She offers Lieutenant Easton a deal

Pleading a headache and dizziness from the fall Charlotte skipped dinner and the embarrassment of having to hear why women were not fit for riding the hunt. However, that night as she lay tossing and turning on her bed with her thoughts filled with brigands, pirates and savages she found her resolve strengthening.

He rejected her! The thought haunted her as she lay in her bed listening to the faint sound of laughter and music from the ground floor. Mister Fuller left her trembling and confused, she had been ready to submit to his outrageous license. Black Brand had held her in his arms, he had kissed her, he had pressed her to the ground with his hard muscular torso and thighs ... and then he was gone. Charlotte shuddered again and stared blankly at the small red book clutched in her hand. Who did he think he was?

Angrily she wiped a tear from her cheek. Then again, who did Charlotte think he was? Randolph Fuller was nobody, an impoverished commoner. Worse than that he was an outlaw! He was not now and could never be one of her suitors, certainly no one she could ever marry. Slowly her confusion changed to anger, Randolph Fuller WAS a nobody and yet he had sent her away. Once again she stared at the volume of poems by her pillow. Why had she ever offered to help him? She didn’t owe the Fuller family anything. Slowly an idea was forming in her mind. A horrible, shameful, petty idea but Charlotte couldn’t get away from the thought.

Two days later Charlotte and Lieutenant Easton were walking on the village green. It had taken a only a little effort to ‘accidently bump into’ the young officer and as expected he had invited her to join him as he took his regular constitutional in the morning sun.

“So Lieutenant, do you believe Black Brand is halfway to the Welsh mountains like my father claims?” Charlotte asked the dark-haired officer as they strolled alongside the low hedge. Charlotte sensed the Lieutenant’s struggle to find an appropriate answer to her question; he clearly was not used to socializing with young ladies of station and Charlotte’s sudden appearance during his morning walk had caught him by surprise. Charlotte waited patiently for his answer curious to see if he'd brush her off with condescending platitudes or answer her question honestly.

“I can assure you that you are perfectly safe Lady Marlton.” Easton said after a slight hesitation. Charlotte smiled politely wondering how safe she had been the day of the hunt when Mr. Fuller had her pinned to the ground as he kissed her.

“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 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 clearly visible in the clear summer light. “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. “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 Mr. Worthington 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 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 Charlotte 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 inner confusion and troubling emotions that had refused to give her any peace since her encounter.

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