On the other hand, Charlotte was quite confused with her investigation, so she asked a few of her servants to discreetly inquire about the suspicious knife at local blacksmiths.
The footman at Lucas Lodge, Mr. Hayes, informed her that he had connections with some pickpockets who could perform this task for her in exchange for a couple of shillings and food.
Charlotte first wondered how their footman could have come to know people involved in such activities, but later decided not to delve any deeper into the matter.
Charlotte agreed, and after much searching, the pickpockets found a blacksmith who told them that six months ago two men had come to commission knives with peculiar symbols etched into them.
Charlotte then approached the blacksmith and gave him the false name Miss Rosaline Knight, and requested a machete with similar symbols on it. As they talked, he mentioned the two men who commissioned the knives and Charlotte questioned him about their appearances, taking note of every detail.
She still felt something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. She kept getting flashes of an attacker's left hand, as if something obvious was slipping her mind.
Once the festivities of the Meryton assembly had ended for the night, Charlotte caught her brother John sneaking away to meet with Kitty Bennet. The look of love between them warmed Charlotte's heart, and as she watched from afar, a carriage passed by with a woman's scream coming from inside it. She could see the edge of a skirt peeking out through the closed door.
Charlotte ran toward the carriage as quickly as she could, hoping it wasn't too late to save whoever was inside. As she got closer, she saw that the carriage resembled one she had seen the night before, when a scoundrel had attempted to abduct Lizzy.
She knew she couldn't keep pace with it on foot, so she watched from a distance as the carriage moved. She noticed symbols similar to those on the knife etched onto its side. Keeping hidden behind some shrubbery, she watched as it reversed direction and headed away from Meryton. Charlotte was alone and couldn't help whoever was in the carriage, but realized the abductors were taking their victims to the woods instead of town.
As Charlotte headed back home, she began to hatch a plan. She considered talking to Kitty and getting her to draw pictures of the two men who had purchased the knife from the blacksmith. She realized Kitty would be more likely to help due to her artistic inclinations and her fondness for John.
In addition, Charlotte needed assistance tracking down the carriage, but she didn't want to put any of her servants in danger by sending them alone.
Just then, Mrs. Pierce, Charlotte's housekeeper, informed her that Miss Lydia Bennet had come to visit.
