stairs. ‘‘We don’t want our conversation to be overheard. There will be more than ample time for discussion once we’re alone.’’ She smiled demurely as the men returned downstairs. ‘‘You certainly are strong.’’
Had she been a pigeon, Charlotte couldn’t have cooed any better! Olivia merely shook her head in disgust and stepped into the parlor until the men had unloaded the final baggage. They adamantly refused Charlotte’s attempt to pay for their assistance. ‘‘It has been our privilege to help you,’’ they insisted. With a coquettish giggle, she escorted the men outside and waved as they drove off in the wagon.
Charlotte’s flirtatious behavior was truly beyond the pale. Olivia could only hope that the men hadn’t misconstrued the unseemly behavior. Normally, Charlotte’s expectant condition would deter any interest or advances by men. However, in the short time it had taken the Pullman employees to unload their belongings, Charlotte had mentioned her widowhood several times. No doubt she would be offended if one of those men should attempt to come calling on her. Yet Olivia noted her ladyship didn’t hesitate to use her womanly wiles for her own gain.
With a mixture of false bravado and anger, Olivia tapped the toe of her shoe on the hardwood floor. ‘‘Well?’’
‘‘I suppose the jewelry could have been considered jointly owned by me and my mother.’’
‘‘ What? But you—’’
Charlotte waved her hand. ‘‘Let me finish. The jewelry has passed through our family from mother to daughter for generations. Since I am her only daughter, the jewels would pass to me at her death. It’s a matter of interpretation and timing.’’ She shrugged. ‘‘No doubt my mother considered the jewelry hers rather than mine.’’
Olivia clutched the newel-post for support. ‘‘And she has no doubt reported the items stolen?’’
‘‘I imagine Father would take care of that. Mother wouldn’t—’’
‘‘Oh, forevermore, Charlotte! I don’t care which one of them might have gone to the authorities. I’m concerned with the fact that they would believe the jewelry has been stolen.’’
Charlotte nonchalantly bobbed her head. ‘‘I would surmise they think of the missing jewelry as stolen rather than my claim to an early inheritance.’’
Olivia nibbled at her lower lip as she sought to unscramble the frightening news. ‘‘When you instructed me to go and sell the items, you specifically told me they belonged to you. If the authorities locate the shop where I sold the jewels, the owner is bound to give my description. I’ll be considered a thief!’’
‘‘Do cease all this fretting. The authorities are not going to travel from London searching for you. Eventually Mother will give up on finding the items and will simply purchase new ones.’’ A faraway look glistened in Charlotte’s eyes. ‘‘I do wish I could be there to help her choose.’’
The remark was so totally ludicrous Olivia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. How could the woman even think such a ridiculous thought? ‘‘Forgive me if I don’t lament with you, Lady Charlotte.’’
‘‘No need to be derisive.’’ Charlotte tilted her head and looked down her nose. ‘‘I thought we were getting on rather nicely, and I was beginning to consider you a confidante. In the future, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself. Just remember—you need me.’’
Olivia clenched her hands together and forced a grim smile. ‘‘And I hope you will remember that you are in need of my assistance, your ladyship.’’
Charlotte’s hand rested on her bulging midsection. ‘‘Well, then, we need each other, don’t we?’’ Waving Olivia forward as though not a cross word had been exchanged, Charlotte headed up the stairs. ‘‘Come along. Let’s begin memorizing that story of yours.’’
Olivia balanced the tablet of paper on her perched knees while she delineated the items that must be committed to
Had she been a pigeon, Charlotte couldn’t have cooed any better! Olivia merely shook her head in disgust and stepped into the parlor until the men had unloaded the final baggage. They adamantly refused Charlotte’s attempt to pay for their assistance. ‘‘It has been our privilege to help you,’’ they insisted. With a coquettish giggle, she escorted the men outside and waved as they drove off in the wagon.
Charlotte’s flirtatious behavior was truly beyond the pale. Olivia could only hope that the men hadn’t misconstrued the unseemly behavior. Normally, Charlotte’s expectant condition would deter any interest or advances by men. However, in the short time it had taken the Pullman employees to unload their belongings, Charlotte had mentioned her widowhood several times. No doubt she would be offended if one of those men should attempt to come calling on her. Yet Olivia noted her ladyship didn’t hesitate to use her womanly wiles for her own gain.
With a mixture of false bravado and anger, Olivia tapped the toe of her shoe on the hardwood floor. ‘‘Well?’’
‘‘I suppose the jewelry could have been considered jointly owned by me and my mother.’’
‘‘ What? But you—’’
Charlotte waved her hand. ‘‘Let me finish. The jewelry has passed through our family from mother to daughter for generations. Since I am her only daughter, the jewels would pass to me at her death. It’s a matter of interpretation and timing.’’ She shrugged. ‘‘No doubt my mother considered the jewelry hers rather than mine.’’
Olivia clutched the newel-post for support. ‘‘And she has no doubt reported the items stolen?’’
‘‘I imagine Father would take care of that. Mother wouldn’t—’’
‘‘Oh, forevermore, Charlotte! I don’t care which one of them might have gone to the authorities. I’m concerned with the fact that they would believe the jewelry has been stolen.’’
Charlotte nonchalantly bobbed her head. ‘‘I would surmise they think of the missing jewelry as stolen rather than my claim to an early inheritance.’’
Olivia nibbled at her lower lip as she sought to unscramble the frightening news. ‘‘When you instructed me to go and sell the items, you specifically told me they belonged to you. If the authorities locate the shop where I sold the jewels, the owner is bound to give my description. I’ll be considered a thief!’’
‘‘Do cease all this fretting. The authorities are not going to travel from London searching for you. Eventually Mother will give up on finding the items and will simply purchase new ones.’’ A faraway look glistened in Charlotte’s eyes. ‘‘I do wish I could be there to help her choose.’’
The remark was so totally ludicrous Olivia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. How could the woman even think such a ridiculous thought? ‘‘Forgive me if I don’t lament with you, Lady Charlotte.’’
‘‘No need to be derisive.’’ Charlotte tilted her head and looked down her nose. ‘‘I thought we were getting on rather nicely, and I was beginning to consider you a confidante. In the future, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself. Just remember—you need me.’’
Olivia clenched her hands together and forced a grim smile. ‘‘And I hope you will remember that you are in need of my assistance, your ladyship.’’
Charlotte’s hand rested on her bulging midsection. ‘‘Well, then, we need each other, don’t we?’’ Waving Olivia forward as though not a cross word had been exchanged, Charlotte headed up the stairs. ‘‘Come along. Let’s begin memorizing that story of yours.’’
Olivia balanced the tablet of paper on her perched knees while she delineated the items that must be committed to
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