“What can Lord Verbury do, confined to his rooms as he is?”
Frank and Vincent shared a look as though they had carried on this very discussion already. Frank said, “He has Mr. Pridmore and Sir Ronald to help him. One controls the slaves on the estate, the other has the support of the navy. Between the two of them, they would have no difficulties stopping any of us.”
Jane shook her head. “He cannot have all the officers. You said that there were forty British forts surrounding Antigua.”
“But imagine what happens if you march up to an officer, say that Lord Verbury is still alive, demand his arrest, and then it turns out to be an officer he owns.”
Frowning, Vincent rubbed his hair into a mess. “Even if he went to prison, my father would still have the ability to make decisions for the estate while the treason charges were impending. It would tie up the estate, because Richard would no longer be the earl, which would effectually remove what authority I have.”
“Yes. It is one of the many complications—” The carriage slowed to a stop in the middle of the orange grove. “Ah. Here we are.”
Vincent peered out the window and frowned. “The glamour has been untied.”
Jane pushed herself up a little so she could see past him to where they had left Louisa. She could not tell if the glamour was present or not, but she could see the untied ropes on the ground. Louisa was gone.
Frank sighed heavily. “Well … I think we can safely assume that Lord Verbury knows you are attempting to leave the island, and likely that you are with child.”
Jane said, “We told her she would be safest if she gave him some information about our plans.”
“True.” He straightened the cuffs of his shirt. “Though she would have told him regardless. Louisa, I am afraid, is not entirely faithworthy.”
“But she is your daughter.”
“And Mr. Hamilton is Lord Verbury’s son.” Frank gave a thin smile. “I love my daughter, but she and I do not have an easy relationship. I am required to be a figure of authority both at home and at work, while Lord Verbury has always been kind to her.”
“I do not call it kind to threaten to give her to Mr. Pridmore.”
“She does not know that Lord Verbury has so threatened. Telling her would frighten her without helping her in any way. I cannot do that.” Frank spread his hands and looked inexpressibly sad. “You should know … you should know that when she was sixteen, Pridmore was … paying her attentions. I could not do anything. Lord Verbury made him stop. Louisa … did not understand the difference between ‘could not’ and ‘would not,’ and has resented me since then. And his lordship … well, she has been a useful instrument for him ever since.”
Fifteen
A Choice of Doctors
It took such a short time to drive back to the great house that Jane realised exactly how little ground they had covered in their walk. Far from being a four-hour walk, it likely would have taken them six to reach St. John’s at the pace she could manage. Assuming she had not overheated, of course. As the carriage rolled to a stop, Louisa came out the front door and stood at the top of the stairs. She wore a different dress than she had earlier, but seemed none the worse for wear from her brief imprisonment. That gave Jane a measure of relief. She had worried about the young woman.
Jane tucked her fichu back into place around her neck. “If I may take your arm, Vincent, I should be able to walk into the house. I would prefer not to be carried.”
“If you should feel faint—”
“I will tell you.”
After he handed her down from the carriage, Vincent kept her hand upon his arm, and walked very slowly. Though Jane dearly wished to insist that she was well, he had correctly judged the pace.
Ahead of them, Frank climbed the stairs two at a time. “Louisa, tell Cook to send an ice to Mrs. Hamilton’s room, and—”
“Lord Verbury has sent me to invite Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton to take tea with him.”
Frank stopped, halfway up the stairs. It was difficult to tell if he were more surprised that she had interrupted him, or by the message. “Please tell his lordship that Mrs. Hamilton is not well.” He glanced back at Vincent.
Vincent’s arm tightened under Jane’s hand. “I will attend him after I see Mrs. Hamilton settled in our room.”
“He was most particular.” Louisa waited, her chin tilted up.
Another day, Jane would have been willing to face him, but it was all she could do to climb the stairs with Vincent supporting her. It was not a question of keeping her secret any longer, but simply of remaining upright. “I must send my apologies. I truly am unwell.”