Callander Square by Anne Perry Page A

extraordinary face crumpled a little in apprehension.
    “Emily has found out that Euphemia Carlton is having an affair with young Brandon Balantyne!” she said dramatically. “And that she is expecting a child!”
    If she had wished to shock him, she was fully satisfied. His face went blank as he absorbed the information; then clouded a little with doubt.
    “Are you sure she is not—” his eyebrows arched. “—indulging in gossip, a bit of scandalizing?”
    “Of course she is indulging in gossip!” she said exasperatedly. “How else does one get information? It is for you to determine if it is true. That is why she came to me, so that I could tell you. It shouldn’t be difficult—” she stopped, as he was laughing at her. “What amuses you?” she demanded.
    “You do, my dear. Where did Emily come by this invaluable piece of—gossip?” He moved over to the fire and sat down.
    She followed him and knelt on the floor in front of him, commanding his attention.
    “From Sophie Bolsover, who seemed to be quite unaware of its importance. And that is not all. Apparently Sir Robert is much older than Euphemia, and very grand and grim. And he has fair hair.”
    “Fair hair?” Pitt repeated, looking at her; but his eyes were sharper now. Her heart bumped with excitement. She knew she had woken his interest.
    “Yes!”
    “I take it Brandon Balantyne is dark?”
    “Very. You see?”
    “Of course I see. Euphemia has the most beautiful red-gold hair and very fair skin. You would not know, but naturally, Emily will have told you!”
    She smiled in great satisfaction.
    He touched her cheek gently with his fingers, finding a loose strand of her hair; but his face was unusually stern.
    “Charlotte, you must warn Emily to be careful. People in society care very much about their reputations; they matter to them more than we can understand. They may take it very ill if Emily meddles—”
    “I know,” she assured him quickly, “I told her. But she will try to learn how long the affair has been going on, if it was already begun when the babies died.”
    “No. Leave it for me to do. You must call on her tomorrow. Warn her again.” His hand fell and he gripped her shoulder as she stiffened with quick apprehension. “They are not likely to think her anything more than a nosy woman,” he went on, “with nothing better to amuse herself than gossip, but if Robert Carlton is powerful—”
    “Sir Robert?” she was surprised, for a moment uncomprehending.
    “Of course Robert, my dear. If he has been thrice cuckolded, he will not want the world to know of it! To be the subject of scandal is one thing, to be laughed at, quite another. Emily would tell you that!”
    “I never thought of it.” Suddenly she was really unhappy. She could see Emily’s newfound glory eclipsed in a single, sweeping move. How idiotic they had been, playing at detectives. “I’ll call on her tomorrow morning. If she doesn’t listen to me, I shall tell George. He will make her.”
    He gave her a small smile which she could not read.
    “But the information is useful?” she pressed, harking back to her triumph.
    “Oh extremely!” He was genuine in his appreciation. “It is even possible it will lead to the answer. The problem now is how shall I discover the duration of this affair, and if she has given birth to any other children?” He scowled in thought, growing fiercer as the answer receded.
    “That’s easy,” Charlotte stood up, as her feet were getting pins and needles. “Speak to her lady’s maid—”
    “Lady’s maids are extremely loyal,” he answered, “as well as needing to keep their employment! She is not likely to tell me her mistress is having an affair and has had two babies who have since disappeared!”
    She turned at the table, wriggling her foot to wake it up.
    “Of course not!” she agreed with disdain. “Not on purpose! Find out what size dress she takes, if she has lately increased her size, and if she did