Page 58 of Affair

“I have not forgotten.” Charlotte collected her skirts and scrambled down from the cart. “I shall give you my direction. Take all the flowers there and inform my housekeeper that I told you she was to purchase every stem.”

“All right, then.” The boy eyed her. “Are ye sure ye don’t want me to wait for ye?”

“No. I shall be able to find a hackney.” She smiled and rattled off the information he needed to locate her town house. “It is very kind of you to be concerned, but I assure you, I can take care of myself.”

“Whatever ye say.” The boy clucked at the pony.

Charlotte waited until the flower cart had clattered off down the street before she walked toward the small house Juliana had entered. Mentally she composed a variety of ways to demand an explanation for the woman’s actions. She finally decided that she would be obliged to wait for inspiration until she was inside.

She went up the steps and banged the knocker. There was silence and then came the sound of heavy footsteps. A moment later a stout-looking housekeeper opened the door.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Please inform your mistress that I have come to call,” Charlotte said firmly.

The housekeeper peered at her suspiciously. “Did ye have an appointment?”

An odd question, Charlotte thought. A housekeeper might inquire as to whether or not a caller was expected but the wordappointmentwas used for business visits. Her own clients had appointments.

“Yes,” Charlotte said smoothly. “I do have an appointment.”

“Bit early,” the woman grumbled as she stood back and opened the door. “Miss Post don’t usually see her clients until the afternoon.”

“She made an exception for me.” Charlotte stepped swiftly through the opening before the housekeeper could have second thoughts. “It’s rather urgent.”

The housekeeper gave her a quizzical look but did not comment. She closed the door. “May I have your name?”

Charlotte seized upon the first name that sprang to mind. “Mrs. Witty.”

“Very well. This way, then. I’ll let Miss Post know that you’re here, Mrs. Witty.”

“Thank you.”

Charlotte glanced curiously around the hall as she followed the housekeeper. The woodwork gleamed from a recent waxing. The tile floor was clean and polished. The oak and ebony cabinet on the side was handsomely inlaid with brass. Juliana Post did not appear to be wealthy, but she certainly was not impoverished. In fact, for a ruined woman, she appeared to be doing very well for herself.

The housekeeper opened a door on the far side of the hall. “Please go on in, Mrs. Witty. I’ll fetch Miss Post.”

Charlotte swept into the small parlor and halted, astonished.

She found herself in an exotic chamber decorated in the Eastern style. Everything was done in shades of crimson and black. The lingering scent of incense was strong although the brazier was unlit.

It was midday but in there it could have been midnight. The heavy red velvet drapes were pulled across the windows, throwing the parlor into an unnatural gloom. Great swaths of red and black ceiling hangings billowed low over the scene. The only light came from two tall lotus-flower candelabras.

There were no chairs but a number of crimson pillows trimmed with black fringe were arranged on the red and black carpet. A low, scarlet sofa was placed near the hearth.

In the center of the room a small ebony stand held a deck of cards.

“Mrs. Witty?” Juliana Post spoke from the doorway. “I’m afraid that I do not recall our appointment but I believe that I can accommodate you.”

Charlotte removed her bonnet and turned slowly.

Juliana had already changed her attire. She now wore flowing scarlet robes and a great number of beads.

“I did not make an appointment,” Charlotte said.

Juliana stiffened. “It’s you.” Something that might have been fear flickered in her eyes. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”

“It was not difficult.” Charlotte examined Juliana’s newly slimmed figure and smiled grimly. “I assume that you are no longer concerned about being cast out into the streets and ruined forever?”

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