“I’m trying to piece together what happened here, Bess,” Smith said. They sat in the observation room in the Spike, drinking coffee and looking out at the view.
“You had a lucky escape,” Bess said. “I warned you that Lady Charlotte was dangerous. She only used you to make an heir for her family.”
“She told me that much herself,” Smith said.
Bess nodded, “but once she was with child, she planned to replace you with Sir George Danskin.”
Smith poured them both another cup of coffee. “So, Sir George was her intended next husband? I had not reckoned on that. How did you find out?”
“Lady Charlotte’s servants told me she and Lady Penelope discussed Sir George. Lady Charlotte was angry when Lady Penelope announced they were engaged. According to my servant confidant – your servant too, now, C
