The meticulous negotiations lasted nearly two hours. In the end, everything was settled: Rochefort Manor would secretly provide Governor Boles with the urgently needed grain and funds in two batches.
The first batch would be transported tonight after nightfall, escorted by the manor's most reliable guards. They would take hidden paths and deliver it directly to the secret rendezvous point designated by Boles outside Herwenham.
The second batch would arrive at the same time tomorrow night. This was to avoid exposing their cooperation too early, to prevent hostile forces with sinister motives from making trouble—or even taking desperate risks to intercept it.
Governor Boles left his trusted aide behind to continue finalizing the loan contract, the inventory of supplies, and the last details of the handover with the manor butler, Mr. Herman.
As for Boles himself, after once again solemnly thanking Charlotte, he took his leave in haste, carrying excitement he could hardly suppress and an even heavier sense of responsibility, and returned to Herwenham to prepare for the reception. He had to ensure that this life-saving money and grain reached them without the slightest mishap.
Charlotte saw Boles to the entrance of the main building, but did not escort him any farther.
Alone, she slowly went up to the broad stone balcony on the second floor, the one facing the manor entrance.
The early autumn afternoon sunlight was warm and bright, spilling over the finely carved stone railing and drawing out her slender shadow until it stretched long across the ground.
She stood by the railing, her gaze following Count Boles's unremarkable carriage as, surrounded by guards, it moved farther and farther down the tree-lined avenue, until it finally vanished around the corner by the manor gates. Only the faint sound of wheels rolling over the road remained, and