Charlotte offers Lt. Easton a trade

Charlotte and Lieutenant Easton walked in silence for a few minutes before Charlotte found the courage to speak.

"So Mr. Easton, do you believe Black Brand is halfway to the Welsh mountains like Mr. Basingford claims?" Charlotte asked the dark-haired officer as they gazed into the gardens lit by the soft moonlight. She sensed the Lieutenant struggle to find an appropriate answer to her question, he clearly was not used to socializing with young ladies of station. Charlotte waited patiently for his answer curious to see if he'd brush her off with condescending platitudes or answer her question honestly.

"I assure you that you are perfectly safe here Lady Marlton." Easton said after a slight hesitation.

"That wasn't what I asked you, sir." Again the young officer paused for longer than the fast talking suitors she was accustomed to. In a way Charlotte found Mr. Easton's reserved manner charming, it was too bad he lacked the family to be one of her suitors.

"My apologies." Lieutenant Easton’s eyes met hers briefly before he looked away across the valley towards the great forest barely visible in the moonlight. "No, I very much doubt that Black Brand has left the area.” Finally! A man in Charlotte’s life who was willing to be honest with her! “Whoever Black Brand is, it is clear that he has a personal grudge against your father.” The young officer turned back to face her and Charlotte could once again judge the character and intelligence in his grey eyes.

“I know.” Charlotte said quietly her gaze joining Easton's as she tried to see through the darkness to where she knew Mr. Fuller was hiding.

“I can tell you exactly who Black Brand is and why he hates my father.” She now had Easton’s undivided attention. “I can also tell you how to capture him, but I need you to promise me something – upon your honour as a King’s officer.”

To Easton’s credit he neither blustered like the old Colonel, threatened like her father would have nor tried to charm her like Chase might have. Instead the somber lieutenant stood in silence by her side for almost half a minute before responding to her offer.

“What do you want my word on?” He asked and Charlotte knew that she had made the right choice in confiding with the young officer. She didn’t want Mrs. Fuller to be suffer for her son’s misconduct, and with Lt. Easton’s help she hoped the widow could be spared as much hurt as possible.

“I don’t want him to hang.” As soon as she spoke the words aloud she realized how true they really were. Black Brand was a heartless pig and she wanted to see him suffer for his rudeness, but she could never forgive herself if he were hanged. “I want your word that you will recommend he be turned over to the King’s Navy.” Easton’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “He is an experienced seaman,” Charlotte explained “and his actions, no matter how reprehensible, are not entirely without cause.”

“I can make that promise.” Lt. Easton told her without hesitation. “As irritating as Black Brand is, to this point he has given serious injury to none.”

“Wait! There’s one more thing.” Charlotte quickly added before she lost her nerve. “I want to be able to talk to him. In private.” Once again the young officer’s face showed his surprise but Charlotte refused to explain or justify her demands. Years of practice at hiding her emotions enabled her to mask the wild emotions that filled her heart.

“Well Lieutenant?” She asked as coolly as if she were asking for more tea. “Will you give me your word as an officer?”