Page 84 of The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth
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Her hands covering her mouth, Charlotte stared at the still form of Miss Garvey.
“Charlotte?” Elliot returned the gun to his pocket and walked slowly toward her. He placed his arm around her shoulders. “Sweetheart, it’s all over.”
She didn’t move, just kept staring at Miss Garvey. “Come.” He moved her forward. She stumbled as if in a dream.
“She was going to kill me.”
Elliot opened the door and walked her through. “Thomas, send for Scotland Yard. Don’t let anyone into the drawing room until they arrive.”
Wide-eyed, Thomas nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Also, have Bridget meet Mrs. Pennyworth up in her bedchamber.” He wrapped his arm around Charlotte’s waist and helped her upstairs. She was obviously in shock, and he was trying to decide if he should send for a physician. They entered her room, and he walked her over to the bed, where he eased her down.
She had been through so much in the last few weeks, he worried for her mind. She looked up at him, gripping his hands. “She tried to kill me.”
He sat alongside her and pushed the hair back from her forehead. “You’re safe now.”
Bridget entered the room. “Oh my, Mr. Baker. I had no idea what was going on in the drawing room. How terrible.”
“Yes, Bridget. It was terrible, but now I need you to take care of Mrs. Pennyworth. She needs to be helped out of her clothes, and into nightclothes.” He had thought of having a tisane made up but decided a good shot of brandy would be better.
He left the two women in the bedchamber with instructions for Bridget to summon him when they were finished. He then went to the library, poured two healthy doses of brandy, and left the room to speak with Thomas and await Bridget’s summons.
“Sir, Scotland Yard has been notified and someone will arrive within the next couple of hours.” Thomas looked a bit ghastly as he imparted the information.
“Thank you. I suggest you and the rest of the staff finish up your duties and retire for the day. I will see to Mrs. Pennyworth. Just ask Cook to leave something cold that Mrs. Pennyworth and I can eat later.”
“Yes, sir.” He bowed slightly and left the room.
Elliot took a sip of the much-needed brandy and stared out the entrance hall window at the growing darkness. Who would have thought it had been a woman all this time? He shook his head and took another swallow, watching the sun set for the evening, taking with it memories of the very strange day.
* * *
A week later,Charlotte opened her eyes to a room with bright sunlight peeking through the slit in the pulled curtains. Her spirits were even higher.
Her wedding day. With all the issues surrounding the shooting of Miss Garvey, their wedding had been moved back, but today she would once again become a wife. Of the man she dearly loved.
Men from Scotland Yard had visited Miss Garvey’s rooms and found numerous items that had incriminated her. They’d obtained the name of the man she’d hired to beat and shoot Elliot, and then kill Mr. Talbot before removing his hand. Charlotte shuddered at the type of person who would consent to do such a thing. Whoever he was, he now called Newgate his home.
From reading Miss Garvey’s journal, Charlotte realized she had been a sick woman, who apparently thought Charlotte was the reincarnation of a woman named Anne with whom she’d had a sexual relationship two years prior. A woman she’d killed to thwart her plans to run off with a man.
“Good morning, Mrs. Pennyworth.” Bridget bounded into her room, her enthusiasm almost as high as Charlotte’s. “Oh my, this is the last time I will address you as such.” She covered her mouth with her hands and giggled. “After today you will be Mrs. Baker.”
Beaming at her young maid, Charlotte whipped the quilt off and stepped onto the chilly floor. “Yes, that is true.” She moved to the window and drew the curtain aside. “Is it not a glorious day, Bridget?”
“Yes, ma’am. It is a glorious day, indeed.” The maid opened the door to Charlotte’s wardrobe and removed the pink silk gown she’d pressed the night before. Even the fact that Mr. Spencer would be conducting the ceremony in his church did not damper her spirit.
She enjoyed a leisurely bath, followed by a breakfast tray of toast and tea before dressing in her lovely gown. Bridget fixed her hair in a chignon, surrounded by tiny roses, sent by Elliot that morning.
He was to meet them at the church for the ten o’clock service. Charlotte glanced at the small China clock on her dresser. “We must hurry, Bridget. I don’t want to arrive at the church all flustered and in disarray. Can you please check to make sure the carriage has been brought around?”
The girl hurried from the room, and Charlotte took one last glance at herself. A woman in love stared back at her. She’d lost the frightened look and had put on a few of her lost pounds.
A slight scratch at her bedchamber door drew her attention. “Yes?”
Thomas stood at the door. He looked somber, and not at all like himself.
