“When you tell him?”
“Yes. It does not seem as if he would hear it from you. I am an unexpected quarter. Also, I am carrying his heir.” Jane pushed herself up from the chair, feeling her fatigue in the swelling at her ankles. “If Vincent returns before I am finished, please attempt to guide him away from the room. I imagine he will be out of humour and … meeting his father in that state never ends well.”
“I will ask Zachary to catch him.” Frank inclined his head with a small smile. “But I think that Vincent will not forgive me if I allow you to go alone. I will be in the coldmonger’s box in the wall, in case you need … assistance.”
“Thank you.” Knowing that he would be there relieved her of a fear that she had not recognised until it lifted.
*
Jane found Louisa cutting bandages in the sickroom. “May I pull you away?”
“Of course, madam.” On Louisa, the fatigue they all felt had made her youth more apparent. She was so steady that it was often easy to forget she was only nineteen.
“Thank you. I need to inform his lordship of our arrangements and would like you present to remind me if I forget anything.”
“Certainly.” Louisa turned and picked up a writing book from the table. “I have the list here.”
“You are a wonder of efficacy.” Jane did not have to strain to think of compliments. She truly did not know how they would have made it through the day without the young woman’s efforts.
Louisa followed her through the house to Lord Verbury’s room. Jane had made only the smallest effort to tidy her appearance. The unexpectedly useful thing about wearing mourning clothes was that none of the stains from the day showed. Miss Sarah opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise to find Jane there. Jane was able to keep her own countenance calm.
“Could his lordship spare time for conversation?”
“One moment, please.” Miss Sarah made as if to step away and shut the door, but something caused her to look suddenly to her right and open the door further. “Come in, please.”
Aside from the first day in Antigua, two months prior, Jane had not been in Lord Verbury’s room. It had made little impression on her beyond his presence. She had thought that he was perhaps confined to one room, but the gracious sitting room she found herself in had three doors off of it. Through one of them, she could see a library. The sitting room itself was done in a soothing green, with elegant furniture in the Egyptian revival style. The most notable thing about the rooms was the space between the items of furniture and the distinct want of rugs. Lord Verbury sat in his wheeled chair, making those features of the room instantly understandable.
Louisa followed Jane into the room and took a place by the door, her eyes cast down. In her role as the perfect lady’s maid, she stood so still that she became part of the furniture.
Lord Verbury did not acknowledge Louisa and barely recognized Jane’s presence. His face was serene, without the suspicion she had expected to encounter. On the other hand, Jane knew better than to take anything of his appearance at face value. Lord Verbury sat back in his chair. “I will admit this is a surprise.”
“To me as well.” Jane offered a curtsy, though he had neglected his own courtesies. “I hope I find you well.”
“I very much doubt that you do.”
Jane disregarded the cut the way she disregarded her mother’s petulance and smiled instead. “May I ask for a few moments of your time?”
He considered her, then raised one finger on his good hand and waved it. Miss Sarah instantly left the sitting room with speed and grace. Jane watched her go, using the movement as an excuse to look at the walls of the room, wondering where Frank was standing.
When the door shut behind them, Lord Verbury beckoned to Jane. “Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you.” Her heart was beating wildly, but Jane hoped that little of her agitation showed. She settled on the sofa opposite him, judging that that would be the easiest vantage for him to see her without rearranging his chair.
“Delighted though I am to have your company, I must wonder why are you here, and not my son.”
Jane folded her hands in front of her, knowing that it emphasised her stomach. “My husband has many wonderful features, but his temper is not one of them. I am hoping that you and I will be able to discuss a few things without unnecessary rancour.”
“And do you plan to tell me what those things are, or keep me guessing?”
“If I have satisfied your questions about why I am here and not Vincent, then yes.” She was vexed at herself for rising even that much to his provocation. “Shall I continue?”