He cannot refuse Lady Charlotte

“I can make that promise.” Lt. Easton told her without any more 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 sweetly, feeling bad about how she had overwhelmed this earnest young officer with her boldness, and station. “Will you give me your word as an officer?”

Lieutenant Easton paused again for what seemed like an eternity before finally nodding his head slowly. Charlotte let out a silent sigh of relief; she hadn't even realized she had been holding her breath.

"All right Lady Marlton." He spoke deliberately "I give you my word as a King's officer. I will do everything in my power to see to it that Black Brand is not hanged, and will recommend that he serve time in His Majesty's Royal navy." Charlotte waited expectantly and Easton continued. "As for your other request...” he paused again "... it will not be easy but I think I can arrange for you to visit the prisoner. I'll do my best." He finished still speaking calmly, but clearly less happy about the second part of the arrangement. "Are you satisfied Lady Marlton?"

Charlotte smiled at the young officer, a genuine smile, not the careful reserved smile that she usually used when dealing with men. Easton was a fine young officer, she wondered again about his family and if she could convince her father to use his connections to help him advance. Perhaps even, Lord Marlton could buy him a Major's commission. With the support of a Lord and enough money to buy commissions, in this time of tension with Napoleon who knows how far an earnest young man like Easton could rise …

“My Lady?” Easton interrupted her musings.

“Yes, Lieutenant.” Charlotte responded with a start, pulling slowly away from their intimate embrace. “I trust you to do your best.” She rested her hand gently on the lieutenant’s arm “and thank-you for your discretion.” The dark-haired young man tried to draw her back into his arms, and Charlotte almost let him. Kissing Lt. Easton lacked the wild excitement of being ravished by Mr. Fuller's demanding mouth, but kissing him was pleasant and the young man deserved a reward. In the end she pushed him away gently

"I'm sorry, Mr. Easton." She explained "I know you must think very poorly of me for my forward manner." She stopped his gallant protests before he could get them out. "I want you to know Lieutenant, that it is not my custom to dally with men like this. In truth, you are only the second man I have ever even kissed, but I cannot let you think that we could have a future together - my family would never allow it." That was the truth; to let this man believe anything else would only compound the problem.

The officer accepted her rebuff with the good grace that Charlotte had come to expect from the young man. He listened respectfully as Charlotte explained what she had discovered about Black Brand. Who he was, where he was hiding and why he hated Lord Marlton as he did. She also suggested that if the Lieutenant were to approach Fuller’s lair he might use the outlaw’s duty to his mother to ensure his peaceful surrender. Charlotte could see Easton’s **** to use Mrs. Fuller as leverage in apprehending Black Brand, an officer and gentleman should not have to threaten a man’s family to **** his surrender. However, Charlotte knew that the alternative was either Fuller’s escape or a bloody shootout. Neither of these outcomes was satisfactory. As angry as Charlotte was with Mr. Fuller’s mocking rejection of her when he had her at his mercy, she could not imagine the horror of seeing his limp and bloody body dragged back like that of a fox after a successful hunt.

Charlotte was insistent, she reminded the hesitant officer of how elusive Fuller was in the old forest and of his duty to capture the outlaw. She was still charmingly persuasive but did not have to resort to swaying the young officer's will with soft caresses and kisses. By the end of the conversation Easton agreed to Charlotte's plan to take Black Brand into custody without bloodshed. They walked slowly back to the party in silence each one deep in their own thoughts, their shoulders almost touching as they follow the narrow garden paths.

In the parlor the whist players have paused and were sipping sherry and nibbling on petite-fours. Jace was in a good mood, he and Priscilla must have won several hands and the two were chatting happily by the bar when Charlotte rejoined the party. She noted with amusement that Jace put a little more distance between himself and his pretty blonde whist partner when he noticed Charlotte step into the room.

Shortly after Charlotte and Easton’s return Colonel Touring, his face even ruddier than usual from heavy drinking, staggered into the parlor and ordered Easton to prepare the carriage for their return. Charlotte knew that her guests could and often did stay up late into the night playing cards, the men especially with their singing, drinking and gossiping but tonight she pleaded fatigue as a result of her recovery, and Priscilla and Beatrice followed her example.

Soon enough the three women said their goodnights and left for their respective chambers. Charlotte sat in her room while her maid Sarah brushed her hair wondering again if she had done the right thing in her private conversation with Lieutenant Easton. She was wrong to have kissed him as she had, but not entirely unhappy that she had; after years of being ignored by men she now had two men who wanted her as a woman, not just a heiress. Her contented smile then turned to a frown- why ever had she asked him to let her speak to Fuller? What did she have to say to that outlaw, and why did it have to be said in private?

When Sarah finished she sent her away and lay on her bed her mind racing.