The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(105)

Charlotte’s eyes misted, but she was determined not to cry. It would set them all off. “As am I.”

Louisa put her pocketbook in her reticule and rose. “We may as well use the hour or so we have left to finish your shopping.” A knock came on the door and Louisa sat back down again. “I hope it’s not our gentlemen. We have too much to do.”

“We shall find out soon enough,” Charlotte said. “Come.”

“My lady.” Royston handed her a card.

She did not recognize the name at all. “Did she say what she wanted?”

“No, my lady.”

Shopping would have to wait. “Very well. Send her up.” Her friends glanced at her. “A lady I have never heard of wishes to see me.”

“I hope it is not bad news,” Louisa muttered.

“I am positive it’s not.” Dotty leaned over to see the card. “Royston would not have allowed her past the door if there was anything smoky about her.”





Chapter Thirty-Six


A lady Charlotte judged to be in her mid-twenties was ushered into the parlor. She was dressed in a blue silk walking gown, and had light brown hair and blue-gray eyes that held a slightly concerned look.

“Lady Pierrepont,” Royston intoned.

Charlotte still held the card Royston had given to her. She set it down and stepped forward to welcome her unexpected guest. “Good afternoon, I am Lady Charlotte Carpenter. This”—she motioned to Louisa—“is my sister, the Duchess of Rothwell, and my cousin, the Marchioness of Merton.”

Lady Pierrepont curtseyed. “Your grace, my ladies.”

Louisa and Dotty smiled politely and inclined their heads. “Please,” Charlotte said, “join us.” She motioned to a chair next to the small sofa she shared with Dotty. “The tea tray will be here shortly.”

“Thank you.” The woman focused on Charlotte. “I should like to get straight to the point, if I may. You met my mother, Lady Litchfield, in Richmond a week or so ago.”

Dotty and Louisa straightened, their complete attention now focused on the lady. “Is this about Jemmy?”

“Yes.” She opened her reticule and drew out a small book. “Almost everyone in the Mooring family has birthmarks. Most of us have two. As my sisters and brothers and I had children, I made drawings of the marks.” Lady Pierrepont opened the book to a page marked with a blue ribbon and handed it to Charlotte. “I must know if the boy—if Jemmy’s birthmarks look like these.”

Dotty shook her head as if unable to believe what the lady was saying. “But your mother was positive that Jemmy could not be the child she thought he was.”

“Yes, well”—Lady Pierrepont pressed her lips together and sighed—“Mama is always very certain. Though I seriously doubt if she has seen any of us or her grandchildren without their clothing, not to mention being able to keep all the markings straight. There are eight of us, and we all have at least one child.” Charlotte looked at the drawing and handed the book to Dotty. “Please, if you could take that and compare the marks, I would greatly appreciate it. I spoke to my eldest brother and we agreed that we must know if he is a Mooring.”

Charlotte strode to the bell pull and tugged twice. “My maid should be here in a moment. She will be able to tell you if they are the same. Although”—looking over her friend’s shoulder she studied the drawing again—“they appear to match the description my maid gave of them.”

Walker arrived, followed by a footman carrying the tea tray. After he placed the tray down on the low table between the two sofas, she set out the cups and straightened. “Yes, my lady?”

“Do these look like Jemmy’s birthmarks?”

Charlotte held her breath and it seemed as if the rest of them did as well until Walker nodded. “They do, almost exactly.”

Charlotte’s breath rushed out of her. “Oh, thank the Lord.”

“You could not have received a better wedding present.” Dotty had tears in her eyes, and Louisa hugged them both. “I’ll pour while you talk.”

“No, I do not believe I could have.” Charlotte took out her handkerchief and dabbed the corners of her eyes. “Lady Pierrepont, would you like to meet him?”

“Thank you. I would love to meet him,” she said and promptly broke into tears. Louisa handed the lady her handkerchief. “Thank you, Your Grace. I do not know what came over me. We had almost given up hope of ever finding James.”

“Will your mother accept him?” Charlotte asked. Lady Litchfield had been so convinced when she had rejected the child.

“Yes, she will. If you must know, I abused her roundly for not bringing me with her.” Lady Pierrepont blew her nose. “But my youngest sister had just given birth, and my mother would not wait.” She gave a watery chuckle. “This will teach her.” The lady wiped her eyes. “When will we be able to take him home?”

“Let us take one step at a time, shall we?” Charlotte said.

Lady Pierrepont’s face fell.

Charlotte did not wish to hurt the woman, but Jemmy must feel comfortable about his new family. “My wedding is in the morning, and I know he will wish to be present for that.”

“Please do not mention the wedding to anyone,” Louisa said. “It is somewhat of a surprise.”