Chapter Text
"I seem to have lost Charlotte," Lady Isabella said, gently grabbing Lucy by the elbow as she passed. She'd been looking for her for several minutes and failed to find her companion. Charlotte had wandered away several times throughout the event but kept returning to her side. This time she'd been gone for quite a while and hadn't been present for the end of the fight. Charlotte had certainly just gotten caught up in conversation with someone else in the crowd and couldn't make her way back - that was what she kept telling herself. This was the largest party that had been in the St. James's house in years, and the courtesan seemed to know more members of the nobility than Isabella herself - Isabella pushed the obvious reason for this from her mind.
Lucy couldn't hear at all over the raucous that had engulfed the room after Jack won the prizefight. She was trying to make her way back to Mr. Croft when she was intercepted by the lady of the house. She looked at the taller woman blankly, knowing she'd said something to her, but not knowing what.
"Charlotte," Isabella said louder as she scanned the room again. "Have you seen Charlotte? I've lost your sister in this sea of people."
"I'm sure she'll turn up," she smiled and patted the woman on her arm before moving on. Lady Isabella seemed overly dismayed over Charlotte's absence. When Lucy thought about it, she hadn't seen Charlotte in a while either. She'd assumed she was with Isabella. It was a bit odd, but nothing to cause concern. Charlotte could take care of herself after all.
~~~
Hal Pincher gruffly grabbed Emily Lacey as she moved toward him. She'd just escaped the grasp of her keeper, only to the grabbed by Hal. He turned her around and pulled her through the crowd toward the front entrance, followed closely by Isaac. Both kept their eyes forward and Isaac's lips were pressed firmly together in a tight line.
"I told you we should go home. I'm glad you saw reason," Emily said haughtily, pleased with herself. When neither of the Pinchers responded to her she asked, "What's happened?"
"Nothing," Hal answered. Isaac remained silent.
Her moment of believing Hal had listened to her passed quickly. Something was wrong. She asked again, more firmly, "What's happened?"
"Shut up," he cut her off as they exited out into the night. No one would miss them. They shouldn't have been there in the first place.
~~~
"We must get help," Kate kept repeating to Mrs. Quigley. "We must get help. We can't just leave her. She-she..." The girl began to stammer.
"Keep your voice down, child. There's nothing we can do." Lydia's pale face had grown paler and the hood of her cloak had shifted her wig back even farther, making her look more and more like a madwoman. Like the Pinchers, she was making her way to the front entrance fleeing from the scene in the stairway of the back foyer as fast as she could. She looked as if she may faint at any moment, but she kept her grip on the girl's wrist and moved with determination.
"We have to tell someone! We can't-we...I..." Only nonsense came out of Kate's mouth. She saw Lady Isabella moving fluidly through the crowd, looking pensively from guest to guest, looking for Charlotte. Kate knew exactly where Charlotte was and began gravitating toward the woman in her elegant green dress, but she felt Mrs. Quigley pull her back like a dog on a short leash. She tried reaching out to the woman with her free hand, to tell her that something horrible had happened, but throngs of people washed over the two cloaked women. She lost Isabella amid the crowd and found herself at the door. She looked at one of the doormen and said, "Please, help."
He didn't know what she meant. There was no context and he ignored the comment as the two women, who both looked rather crazed, made their exit. Lydia didn't notice Harcourt Fitzwilliam lurking in the shadows of the nearest alley. He didn't notice her either and was waiting to make his grand entrance.
~~~
Nancy observed the party guests. Most of their backs were still to them and they remained focused on the boxing ring. "Fight's over. We need to get on before someone sees you."
"I am aware, Nance." She straightened Jonas' jacket. The man was still in a huff and Margaret was trying to get him to return to the festivities to enjoy himself. She hadn't intended to spoil his night, just the deal.
He refused, "Let me give my regards to Lady Fitzwilliam and we can both be on our way. This has left a sour taste in my mouth"
Nancy nodded toward Lady Isabella, who had broken through the thickest part of the crowd and emerged near them. She observed, "Speaking of her ladyship, it looks as if she's lost her pet."
Jonas moved toward her and Margaret stayed hidden in the alcove behind Nancy. Nancy watched as Isabella greeted Jonas with all of her typical courtesy. She smiled politely, and her smile immediately faded when he turned away. She continued her search for Charlotte who had been on her arm moments before and was now nowhere to be found. Nancy gave the room a quick sweep and didn't see Charlotte anywhere either. Jonas rejoined them and Nancy began to lead the way out, wondering briefly why Charlotte had abandoned Lady Fitz at this event of their making. Margaret pulled her hat down low on her face as they passed a pair of constables on the street that were making their way to the house likely to investigate the commotion that could be heard easily from outside.
The noise in the house remained at a roar inside as winnings were collected, toasts were made, and more drinks were had. Most of the guests were still shoulder-to-shoulder, crowding the ring, Mr. North, and Jack, others had begun mingling and exchanging their pleasantries loudly over the festivities. A chant had begun for Jack and some drunk noblemen had hoisted him onto their shoulders, paying no mind to their fine garments and wigs.
~~~
Lady Isabella continued with her pleasant acknowledgments of everyone that approached her, but she was making her way to each of the nooks of her home, looking for her companion. Everything was fine when Charlotte was there. She didn't so much mind the pretenses with her scandalous companion next to her. Without her though the liveliness grew dull very quickly and turned into just another gala like all of the ones before. People kept stopping her, thanking her for the entertainment, the illicit boxing match, for the hors d'oeuvres, the drinks. Their appreciation was droning.
The more time she spent looking for Charlotte the more an annoying, gnawing voice in the back of her mind kept insisting her brother had done something, drawn her away somehow. He knew it would leave Isabella vulnerable. She reasoned with herself that her brother was not foolish enough to show up here. She hadn't seen him and he surely would've reared his ugly head by now. He would've attempted to foil the whole event somehow if that were going to be his move, wouldn't he? He wouldn't just lure Charlotte away. So where had she gone? She hadn't seen the Pinchers or Lydia in quite some time either, so perhaps they were the culprits, she thought between exhausting smiles at more guests. She felt somehow naked without Charlotte - her final secret, though she was - she gave her strength and protected her from the side-eyed glances of those in her own circle. Taking a drink from one of the serving trays of a passing attendant, she sighed and sipped from the glass. Perhaps she should remain in one place and Charlotte would find her.
"Lady Fitz," Lucy joined her at the outskirts of the joviality. "You've still not found Charlotte?"
She shook her head and asked, "Did you see her?"
"No, I still haven't. Not since earlier." She also took a drink from a passing attendant and looked at all of the people passing by. "I'll help you find her."
She nodded, appreciatively. Lucy now seemed to share some of Isabella's concern, which was a relief. She felt like she wasn't being completely unreasonable. The two went together, farther from the bulk of the gathering and Isabella confessed, "I feel a bit silly worrying like this."
"Charlotte enjoys parties and gambling. She wouldn't disappear unless..." Lucy's voice trailed off. Charlotte wouldn't go off with Isaac Pincher, not here, not now.
"Unless what?" Isabella pried.
"It was nothing. Charlotte isn't that uncouth," she responded.
The quiet as they approached the back foyer was a welcome relief from the noise. Isabella called out, hopelessly, "Charlotte?"
"Would she have gone upstairs for anything?" Lucy asked her.
She shrugged and then shook her head. She somewhat hated that her confidence was all hinged upon the presence of this other woman, but she pushed that aside just as she pushed aside that she was an infamous harlot. Charlotte had confidence enough for them both. A noise interrupted her thoughts - a pained whimper.
Both women paused, and Lucy asked, "What was that?"
Lady Isabella didn't answer and started moving again toward the sound quickly, feeling her stomach sink. Lucy followed suit, rounding the corner toward the stairs. Isabella stopped abruptly and Lucy nearly ran into her. The glass the woman carried tumbled from her hands and shattered on the floor at her feet.
At first, it looked like little more than a crumpled pile of fabric laying in front of them. Isabella immediately recognized the fabric though - the bright magenta and the teal trim. The fabric shuttered and let out another faint groan.
"Charlotte..." she muttered, her voice barely even a whisper.
"Oh, God," Lucy gasped.
The figure twitched in response to them then all of Isabella's facades fell away at once and she collapsed next to the heap on the floor that was not a pile of fabric, but was Charlotte Wells.
"Get help!" She screamed toward Lucy. Her scream was swallowed quickly by the noise. It was largely shrugged off by the guests, unnoticed. People assumed it to be another over-drunk guest or someone upset about their lost bet - if they'd heard anything at all.
~~~
Nancy paused and looked back toward the house. "Did you hear that?"
"Was that a scream?" Margaret asked her. She'd barely heard it. "Probably a drunkard is all."
"You two go on," Nancy responded and motioned them onward. "The constables. I'll go check."
Margaret nodded and continued with Jonas as Nancy remained in the street, listening. She had an uncomfortable feeling and the sound she heard only worsened it. It had sounded like someone yelling for help from inside. She started back toward the entrance to Lady Fitz's house. She walked quickly, weaving between the constables as she reentered.
"A concerned citizen alerted us to a possible disturbance here," one of them was saying to the doorman.
She paid them no mind and went on toward the far end of the house where it sounded like the shout had come from when she was outside.
"We need a doctor! Is there a doctor here?" she heard Lucy yelling from somewhere, but she didn't see her.
"Lucy!" Nancy called out as people began to scatter and move erratically in confusion.
Lucy called out, "Is there not a god damn doctor here?!"
Nancy shoved her way through the people to the girl. Lucy didn't even notice her until she latched onto her shoulders and shook her, "Lucy, what's happened?"
Lucy's face was red and streaked with tears. "It's Charlotte. She's hurt. She's fallen down the stairs or - I don't know! She needs a doctor!"
"Where is she?!" Nancy demanded.
Lucy answered frantically, "Back foyer. Lady Fitz is with her. Half of London is fucking here. There must be a doctor."
Trying her best to remain calm, Nancy gave her instructions, "There are constables at the door. Go to them for help."
Several voices around them were asking what was going on. Lucy nodded and Nancy released her grip on her then pushed her toward the door. People had begun congregating in the direction of the commotion. She took a deep breath and then broke out in a run, shouting for people to get out of her way. If they didn't move she shoved past them without apology. She bowled someone completely over and only slowed down to keep her own footing and not trip. There was a crash of breaking glass behind her. She made it to the foyer and saw Lady Isabella first. She sat on the floor, her huge green dress billowing out around her. She had Charlotte partially in her lap and hovered over her.
"Your ladyship...Charlotte..." Nancy approached and the extent of the situation unfolded before her. She was going to ask if everything was alright, but the remaining words lodged in her throat. It was not alright. Nothing was alright. She glanced up toward the top of the stairs above, the balcony, the banister, and back down. There was some blood, not a lot. It had been smeared around by Isabella's dress. It was a miracle Charlotte hadn't completely cracked her skull open falling from that height.
Lady Isabella looked up, her makeup and wig a complete mess. She was normally so soft-spoken so hearing her shout was jarring, "Lucy went for a doctor! Where is the doctor?!"
"The doctor's coming," Nancy tried to be reassuring, but her voice cracked. She knelt down next to them in an attempt to look Charlotte over. She was conscious, but only barely, and very pale. Her legs were most certainly broken. She could see the outlines of their twisted shapes under her dress, and one of her feet pointed in an unnatural direction. How long had she been here like this? She looked up again at the balcony above them and then grasped one of Charlotte's hands and said, "Lucy is bringing the doctor."
Isabella's tone reverted back to normal and she said quietly to Charlotte, "Did you hear that? Nancy is here now and the doctor is on the way. Everything will be alright."
~~~
Questions began buzzing through the air out in the main room. People asking what happened, what was wrong, wanting to help. The fact that something had happened circulated through the crowd like the plague, but no one seemed to know what exactly happened. Mr. North quickly shouldered his way through the confusion toward Lucy who he only spotted because of her yellow dress. She was with two constables who looked concerned but were nodding. Before he got to her one of them hurried out through the front door. The other started with Lucy toward the back of the house.
Mr. North joined them and plowed through the thickening crowd, followed by Lucy and the constable in his wake. He cut a path for them, not sure what exactly was going on. Lucy was still asking for a doctor among the guests, and other people had been calling out for a doctor as well.
Harcourt entered the house, wondering why one of the constables left in such a rush, and his brow furrowed. He was who had gotten the constables in the first place, and he was somewhat displeased one had left. Apparently, there was some excitement happening that was not his doing and his constables were proving to not be the hindrance he'd intended.