“Do you expect significant differences?”
She gave a little shrug. “I am not certain. We were hindered by vocabulary and my inability to see or show folds. I am hoping that this approach will also allow us to build a shared vocabulary of technique. Then I shall be better able to document more advanced theories.”
“Perhaps…” Vincent rubbed his chin, thinking. “Shall I be there at the next meeting? I can watch what she is doing and exhibit the European folds in your stead.”
“Thank you, but you already have more than enough responsibilities.” In truth, she would very much have liked to have him there, but she was not certain if Louisa would be entirely comfortable with him present. In spite of Jane’s own discomfort, she wanted to make amends with the maid. Her actions when Jane and Vincent were attempting escape made Jane feel that she had mistaken the young woman’s loyalties. “I thought to ask Louisa if she worked glamour. Even a little would be sufficient for the initial work.”
“Louisa? Truly?” Vincent raised his brows.
“Yes, of course.” A sudden concern struck Jane, and she was ashamed that she had not thought of it sooner. She had been exhausted, but that was little excuse. “She has not been sent back to the fields, has she?”
“No. No. The doctor said that you were not to be agitated, so I thought it best to avoid any possible upset.”
“I want it to be clear between us that my health is not a permanent condition.” Jane had no intention of becoming her mother, prone to palpitations at the slightest provocation. “Are you certain that Louisa is well? You saw the look that your father gave her when he realised she had known about my condition and said nothing.”
“I will ask Frank and will report back on her health.”
Jane narrowed her eyes at him. “Or … you might simply tell him that I am in need of a lady’s maid again, and then I can see her for myself.”
“I will now remind you of what Frank said about her. And she did report to my father that we left.”
“Well, we told her to do as much.” Jane rubbed her forehead and sighed. “I thought about it a great deal. Given that I suspected her of reporting to Lord Verbury the entire time she was serving me, the fact that I now know she is doing so changes nothing. What has changed is that I no longer have anything to hide.”
Vincent rubbed the back of his neck, frowning at the ground. “I do not like it.”
“Vincent, you cannot stay with me all the time. I shall need someone to run errands, and she is accustomed to my ways.”
“Is she? Perhaps I might ask her for some advice…”
“Rogue.” If Jane could have thrown a pillow at him, she would have. “Insufferable rogue.”
“Inscrutable.” He leaned forward and kissed her. “And you are my Muse.”
Seventeen
To Write a Book
Louisa entered Jane’s room with her customary knock and curtsy. Jane sat up in bed as much as she could. “How are you, Louisa?”
“I am well, madam.” Her gaze was cast down in its usual pose, as though nothing untoward had occurred between them.
“I am very sorry about the way we treated you last week. If you can, please accept my apology.”
“Of course, madam.”
Perversely, Jane would have felt better if Louisa had shown some trace of anger or resentment. She would have trusted those as being true responses to the mistreatment the young woman had suffered at their hands. This tranquil countenance seemed too smooth to be honest. “Thank you for not telling Lord Verbury that I was with child.” She smoothed the counterpane, which belled over her middle in ways that left her condition in no doubt. “Was he angry that you did not?”
“No, madam. I told him that I thought you were only stout.”
“And is that what you thought?”
“I would never say so, madam.”
Jane sighed and rubbed her forehead. Perhaps Vincent was correct about avoiding fuss. It was clear that Louisa had inherited the Hamilton tendency to keep her true feelings well hidden, and now that Jane knew about it, she could not help being bothered by it.
*
Given a choice, Jane would be planning their removal to Jamaica, or even St. John’s, but right now she was doing well to simply walk from her bedroom to the blue parlour. She sat at the round table in the middle of the parlour with her papers spread in front of her. Voices at the main entry caught her attention, and she lifted her head from the pages.
She had sent Zeus to see if Nkiruka was willing to come to the great house today. He had been so eager and thankful for being asked that Jane had nearly wept. She did not want him to feel guilt for whom he served or what he had been made to do and was glad for evidence that he did not. Still, such an embarrassing display would have confused him, so she was grateful that she had been able to contain the outburst.