Page 28 of An Unwilling Earl
“I understand what you see here,” Suzette continued. “Charlotte, when she dresses like a girl, is an attractive lass, and she’s in a spot of trouble right now. I can’t blame you for taking advantage of her. And, Charlotte, this might be what you need to get out of this place. The rookery isn’t for you. You deserve better.”
Yes!Jacob wanted to pump his fist in the air and tell Charlotte to listen to Suzette, but instead he stood there quietly while barely able to breathe. It was so important to help this woman, but he couldn’t put his finger on why.
“And what about you?” Charlotte asked Suzette, still looking uncertain.
Suzette waved a hand in the air. “I’m not cut out to be anyone’s mistress. Especially to a man like that.” She nodded toward Jacob. “I like my life the way it is.”
Charlotte seemed to hesitate, and Jacob felt himself slipping, losing ground because Suzette would not accompany her.
“You don’t have to move in with me,” he said, desperate, afraid he would lose her all over again. “I can rent a hotel room.”
“It’s a start,” Suzette told Charlotte. “If it were me, I’d hold out for my own townhouse.”
Good God! He wasn’t made of money!
Charlotte looked at her friend. “I think you’re wrong about him. You don’t know my past and he does, and he wants to save me from it.”
“We all have a past we’re running from,” Suzette said philosophically. “And I would gather that all of our stories have a similar ring to it.”
“So you won’t go with me?” Charlotte asked.
“No, pet. You go. Take advantage while you can. Maybe, after a time, you can move up from a solicitor to a barrister. Hell, you might even nab a titled gent. Wouldn’t that be grand? You do that, and you come back and visit Suzette. Let me know how you fared.”
Suzette’s eyes glittered with unshed tears. She really did hold a fondness for Charlotte, but she was willing to let her go for a better life. Even if the life she thought Charlotte was walking into wasn’t true.
Charlotte stood there for a long time, looking at Suzette, chewing her lower lip, trying to decide what to do. Eventually, she went to the outer wall and peeled a loose board back and reached into it, pulling out a small velvet bag.
She opened the drawstring and withdrew some coins, handing them to Suzette. “Use this for the rent for the next few weeks. It’s all I have to give, but I want to be sure you have a place to stay.”
Suzette took the money and pocketed it. “You’re a good person, Charlotte. I can see why this Mr. Baker likes you.”
“Promise you’ll take care. Remember what we spoke about?”
A shiver of fear flitted through Suzette’s eyes. “I remember.”
“Be careful. Stay aware.”
“I will.”
“I’ll worry,” Charlotte said.
“Don’t. I’ve made it this far. Besides, I’m too ornery to die.”
Charlotte looked at her friend with so much concern that Jacob wanted to demand that Suzette accompany them. They were speaking of the deaths of the serving girls. The ones with the heads and hands cut off. Charlotte was rightfully worried about Suzette.
Quickly, Charlotte pulled Suzette in for a hug. The actress seemed to stiffen and then soften before she wrapped her arms around Charlotte. “Goodbye, pet.”
“Stay safe,” Charlotte said.
“Always.”
Jacob reached into his pocket and handed Suzette some coins. “Hopefully, this will buy a few more weeks rent.”
Suzette hesitated before taking the money. It disappeared into the same pocket as Charlotte’s coins, and she nodded at Jacob. “Every bit helps, I suppose.”
He produced a calling card. “This is where Charlotte will be. If you need anything let me know.”
She took the card and looked down on it, and Jacob was afraid that maybe she didn’t know how to read. She nodded and sniffed. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Now, go, the both of you. I have to get to the theater.”
