Lady Berkshire patted her swollen, red eyes. “Lady Pamela and I always knew Lottie was hiding something. She only spoke briefly of her past, merely telling us she had a mother in London from whom she was estranged.”
Carter jumped in. “I knew she was hiding something because she attempted to disguise herself in London.”
Lady Berkshire nodded. “Yes, the spectacles. Lottie only found out about a year ago—right before she moved to Bath—that her mother is a well-known . . .” Lady Berkshire looked in her husband’s direction.
Berkshire cleared this throat. “Lottie’s mother is Mrs. Danforth.”
Carter blew out a low whistle. “The Mrs. Danforth?”
“You know her, too?” Lady Berkshire’s distressed had returned.
“No. I don’t know her, but I know of her. Most young gentlemen in London do. But from what I know, she only has one protector at a time and her current one has been with her for years. Much to many men’s sorrow.” Carter faced Berkshire. “I hope you don’t mind me speaking so directly to your wife.”
“Not at all. If we’re going to help the girl, we need to have it all out in the open.”
Lady Berkshire began to twist her handkerchief again. “Lottie came to me yesterday, very upset. Lord Sterling approached her while she was out with one of her students.”
Carter felt his anger rise. “That cad has been insisting he knows her. He has upset her before with his insinuations and annoyance.”
“Yes. Well, he apparently figured out why she looked familiar and asked her to consider going under his protection.”
The heavy silence was broken by Carter’s softly spoken words, “I will kill him.”
Berkshire nodded. “However, there is a much more important matter you need to deal with.”
“Then I can kill him?”
Lady Berkshire shook her head in annoyance. “Men! What you need to do right now is stop Lottie from leaving.”
His blood was coursing so quickly through his body his head was pounding and felt as though it would explode. But dealing with Sterling would have to wait until he had Lottie firmly in his arms. “Of course, she wants to leave. Sterling has made it impossible for her to earn a living. No member of the ton will allow her to instruct their daughter.”
Lady Berkshire nodded. “She was planning on packing up her flat and leaving today for I don’t know where. She didn’t even know herself.”
“Today!”
“Yes. You must stop her,” Lady Berkshire wailed.
“Anywhere she would go she’d have to start at the Bath Rail Station.” Carter strode to the front door. “Where is my carriage?”
Manfred said, “Waiting for you, sir.”
Carter took Lady Berkshire’s hand in his. “You are a good friend. She will need you in the coming weeks.”
“I love Lottie. I will always stand by her, have no doubt about that. Today I will visit with Lady Pamela and tell her what’s going on. She will be there for Lottie, as well.” Lady Berkshire touched Carter on his arm, the soft contact helping to calm him.
Carter examined Lady Berkshire’s distressed face and turned to her husband. “Send for tea if you wish. I will fetch Miss Danvers. She is going nowhere. Trust me.” With those words, he left the house and hopped into his carriage. “Bath Rail Station. Quickly.”
He thought of a hundred different ways to approach Lottie, but only one remained in his mind. She was his. She would always be his, and no amount of reluctance from her because of her background would matter.
Now he understood her anxiety while they were in London. Anyone who had attended one of Mrs. Danforth’s numerous parties would recognize Lottie. Although he’d never met Mrs. Danforth, Sterling’s insistence that she looked familiar meant there must be a resemblance between the two women.
Mrs. Danforth was well known for her parties, but from what he’d heard they were far from hedonistic. The people who attend were from the demimonde, but there are also many members of the ton—gentlemen and a few ladies who were more daring, also graced her parlor, along with many from the wealthy merchant class.
She’d been known to have men thrown from her events for over-imbibing or harassing her female employees. In all ways, Mrs. Danforth was a very well-educated woman with excellent taste and a pleasing personality.
The Bath Station was crowded, as always. He searched the entire place, the waiting room, the ticket room, the benches crowded with travelers. He apologized numerous times for bumping into people. Frustrated, he was about to join the queue to ask the ticket seller if he remembered Lottie, when the door to the ladies’ water closet opened and Lottie stepped out.
His heart stuttered. She was so beautiful, and she looked so lost and vulnerable. Everything protective in him rose up. He wanted to take her into his arms and hold her close. Tell her nothing bad would ever happen to her.