Regency Romances for the Ages

by Grace Fletcher

  “I told you she was not to be trusted,” Jane said gleefully. “She’s stolen from me because you decided that she was trustworthy. She’s a thief!”

  “I’m not a thief.” Charlotte’s voice wasn’t as loud, but it carried. Her tone was like iron. “I’ve never stolen anything in my life.”

  Jane snorted rudely.

  “A likely story. You must’ve done something to get the position here. No housekeeper is as young as you in the county.” She advanced on Charlotte, who stood her ground. “What did you do? Bat your eyelids while you stole their purses?”

  “Lady Jane, that is enough!” West snapped.

  Jane closed her mouth but stepped back with a smirk. West was torn. He knew, deep down, that Charlotte would never do anything like this. He believed he knew her well enough.

  “Charlotte.” He approached her, resisting the urge to touch her, to comfort her when Jane was watching them. “Look at me Charlotte and tell me the truth.”

  “I am telling you the truth.” Charlotte didn’t blink, her jaw clenched. “Why would I steal something? I need this job.”

  “Then what were you doing in Lady Jane’s room?”

  “James said Lady Jane had summoned me to her room. I arrived there just as she was leaving the house. I came straight back out and I spoke to Angela Dixon and your valet, Lewis, immediately after.”

  “I never said anything to James,” Jane said defiantly. “That’s just an excuse. And this is what my maid found when she looked through Miss Robert’s belongings a short while ago.”

  West turned and saw Jane retrieve a sparkling brooch he recognized as belonging to her from her pocket. He stared.

  “I thought you said it was gone.”

  “It was. But, as I said, Cornelia looked through Miss Robert's room and found it.”

  Charlotte’s face was white with fury.

  “You sent her to look through my belongings without my permission?”

  “You’re a servant and a thief. It’s justified.” Jane waved the jewelry in front of Charlotte’s face. “It was in your trunk. Would you like to explain that?”

  “I haven’t been to my room all day.” Charlotte hissed. Her composure was cracking with her anger but she was doing well to keep it together. “I’ve been in the company of one or another of the household all day.”

  West was torn. He knew that Charlotte could never steal anything. She was as honest as they came. He believed her, but then there was Lady Jane Foster. She was a noblewoman and because of her social status, she should be believed. No one would believe a housekeeper over a woman with high standing.

  He didn’t have a choice. With a heavy heart, he turned to Charlotte.

  “Forgive me, Charlotte, but I have no choice. Your employment is terminated as of this moment. You’ve going to have to pack your bags.”

  Charlotte took a step back. She looked like she had been slapped in the face.

  “You believe her?”

  West didn’t, but he wasn’t about to lie to Charlotte’s face. He stepped away and went towards his desk.

  “I’ll have a carriage prepared to take you back to your home. That’s as far as I can extend my hospitality.”

  He couldn’t look at her. He felt ashamed. But there wasn’t much he could do about it. Charlotte didn’t give him a farewell. She turned on her heel and walked out, slamming the door behind her. Jane stared at him in surprise.

  “You’re not going to have her arrested?” she demanded. “She stole from me!”

  “I’m not going to do that.”

  It was just one piece. If Charlotte was arrested, she would never get another job. West knew it was the right thing to do but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

  Lady Jane sniffed.

  “I’ll press charges if you won’t.”

  West snarled, causing the young woman to jump back.

  “You’ll do no such thing,” he snapped. “You’ve humiliated her enough. Leave her alone. Get out.”

  “She deserves to be humiliated.”

  “Get out!”

  Jane’s eyes widened in alarm. West had never spoken to her like that before. She gave him a quick curtsy and hurried out. West picked up his glass and drained the contents, wishing he could down the whole decanter. Then he threw the glass at the fire, the shards spreading across the carpet.

  ***

  The next month passed by very slowly. West could barely get any enthusiasm to go and entertain his guests, choosing to stay in his study or the library. The people he had invited here seemed to have figured out the change in mood and started leaving, thinning out until only Lady Jane was left. She refused to leave.

  Charlotte’s absence was very noticeable. West had considered her a part of the house but hadn’t realized how much until she left. Seeing her get into the carriage with several of the servants around her, embracing her tightly as she broke down, had broken his heart. But it was the only thing he could do.

  After that, the servants became intolerable. They barely spoke to him and were surly. If he gave them an order, they carried it out but with many a scowl. Even Lewis, who normally spoke to him under any circumstances, refused to talk to him. West had tried but Lewis refused to even look him in the eye. It was strange and West felt isolated, constantly pushed together with Jane.

  She was expecting a marriage proposal, he knew that. But he had no desire to marry anyone now. Not after the woman he had fallen in love with had been forced out of his life.

  All because of Lady Jane Foster. West despised her.

  He was slumped on the couch, glowering at the fire with the sun long having gone down, when there was a gentle tap at the door. West didn’t answer; he didn’t want to see anyone. But then the tapping was there again. West growled.

  “What is it?”

  The door opened and James took a step inside. He looked troubled.

  “Your Grace, may we have an audience with you?”

  “Who is we?”

  “Lewis and myself, Your Grace.”

  West huffed and sat up. He had been trying to drink himself into a stupor and it hadn’t worked. It just made him feel sick.

  “Come in.”

  He might as well entertain his servants.

  James and Lewis entered, both bowing to him but hovering by the closed door. West stood and glowered at them.

  “You two have decided to start talking to me, have you?”

  Lewis scowled.

  “You treated Miss Charlotte abysmally, Your Grace. You shouldn’t have got rid of her.”

  Charlotte again. West turned away and began to pace.

  “I had no choice. She had been caught stealing. It was her word against Lady Jane’s.”

  Lewis snorted rudely.

  “Stealing my foot! Miss Charlotte is the most honest person here. Lady Jane’s maid shouldn’t have been in the Miss Charlotte’s private rooms in the first place!”

  “And Lady Jane most definitely told me to get Miss Charlotte and send her to Lady Jane’s room,” James said evenly.

  “Lady Jane said she never did that.” West knew he had erred in not asking James for his side but he had been caught up with everything. “I had no reason to doubt her word.”

  “And you believed her over Miss Charlotte? Over me?” James scowled as he shook his head in disappointment. “Your Grace, I’ve served you and your father for years. My entire life was devoted to your household. I’ve never, at any time given you any reason to doubt my word.”

  West felt awful. He slumped onto the couch, burying his head in his hands.

  “I think it just got dropped on me out of the blue and someone took advantage of me.” He looked up at the two scowling faces. “You don’t think Charlotte stole anything, do you?”

  “Neither of us do,” James said solemnly. “And neither do the other servants.”

  “We were apprehensive about her at the start,” Lewis added. “And who can blame us? She’s very young and in a high-up position. But sh
e’s good to work with. A kind person, never shouts at us and has immense patience even with the younger maids. She mucks in with everyone else.” Lewis approached West and stood by the fire. “Everyone’s warmed to her. Mrs. Bartlett sees her as a daughter. She’s never stolen from us and we don’t believe she stole from Lady Jane.”

  Chapter 9

  Finding Out the Truth

  “Why would she do that when she so needed this job?” James pointed out. “And even if she needed more, she wouldn’t go so low as to do that for her daughter. She has stronger morals than that.”

  West knew that. He had known it when Charlotte had been dragged before him. But it was difficult when there was no proof beyond the obvious.

  “It’s Lady Jane’s word against Charlotte’s. Add that to the fact the jewellery was found in her room…” West spread his hands. “I didn’t want to believe it but I couldn’t argue with that.”

  “You can argue with it when we tell you what we’ve got.” Lewis glanced at James, who nodded. “We overheard Lady Jane recently. And we can confirm she lied.”

  That got West’s interest. They knew? And hadn’t told him? He shot to his feet.

  “Tell me. Now. And then you go and find Miss Charlotte. I don’t care how you do it but find her.”

  ***

  West was furious. He had been deceived. He would never doubt Lewis and James, not faithful servants like them. And West should never have doubted Charlotte. But he had nothing beyond her word, which wouldn’t have held up.

  Now he had more. And he was seething that he had been taken in.

  Once Lewis and James had told him the truth, West had sent James out to see if he could find Charlotte. James’ knowledge of the surrounding households was extensive. He would be able to find out where Charlotte was. She was much liked by his guests, who lived in the surrounding area. She surely would have obtained employment somewhere else.

  But West had something to do first. Something that was going to give him an excuse to get rid of the one person in his life who refused to listen when she had been told plainly.

  The door opened after a brief knock and Lady Jane entered. She held her head high and smiled at West as she curtsied.

  “Your Grace. I trust you are feeling well again.”

  “Well?”

  “You’ve been stuck in here for the past month. I was beginning to worry.”

  West grunted.

  “I am perfectly well. And I have just been told something that’s rather alarming.” He approached her, watching as Jane’s eyes widened. “I was hoping to discuss it with you.”

  “Of course, Your Grace.” Jane recovered quickly, looking a little surprised. “Anything I can do to alleviate your concerns.”

  “You can’t.” West prowled around her, Jane glancing over her shoulder nervously as he went behind her. “I have loyal servants here, Jane. Every single one of them. I treat them well and vice versa as did my father. None of them have any reason to lie to me.”

  “Your Grace?” Jane frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  She would, very soon. West moved back around her and leaned against the couch, folding his arms. It was very rare to see Lady Jane Foster on the back foot. West was actually enjoying it.

  “My valet and my butler have just come to me. They say they have heard you, very recently, telling a few people, here in my house, that you lied to me. That you fabricated the story about Charlotte stealing your brooch.”

  “Pardon, whatever do you mean?”

  Jane’s face went white.

  “You said that your maid took the brooch, on your orders, and then pretended to find it among Miss Robert's belongings later on. You didn’t like the fact she was here, so you wanted to be rid of her. And your plan worked.” West scowled. “You deceived me.”

  Jane’s mouth opened and closed. She looked at a loss for words. Then her face went red and her eyes blazed in indignation.

  “How dare you?” she hissed. “I would never do such a thing! Your servants are liars!”

  “All of my servants are liars?” West snorted. “Lewis has been with me since we were children. James was butler when my father was the duke here. They are loyal. As was Charlotte Roberts.” West pushed off the couch and advanced on Jane, feeling a little pleasure when she stepped back. “She was as honest as they came but I could not prove otherwise with the evidence you laid out before me. That was foolish of me and I’ve regretted it ever since.”

  And he did regret it. If he had listened to his instincts instead of social standing, Charlotte would still be here. West could still remember Charlotte crying on Mrs. Bartlett’s shoulder as she left. It made him feel nauseous that he had caused that because of a lie.

  “She is a thief!” Jane shouted. “How can you not see that? Or is it because you’ve been turned by a pretty face?” she added with a sneer.

  West shook his head and turned away. He wasn’t going to lower himself to this. He paced away to his desk.

  “I was careless to listen to you. I should have listened to my heart and knew what was right. But I didn’t and now I’ve lost a good woman because of your manipulations.”

  “I never lied!” Jane planted her hands on her hips. “Why would I do that?”

  “Because you want to become the Duchess of Westminster.” West saw Jane’s expression falter and knew he was on the right track. “That title would never have been yours. Why you saw Charlotte as competition, I cannot understand.” He chuckled with no mirth. “You couldn’t compete with her if you tried.”

  “You…what…” Jane spluttered. She looked outraged. “You think a servant would be a better duchess than me?”

  “Yes, I do. She has certainly more grace and dignity than you will ever possess.” West advanced on her, Jane stepped back hurriedly. “You are to leave immediately. Get your cloak and bonnet and leave right now. I’ll have your belongings sent on. You’ve stayed here far longer than you should have. I should’ve had you thrown out a month ago, not Charlotte.”

  “But…”

  “It’s only because of your father that I let you stay, nothing to do with you,” West added sharply. “He is a good man, and your mother is a wise, sweet woman. I wish I could say the same about you.” He pointed at the door. “Get out. Now!” he bellowed.

  Jane started and staggered towards the door, giving him a fearful look, her eyes full of hurt, before she disappeared. West sagged onto the edge of his desk. Now he felt like the weight had been lifted off his shoulders. There was going to be anger towards him from the Foster family, but West didn’t care. Jane had cost him Charlotte and West was determined to get her back.

  “Your Grace?”

  James was in the doorway. West saw his expression and straightened up.

  “Have you found her?”

  “Yes, Your Grace.” James grinned. “She’s now a companion for Baroness Audrey.”

  “Good.” At least she wasn’t too far away. West beckoned his butler over and indicated for him to sit at his desk. “I want you to write a letter. Say she’s forgotten a few things and could she come and collect them. Don’t take no for an answer. If I write it, she won’t come. But she’ll come for you.”

  James looked confused, but he nodded and picked up the pen.

  “Yes, Your Grace.”

  Chapter 10

  Confronting Their

  Secret Desires

  Charlotte wasn’t sure about going back. But James’s letter had said she had left a few trinkets behind and he didn’t trust sending them on in case they were damaged. Charlotte hadn’t noticed anything missing but James was most insistent.

  There was nothing else for it. Charlotte would have to go back. Baroness Audrey urged her to, suggesting that it could give her some closure. She was most distressed at the way Charlotte had been treated by West and Lady Jane and said she would not allow either of them to grace her presence after what they had done.

  Charlotte couldn’t blame her for that. But it was hard mendi
ng a broken heart. Foolishly, she had allowed herself to fall for the duke. To have him do this to her had hurt, dreadfully. More than leaving her daughter behind. She kept herself busy and Baroness Audrey even allowed her to move her family into one of the cottages on her estate. Her own family were close by and Baroness Audrey’s family adored her daughter.

  But Charlotte was unable to stop thinking about West. He had been a good employer, and she loved the people she had worked with. It had been a very desirable placement. Now though it was tinged with sadness and left an undesirable taste in Charlotte’s mouth. She didn’t want to go back there, even when her new friends were still at the estate. It would mean possibly confronting the duke.

  But Baroness Audrey insisted. Leaving her to play with Mary along with her mother, Charlotte took a carriage to West’s home. She made sure to go around the back and enter by the kitchen door. West’s study overlooked the drive and he would see her arrive. Charlotte didn’t want to be seen.

  Angela was walking across the courtyard as Charlotte alighted from the carriage. She squealed and dropped the basket she had been carrying, running over to her friend.

  “Charlotte!”

  Charlotte couldn’t help but smile as the young woman hugged her. Angela had been greatly missed.

  “It’s so good to see you, Angela.”

  “I’m glad you’re here.” Angela grasped her hands between hers. “We’ve all missed you.”

  Not everyone, but Charlotte wasn’t going to mention that. She wasn’t going to be long and if she could get through it without seeing the duke, all the better.

  “I’m here to collect a few things I forgot and then I’ll be on my way. I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”

  “Oh, don’t be silly,” Angela tsked. She tugged Charlotte towards the door. “Come on through. You can wait in the library.”

  “The library? But I thought…”

  “The duke has taken to prowling around the house. There would be a good chance you would bump into him.” Angela raised her eyebrows. “And I’m sure you don’t want to run into him.”