She could only carry her clothes and grooming products. Perhaps she could post a note to Addie and ask her to have the rest of her things packed up and sent to her once she had a new home.
Rather than have another scene like the one earlier in the parlor downstairs, Lottie took the time to write notes to all her students’ parents. Although considering her visit from Lord Monroe and his horrid governess, in time most would learn why she left in a hurry. However, she stated in her letters that a family emergenc
y had come up and it had been necessary for her to leave Bath.
Her rent was paid up for the rest of the month, so she left a note for Mrs. Ponsoby, her landlady, relating the same story about a family emergency. Hopefully, since she still owned the flat for a couple more weeks, it would give Addie time to get her things out of the rooms before Mrs. Ponsoby rented to another tenant.
With one last look around, she drew on her cape, hat, and gloves, and picked up her satchel. She had loved this flat and had made it into a very comfortable home. Her very first home, considering she lived at school most of her life. But deep down inside, she always knew one day she would have to leave it.
Mr. Everson was at the door, as usual. He viewed her with sympathy, which told her he had heard everything that had transpired between her and her visitors.
“I must leave for a family emergency.” She raised her chin, looking him in the eye. Although she was sure he knew why she was leaving, she kept up with the story she had written in Mrs. Ponsoby’s note.
“I am sorry to see you leave us, Miss Danvers. You are a lovely young woman and I’m sure you will do well wherever you go.” He bowed and offered a slight smile.
Tears threatened again at his kind words, but before she turned into a watering pot, she handed him the note for her landlady. “Please give this to Mrs. Ponsoby.”
“Of course.”
Lottie nodded and left the building. As much as she hated to do it, her next stop was the bank so she could withdraw the funds from the checks Mama had sent each month.
She had no idea where she would go, but definitely somewhere as far away from London and Bath as she could. Most likely France. There was little reason to believe anyone there would know Mrs. Danforth. In the small village close to her school, Mama was known as Mrs. Danvers, the loving and devoted mother to Miss Charlotte Danvers.
“Sir, you have a very persistent Lord Berkshire demanding to see you despite it being an improper time for making calls.” Carter’s butler, Manfred, was abruptly shoved aside by Grayson who barreled into Carter’s bedchamber while he was still in bed.
“What the devil is going on?” Carter threw the covers off and grabbed his banyan, shrugging into it as he viewed Grayson with curiosity. “Has Bath been invaded?”
Grayson ran his fingers through his hair. “No. But you must dress quickly and meet my wife downstairs in your drawing room.”
“Meet your wife? What is this about, Berkshire?” He slipped off the banyan and took the shirt his valet handed him.
“Lottie.”
Before Carter could react, Berkshire was gone, and Carter was left staring at the closed door.
Lottie? It must be something serious for them to arrive at his house and drag him from his bed. Had Lottie been injured? His heart began to thump, knowing whatever Lady Berkshire planned to say to him was not going to be good news.
He grew frustrated with Manfred’s attention to his ascot and bushed his hand away and left the room. He passed a footman as he came down the stairs. “See that my carriage is made ready to go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Whatever the problem was, he was certain to need his carriage. When he arrived at the drawing room, he found Lady Berkshire sitting on a chair, twisting a handkerchief in her fingers. Berkshire paced the room, looking as unsettled as his wife.
“What has happened? Is Miss Danvers ill?” He looked back and forth between the couple.
Lady Berkshire jumped up. “Oh, thank goodness you were quick. No, she is not ill, but you must stop her.”
Since he knew Miss Danvers was in good health, he relaxed somewhat, but was still on edge. “Stop her from what?”
“Leaving Bath,” Lady Berkshire said right before she burst into tears.
“Leaving?” His initial panic returned as he looked over at Berkshire. “Why is she leaving? Where is she going?”
“I think we should all sit down and discuss this calmly.”
Carter felt anything by calm, but the only way he would get information out of Berkshire was to take a deep breath and listen.
Once they were seated, Carter looked over at Lady Berkshire. “Please explain to me what has happened and why Lottie is leaving Bath.”