CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE – FAMILY SCANDALS

Charlotte and Anya's plan was a desperate gamble, a high-wire act balanced precariously on the crumbling foundation of trust. They decided to leave a trail of breadcrumbs, a carefully crafted message hinting at Lady Lavinia's machinations, but ambiguous enough to avoid immediate suspicion. Charlotte, with trembling hands, snuck a note under the door of Lady Griffith's private study. It contained a veiled reference to "an outside influence" seeking to manipulate the family for personal gain. The note offered no names, but it planted a seed of doubt in Lady Griffith's mind, a seed that Anya hoped would blossom into awareness. The following days were an agonizing test of nerves. Lady Griffith's behavior displayed a subtle shift. Her interactions with Charlotte, though still formal, held a hint of newfound scrutiny. Meanwhile, Lady Lavinia, unaware of the potential threat, continued her attempts to manipulate Charlotte. One evening, Lady Lavinia summoned Charlotte to her chambers. Her s