Page 8 of Unforeseen Affairs (The Sedleys #6)

Oh no. She already knew him to be a vile sort, one who would throw foul language blithely about.

And now his mother had gone and insulted Mrs. Stone, her mentor.

That was it. He was a fool born of fools, not a Gearing whose character was built upon integrity and honor.

There was nothing playful or coy about this Miss Sedley; she was positively terrifying.

And yet, for some reason Colin couldn’t stop looking. He knew it was terribly rude. But the guilt and worry gnawed at his gut. If only he could make amends.

The urge to self-correct, to right the ship, fought valiantly within him. He ought to turn away and leave her be, and live with his humiliation forevermore. But for some reason he could not endure her scorn. He could not bear to be thought of so miserably.

He went over to her.

“I say, this is an awful bit of a blunder.”

Sir Colin Gearing smiled tentatively at her.

Charlotte did not respond. She looked back to Mrs. Stone, whose shoulders had slumped, the fight having gone out of her.

Drat .

How could this have happened? It had been nearly two years since Mrs. Stone had been asked to forfeit her membership in the quasi-respectable Society for Spectral Research—and that, of course, was unfair to begin with, the unintended consequence of speaking the truth and refusing to cow to persons in positions of authority.

Why was she still finding herself usurped in this manner?

Today Mrs. Stone had demanded that both she and Charlotte sit alongside one another on the way over, facing backward in the carriage. That way, she had explained, they might catch the spirits unaware upon their arrival.

Charlotte had allowed herself to believe that this séance would be exactly the thing to set Mrs. Stone on a positive path again. A private circle in a respected home where she could exhibit her true talents. And with the testimony of someone as lauded as Sir Colin to speak to her innate skill.

But to arrive here only to stumble upon Thaddeus Taggart Bass, the unctuous charlatan!

If only Charlotte had real abilities like Mrs. Stone, she’d be whispering curses under her breath.

The man may be celebrated, but it was only a matter of time, Charlotte was certain; she waited for the day when he would be exposed for what he truly was, when his reputation would collapse like a house of cards.

He’d been performing for ten years now, Charlotte had been told, and it baffled both her and Mrs. Stone that he remained at the zenith of mediumship.

For his act was indeed just that—an act. No true medium could conjure up apparitions, invite the spirits to play instruments, or lift furniture from the floor. As if the dead were all one large theater troupe, eager to hit their marks at the behest of those they had left behind.

Charlotte, of all people, ought to know such trickery when she saw it.

She narrowed her gaze, taking in the image of Mr. Bass, from his obnoxious mustache and mutton chops to his loud lavender neckcloth.

He appeared placid as Mrs. Stone now nodded at Mrs. Gearing, smiling. A tight, wan expression. Mirthless.

Oh no.

Someone cleared their throat behind her.

“Beg pardon, I said that this is an awful bit of a blunder.”

She turned slowly.

Sir Colin was still standing there, looking thoroughly uncomfortable, his eyes on a level with hers.

They were a pleasant enough green, she noticed. Mossy, like the forest floor. She found it amusing that the young man, who seemed to know exactly who he was and what was expected of him, was now for the second time behaving so awkwardly in her presence.

“You’re still here.”

“Yes,” came Sir Colin Gearing’s artificially cheery reply. “I thought you hadn’t heard—”

“I heard you perfectly well the first time, Sir Colin.” Charlotte paused, wondering whether she ought to prod him again.

A muscle flexed along his strong jawline.

Yes, she decided.

“Just as I heard you the other day in the library.”

His face froze in a terrified expression.

She couldn’t keep the corners of her mouth from lifting.

“About that, Miss Sedley, I—”

“You’re heartily ashamed?”

“Well, er, yes—”

“You agree that such crass language should never pass your lips again?”

“Of… of course. That is…” he stuttered. Those warm green eyes darted about nervously.

“Then you ought to make a vow,” she pressed, leaning forward ever so slightly.

“A vow to…” He paused, thinking. “To what, exactly?”

“To never apologize to me again.”

The pain evident in his features turned to confusion. He fumbled around for a reply, apparently trying to ascertain whether or not she was serious.

“Never… apologize?” he finally said, his thick brows drawn.

“Well,” Charlotte said, watching the approach of a young lady from the corner of her eye, “at any rate, never twice for the same transgression. It’s tiresome.”

The young woman drew up alongside Sir Colin and placed a hand upon his elbow, laughing.

“What transgression?” she asked.

It was her left hand upon his elbow; Charlotte noted she’d no ring on it.

“I beg your pardon, Miss Sedley, this is…” Sir Colin paused before finishing, “Miss Pearce. A good friend of my family.”

He moved to pat Miss Pearce’s hand, an uneasy gesture if ever there was one. But rather than break away, the girl laced her arm through his, grinning like a madwoman all the while.

“What transgression was Colin referring to, Miss Sedley?” Miss Pearce looked up at Sir Colin, still smiling.

It wasn’t that Charlotte disliked smiling. But she loathed dishonesty, and this expression was certainly counterfeit. Miss Pearce obviously suspected Charlotte of being flirtatious. She’d better make it plain that the idea of hooking a young naval officer was the furthest thing from her mind.

“He might tell you,” Charlotte answered, before abruptly brushing past the pair of them.

Mrs. Gearing and the fraudster Mr. Bass had moved on, and were now standing watch as his assistant, Mr. Trenwith, placed chairs around the large table in deliberate fashion. Mrs. Stone remained where they’d left her, her face cold and empty.

With nothing else for her to do, Charlotte went to stand beside her mentor and wait.