No. No, that was not what the looks of concern were. How stupidly self-centred of her. Some of them had friends or family who worked at the distillery.
Jane gathered her gown and began the process of raising her gravid form off the floor. When Louisa appeared to help her to her feet, Jane was deeply grateful. Standing, she faced the women and young men in the room. “If any of you have nursing skills, I would be most obliged if you could go to the great house at our estate. We will be sending the wounded there. Likewise, if you have family there…”
Nkiruka stepped forward from where she had been working. “You go with him. We’ll take care of the house.”
“Thank you. I will send a message to Frank to let him know you are coming.” Jane hurried across the floor to catch up with Vincent.
He had become steadier but was still clearly using Zachary for support. As Jane caught up with them, Louisa turned and darted across the room. Jane spared her a glance, but Vincent occupied most of her attention.
His eyes were squinted nearly shut with concentration. “Jane, I do not want you to come.”
“I will make a note of that, but you are mistaken if you think I will remain behind.”
“I do not think you understand how bad this will be.”
“That is not a reason for me to stay when I might be of some use.”
“Jane—”
“Besides, unless I miss my guess, you will be occupied with Mr. Pridmore. I can direct the care of the wounded.” Jane tightened her mouth. “When you can stand unassisted, then you may argue with me.”
“I will not.” They arrived at the carriage. Vincent transferred his grip from Zachary to the carriage door. “Thank you.”
“Good.” Jane turned from Vincent as Louisa ran up to join them, a bundle of cloth in her hands. “Please go to the great house. Mrs. Whitten will give you the use of her carriage if you explain the situation. Ask your father to arrange for the spare rooms to be used for the wounded—”
Zachary interrupted her. “He is at the distillery, trying to see to the wounded there.”
“I will see to it, madam.” Louisa held out a bundle for Jane, which she took mechanically before recognising it as Vincent’s coat and her bonnet. The young woman turned to Nkiruka. “May I ask for your assistance? You have more experience nursing than I do.”
“Sure, sure.”
“Thank you. My father has some bandages prepared, but we shall need more.”
Jane said, “Sacrifice the sheets if there is no other clean linen.”
“Yes, madam. I will arrange the carriage.” The young maid did not wait to be thanked or dismissed, just hurried back into the Whittens’ great house.
Jane spied Zachary’s lathered horse tied outside the ballroom. She turned to the young man, pulling on her bonnet as she did. “Zachary. Please go fetch Dr. Jones at once and ask her to meet us at the great house.” Over a dozen wounded, he had said. That would be an enormous undertaking for just one doctor, even with the help of the women here. She swallowed. “Please also fetch Sir Ronald.”
Vincent turned with alarm and had to fling out an arm to steady himself against the carriage. “You cannot be serious.”
“With the number of wounded? Yes.” Serious, if still uneasy at the prospect of being anywhere near the man. “He is a competent doctor, and Dr. Jones will need the help.”
“I cannot call a man who nearly killed you competent.”
“Nearly, but not quite. Given everything, you cannot still believe your father’s claim that what Sir Ronald did was not calculated?” Jane wiped her hands on her gown, trying to brush some of her fury away. “I am sorry. My anger is not directed at you.”
“I know. God … I know that feeling well enough.” Vincent nodded to Zachary. “Do as she says. And during this, if we disagree, trust her over me. My judgement may be clouded.”
*
Jove guided the carriage down the winding road at the quickest pace that was safe. During the first part of the ride, Vincent sat with his eyes closed and his hands clenched into fists upon his thighs. Watching him, Jane wet her lips. “Nausea?”
“Yes.” After a few moments, he added, “It is the motion, not the … the other.”
She had wondered if his nervous condition would be a concern, since she felt sick with anger at Mr. Pridmore and she would not be the one confronting the man. “Try watching the horizon. It helped during my seasickness.”
“There are only horses in front of us.”
“Ahead and to the right.” She glanced over her shoulder at the view across the cane fields. “You can see the horizon.”