Lady Charlotte was merely aiding her friends.”
“Miss Tilford also mentioned a grand adventure in Hyde Park,” his sister said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
When their mother turned her attention to Diana, he gave his sister a warning look.
