“You are too kind,” Lady Hartley replied. “You could have refused me, you know. I didn’t really consider what I was asking of you, to come to me at once this late at night when we should all be in bed. But I have been sick with indecision, uncertain whether to act or not, as you can see.” She gestured at her attire as she led Charlotte to a scarlet sofa. “It is only that I have been quite ill since our visit into the wilds: unwell in my heart, body and mind, worrying about the poor dear child. It has troubled my thoughts so very grievously that I fell into a fever. Lord Hartley took one look at me and said that I must send for you or go quite mad. The moment I thought of your dear little face, I felt better, and I knew my husband was right to counsel me so.”

“Is Lord Hartley at home?” Charlotte asked her.

“He is with his books somewhere,” Lady Catherine told her. “The beauty of a house this enormous is that one can make a terrible din in one wing, and not a jot of it will be heard in the other. Why, with many of the staff sent home for Christmas, you and I could shout at the top of our voices and not disturb a soul.”

“I cannot imagine wanting to.” Charlotte smiled.

It seemed to her that Lord Hartley had been quite right in his assessment: Lady Hartley wasn’t quite herself. There was an excitement, a kind of restlessness about her, that reminded Charlotte of a schoolgirl with a secret she was bursting to reveal.

“Tell me, Charlotte—whatever you know, tell me all.”

“I do have news.” Charlotte took a breath and straightened her weary back. “My sisters and I have discovered a great deal in the hours since Joseph was taken. We have uncovered much about the creature that stole him, and we fear perhaps there are other children.”

“Others?” Lady Hartley’s eyes widened in horror, her hand raised to her mouth. “Oh, dear Lord, Charlotte, how terrible. Who could do such a thing but the very devil himself? Have you been able to locate them?”

“We have not, conclusively,” Charlotte said, “but we have collected a sufficient amount of evidence to point towards Clifton Bradshaw. Top Withens was searched, but his property spans many acres, and within it there are ravines, abandoned dwellings, woodlands. We must trust that we will find him in time, before . . . Well, it is very cold. A party is travelling up to Top Withens as we speak. In fact they will almost be there.”

“Goodness.” Lady Hartley seemed exhilarated by the news. “And you came here to tell me rather than go and vanquish the demon?”

Charlotte held her gaze for a moment before dropping her chin.