The Charlotte Series: Book 3: The Pretender's Gold

14

Chapter 14

"I think we should start at the beginning, Stu. Please tell us how you learned that your sister was missing." Millicent asked softly. she didn't add that he was half out of his mind when he arrived at the castle and made very little sense at all.

Stu began pacing again, and after a few false starts he poured out his story.

"I think you know that I just learned of my mother's passing. I was...upset. I recall very little after I read the letter until the carriage pulled in front of Dovesdale. I still wasn't myself and I definitely wasn't in any state to offer my sister any comfort. So, I did what I used to do when I needed to clear my head. I went to visit Artemis."

"Well, Artemis II but to be honest, he's so much like his sire in temperament and...but I am rambling. Artemis was resting in his stall so I settled down next to him and I guess I must have fallen asleep. Anyway, I heard voices and when I woke up, I didn't move right away because I didn't want to disturb Artemis. He was using my lap for a pillow you see..."

"Well, as much as I'd like to deny it, men are worse gossips than women sometimes...only a bit more...well, less...I can't repeat most of what they said in polite company that is." His hand went to the back of his head all on its own as he nervously rubbed the blush that painted his neck crimson. "But I can say that they were talking about a maid with...er...lose morals."

"Tired as I was, I was wide awake when I heard them mention Emmaline. And when they started talking about the American...the one that...er...well, I gather he was a...um...particular friend of Lady Bentfield. But now he'd gone and dragged Em off. I didn't wait to hear any more. I roused Artemis and rode or Westmoore. I knew I would need help...and you know the rest."

"I wondered how you had come to learn of her departure when I had only learned of it myself." Freddie said as he stood and joined Stu in pacing.

"Let me tell you what I know. Three, no four nights passed I was confronted by one of my former maids. She accused me of..." Freddie cleared his throat, conscious of the mixed company.

"Come, Lord Bentfield." Millicent laughed. "Izzy and I shan't swoon."

"She accused you of filling her belly?" Izzy stated bluntly as she rubbed her own swollen belly.

Eric was once more biting his cheek to keep from laughing. The Viscount had the good sense to answer plainly although it was obvious that he was very uncomfortable doing so.

"She did." He nodded as a blush burned his skin.

Was he really blushing? But then, he was discussing a rather indelicate subject with a baroness and a duchess. Lord, if the ton ever heard a whisper of this conversation, they would all be scandalized for months.

"But there is no truth whatsoever in her accusations. Honestly, I don't think I'd ever met her before that moment and I dismissed her immediately, of course. I thought to seek out Em, to explain to her in case she heard about the incident. It was rather a certainty that she would as the whole thing was neither private, nor quiet. I'm afraid I quite lost my temper with the chit."

"She accused you in public view?" Millicent arched an eyebrow. "Trying to snag a viscount no doubt."

"Maybe. But I already have a reputation as a rake. A little more scandal would hardly make me an outcast. I don't think the chit considered that when she chose her target." Freddie unconsciously began to mimic Stu as he also began to rub his neck. "I couldn't find Em anywhere. She wasn't in any of her favorite haunts so I went to the cottage where she lived with her mother before..."