of her excuse. It was a complete lie, but desperate situations occasionally call for a little invention.
'It is for a friend,'' she said, looking at no one in particular. 'A certain young person I know-a romantic affair. I would rather not divulge the details. They are'-she hesitated delicately-'most personal.'
'Indeed!' Grandmama scowled. 'I hope it is nothing sordid.'
'Not in the least.' Charlotte jerked her head up and faced her, finding suddenly that it gave her great pleasure to lie to the old lady. 'She is of good family but slight resources, and she wishes to better herself. I'm sure you would sympathize with that, Grandmama.'
Grandmama gave her a suspicious look, but did not argue. Instead she glanced across at Caroline.
'We are all finished! Why don't you ring the bell and have them dish the next course? I presume we are to have a next
36
course? I don't want to sit here all afternoon! We may have callers. Do you wish them to find us still at luncheon?'
Resignedly, Caroline reached out and rang the bell.
When it was time to leave, Charlotte bade her mother and grandmother goodbye. Dominic escorted her out and offered to take her home in a hansom. He knew her circumstances: that otherwise she would have to walk to an omnibus. She gratefully accepted, both for the comfort and because she wished to pursue the matter of a meeting with Esmond Vanderley, who must be, if Dominic was correct, the dead boy's uncle.
Inside the hansom, he looked at her skeptically.
'It's unlike you to interfere in other people's romances, Charlotte. Who is she, that her 'betterment' has engaged your assistance?'
She debated rapidly whether it would be advisable to con
tinue the lie or to tell him the truth. On the whole, the truth was
better-at least it was more consistent. >
'It isn't a romance at all,' she confessed. 'It is a crime.'
'Charlotte!'
'A very serious one!' she said hastily. 'And if 1 leam something of the circumstances, I may prevent its happening again. Truly, Dominic, it is something Thomas would never learn in the way we could!'
He looked at her sideways. 'We?' he said cautiously.
'We who are placed so as to be socially acquainted with the family!' she explained with a fairly successful attempt at innocence.
'Well, I can't just take you round to Vanderley's rooms and present you,' he protested reasonably.
.'No, of course not.' She smiled. 'But I'm sure you could find an occasion, if you tried.'
He looked dubious.
'I am still your sister-in-law,' she pressed. 'It would all be quite proper.''
'Does Thomas know about this?'
'Not yet.' She evaded the truth with uncharacteristic skill. 'I could hardly tell him before I knew that you were able to help.' She did not mention that she had no intention of telling him afterward either.
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Her ability to deceive was entirely new, and he was not used to it. He took her remarks at face value.
'Then I suppose it is all right. I'll arrange it as soon as I can without being crass.'
She reached out her hand and clasped his impulsively, giving him a radiant smile that unnerved him a little.
'Thank you, Dominic. That really is most generous of you! I'm sure if you knew how important it is, you
