Page 77 of The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth
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Elliot looked up from his paperwork as the wood and glass door to his office flew open and banged against the wall. Bridget stood there, her eyes wild. “Mr. Baker, please. You must come. Quickly.”
Good God, had something happened to Charlotte? He stood and grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair. “What happened?”
He rounded his desk and sprinted to the door. The poor girl could hardly catch her breath as she waved him to Charlotte’s carriage, standing at the edge of the pavement in front of his office building. “It’s Mrs. Pennyworth.” She gulped as they climbed into the carriage and Bones snapped the reins and the horses took off before the door was even closed all the way.
His heart was in his throat as he watched the girl attempt to speak. Had Charlotte fallen? Was she gravely injured? Was she dead? The last thought hit him like a sledgehammer, taking all the breath from his body. “Calm down, Bridget. Tell me what’s happened.”
“Mrs. Pennyworth got another of thosethingson the front steps.” She twisted her fingers in her skirts, her eyes pale, the freckles on her face standing out. “But this one was horrible.”
Another package? That was the last thing he expected to hear. Talbot was dead. Unless before he’d died he’d left instructions for something to be left there. “What was the package, Bridget?”
“Oh, sir, I can’t even say.” She burst into tears and dropped her head into her lap.
He obviously was not going to get any further information from the maid. The girl was beyond distraught. He had to know one more thing. “Has Mrs. Pennyworth been harmed?”
She shook her head and continued to cry into her skirts.
Elliot tapped his thigh and stared out the window, feeling as though he should just leave the carriage behind and run to her house. Every minute it took Bones to get them there brought up a new image of the horror to which Charlotte had been subjected.
Finally, they reached the block her townhouse was located on, and Elliot rapped on the roof. Before the coach came to a complete stop, he opened the door and raced down the pavement, and took the steps to her door two at a time.
Thomas, who must have been watching for him, opened the door as Elliot’s foot hit the top step. “Oh, thank goodness you are here, sir. Mrs. Pennyworth is extremely overset.”
“Where is she?”
“In her sitting room, upstairs. Beatrice attempted to give her a tisane, but she refused.”
“Thank you.” He bolted up the stairs and burst into her room. Charlotte turned, and gasped. “Elliot.” She flew across the room into his arms, almost knocking him off his feet.
His thudding heart slowed when he saw she was well. Yes, she was extremely agitated, but she did not appear to have any injuries, which eased his mind somewhat. “Charlotte you must calm down so you can tell me what’s happened. Bridget was of no use whatsoever.”
She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “Another package.” Her voice shook, and he feared she might faint. “How can that be?”
“Come, let’s go downstairs to the drawing room and get you a bit of sherry to drink.”
“Brandy, I think,” she said.
Once they were settled on the settee with drinks in their hands, Elliot placed his hand over hers. “Tell me what happened.”
Charlotte took a rather large sip of brandy, coughed for a moment, then took a deep breath. “I had intended to go for a walk since it is so very nice outside today. We won’t have many more days like this one, you know. With winter coming, we will soon be unable—”
“Charlotte, love, you are rambling.”
She closed her eyes for a moment. “Pardon, you are correct. Forgive me. When I opened the door, I noticed something on the step. Needless to say, since Mr. Talbot is deceased, it never occurred to me that it was another one of those dreadful leavings.”
Elliot gestured to her glass. “Drink.” He placed his hand at the back of her neck and rubbed.
She took another sip and clutched the glass firmly between her two hands. “I bent down, and noticed it was one of my white satin gloves.” She chewed her lower lip and closed her eyes. “I picked it up. It seemed heavy to be only a glove. I turned it over…” Tears leaked from her eyes and she shook her head. “I can’t say it.”
“Where is it now?”
She shook her head and opened her eyes. “I have no idea. I’m afraid I passed out, and when I came to, I was lying upstairs on the settee. I’m assuming Thomas did something with it.”
Elliot pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll speak with Thomas.”
He found the footman right outside the door. “Thomas, where is the glove Mrs. Pennyworth found on the front step?”
