Charlotte had been feeling very anxious these past few days. Although plenty had happened, nothing much had changed in her life—she still felt concerned about Lizzy's attacker and wanted to find out more about the incident, but as a woman, her options and resources were limited. She thought that Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy might be able to do something with the clues she had gathered, with their wealth and connections.

But it wasn't just that which bothered Charlotte; recently their mother's maid had stolen a considerable sum of money and some family heirlooms before going missing. The theft caused tension in the entire household. Their family wasn't particularly wealthy, and the heirlooms were expensive, so it left a lasting effect on everyone.

The stolen money was intended for Louise's upcoming nuptials, but now they had to be delayed until another date. Both Mr. Glouding and Louise were quite upset about this delay; Louise was constantly crying and blaming their mother for employing the maid, which was too much for Charlotte's ears. Charlotte would have suggested a simple wedding to Louise, but she knew that would result in Louise mocking her again. Louise wanted to showcase her success with something ostentatious.

Charlotte and Louise were never close, having spent much of their time together avoiding each other as much as they could. This was in part due to the fact that most conversations between them ended up with Louise speaking hurtful words, all while their mother, Lady Lucas, supported her.

Though Charlotte wasn't innocent either, she couldn't help but take some twisted pleasure in seeing her mother suffer under Louise's glare. It was wrong to hold a grudge against her family and to be glad at their misfortune, yet it seemed fair considering what she had to endure for years. However, the sight of her brother John's saddened state did bring Charlotte guilt; she knew how excited he was to give one of the family heirlooms to his beloved.

When Louise's crying became too unbearable, Charlotte attempted to console her. "Louise, I understand this is a tough time for you; your wedding is only delayed, not canceled. If you weren't so set on having a big ceremony, we could still make the arrangements for a small wedding on the same date."

Louise dried her tears and rolled her eyes at Charlotte with her usual contempt. "Please stay out of it, Charlotte," she said. "The last thing I need is advice from someone who is unlikely ever to experience a wedding themselves."

Charlotte took a deep breath, trying to ignore the jab at her own marital status. "I understand your frustration, Louise, but I am merely suggesting an alternative solution. We can still have a small ceremony and postpone the larger celebration for a future date when we can afford it."

Louise scowled. "I don't want a small wedding, Charlotte. I want everyone to know that I am marrying a wealthy gentleman, and I want it to be grand. Why can't you understand that?"

Charlotte knew that the real reason Louise wanted a large wedding was to show off her own success, but she decided against pointing that out. Instead, she tried to reason with her sister tactfully. "I understand your desire for a big wedding, but we must also consider the financial situation of our family. We have already lost a substantial amount of money due to the maid's theft. It would be wise to be frugal and not put ourselves in debt just for one day of celebration."

Louise huffed, "Well, if you're so concerned about the family's finances, maybe you should get married and bring in some money for once."

Charlotte felt a pang of hurt at her sister's words. She knew that marriage was not just about money, but Louise had always been fixated on the idea of marrying into wealth. "I will marry when I find the right person, Louise," she said.

Louise scoffed, "Please, Charlotte. Life isn't a fairytale. You'll never find someone who would want you with those looks."

Charlotte felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let Louise see her weakness. "I don't need your approval, Louise. I know my own worth. And besides, I have more important things to worry about at the moment than finding a suitor."

Louise rolled her eyes again and pointed her finger toward Charlotte. "Suit yourself, Charlotte," she said. "But don't come crying when you're old and alone."

Charlotte inhaled deeply, trying to calm her turbulent emotions. Arguing with Louise was futile and would only make matters worse. However, as she opened her eyes, something on her sister's hand caught her attention. An emerald ring set in the middle of a flame-shaped design sparkled back at her. Charlotte hadn't paid much attention to any of Louise's possessions before, but suddenly it seemed familiar.

"From where did you get that ring?"

Louise was annoyed by the sudden shift in conversation, yet thrilled for the opportunity to flaunt her new jewelry in front of Charlotte. Smiling egotistically, she replied, "What, you didn't notice? It seems like you're getting forgetful in your old age. Mr. Glouding gave this to me." Presenting her hand closer to Charlotte, she continued, "Isn't it beautiful? And expensive too." Batting her eyelashes coyly, Louise added, "I can't wait to show it off at our next social event."

But Charlotte wasn't admiring the gem for its beauty; instead, she was fixated on the name connected to it. "Mr. Glouding..." she murmured.