Crouch thought briefly of telling her about the three Runners already in place in the house but decided against it. Lord Weston was angry enough with her at the moment—if he were to find out she had subverted his Runners into protecting him, there was no telling what he would do.

“Aye, m’lady, I’ll do my best, but I can make no promises that I’ll be able to ’ire any Runners.”

Gillian smiled a smile of pure sunshine that sent warmth clear down to Crouch’s toes. “All I ask is that you do your best, Crouch,” she said, turning back to her letter.

***

Charlotte sat in her bedchamber, staring into the mirror of her dressing table, her eyes unfocused and thoughtful.

“Very mysterious,” she murmured to herself in a thrilled voice.

“Lady Charlotte?” Her maid’s voice jolted her out of a reverie. “Lady Collins is asking for you. Shall I tell her you’re indisposed?”

“No, tell her I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

She glanced at the letter in her hand. “Oh, Penny, one moment—tell Will or one of the other footmen I will have a letter for him to take to my cousin.”

She rose and went to a small writing desk, pulling out ink and quill, and while searching for a clean sheet of paper, she mused over the wording of her letter.

Dearest Cousin,

The enclosed was sent to me because the writer feared it would not make it to your hand. I do hope you meet him at the appointed time and place—I believe it would be to your benefit to hear what he has to say, Gillian. Do let me know if you need my assistance.

Your loving cousin,

Charlotte

Her smooth brow furrowed for a moment as she called the maid back. “This is simply too good to miss. I wonder who I could cozen into going for a stroll with me…ah, Caroline! Just the person. Penny, I’ll have another note for the footman to deliver.”

***

“Charles, I have a letter I’d like you to deliver for me.”

“Certainly, Lady Weston.”

“The direction is on the front. You need not wait for a reply.”

Charles looked at the front of the paper and blanched.

“Charles? You aren’t going to faint again, are you? Are you well?”

“Oh, my lady, please don’t make me deliver this letter.”

“Whyever should you not?”

“Lord Weston’ll string me up by my nether bits, my lady. He surely will!”

“Nonsense. Your nether bits are perfectly safe in my hands. Lord Weston need not know anything about this unless you tell him. And you aren’t about to tell him, are you, Charles?”

Charles felt a cold, painful grip on his nether bits as he shook his head that no, he would not be telling Lord Weston anything. He was powerless against her ladyship’s smile and he knew it, but he hoped for the sake of his unborn children that the Black Earl would not discover what role he had played in the countess’s plan.