Don't Look Back

Chapter 53

Lord Babington waited for Flora to go with her nurse on a walk as he asked for an audience. Sir Radmore and Mr. Crowe stood while Lord Babington took a seat.

The two ladies before them looked composed. Mr. Crowe looked flustered on account of the younger Mrs. Heywood not being present.

"What do we owe the pleasure of this unexpected call from two eligible men and another upstanding?" Lady Worcester toyed as she poured tea.

"I wish this was a social call." Lord Babington began carefully as he looked to Charlotte. "Dare I speak plainly?" he tried.

Lady Worcester smiled. "Only if you are very bold, and of course..." she paused. "Careful my Lord Babington. There are always ears." she looked to the men behind him.

Babington looked to his friends. "I would not worry on their accounts. They are already well aware of the unfortunate news I have to share." his voice betrayed his emotion.

Charlotte frowned and leaned forward. "What is it, Lord Babington?"

He hesitated and Mr. Crowe impatiently rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Oh, heavens Baber's, it spares her nothing to have it drawn out." he sighed and turned. "Miss Heywood, I am afraid there has been tragic news of Sidney just come from London this day."

She glanced to Lady Worcester in question and then back to the men. "Is he alright?" she asked. Her energy had shifted and she seemed terribly worried.

Mr. Crowe could not answer now. The words stuck in his throat just as much as they did Babington's when she looked to him for an answer.

Sir Radmore stepped forward. "Miss Heywood, please forgive my bold approach. Mr. Parker, it seems met with a rather bad end and we know through the discretion of friendship that you both held a deep connection. And I know he would wish you to be informed by friends and not gossip on the street of his death."

Charlotte shook her head. "No, he cannot be dead." Tears still sprung to her eyes. "I mean, he... He only just wrote to us and we received the letter yesterday." she protested. "He did convey some rather disturbing suspicion in the letter but we wished to keep it quiet as it could hurt Flora. And I think it wise to be discrete about I would assume."

Lord Babington perked up in attention at that comment. "May I see the letter?" he asked.

Lady Worcester nodded when Charlotte looked to her for guidance. Pulling from her chest, near her heart she pulled the letter.

Handing it to Lord Babington he read it.

"Poisoning!" he shouted. "And it was she... His bloody wife?" his voice suddenly boomed and Mr. Crowe leaned in to read the contents.

"By the furries," he commented and then looked up at the date. "What date did Eliza say Sidney died?" Crowe asked.

Lord Babington shook his head. "She did not mention a date... Though I would have expected her to when I think of it. I assumed it was the day of or before she wrote the letter."

Mr. Crowe and Sir Radmore both leaned in to study it all the better.

"Do you think he succumbed to it?" Crowe asked. "Or was there a second attempt upon his life?"

Shrugging Radmore straightened himself. "Only one way to answer." he sighed. "Shall we?"

Charlotte stood hastily as she wiped her eyes.

"Are you all going to London?" she asked.

Lord Babington shook his head. "I am afraid not. Sir Denham it seems has just arrived back in town and I will not leave Esther to his manipulation and abuse despite the circumstances," he vowed. "Crowe and Sir Radmore have graciously offered."