Jane stood and moved to Vincent’s side. He rarely drank, and she could recall seeing him inebriated only once during their marriage. That he was asking for sherry was unprecedented in her memory. “Was it very bad?”
“He was civil, gentle in his manner, and contrite.” Vincent drummed his fingers on the back of the chair. “He sends his apologies, and actually confessed that he had detained me on purpose to give Sir Ronald time to examine you.” His grip tightened and Vincent broke off, turning his head a little away from her. After a moment, he cleared his throat. “He maintains that it was supposed to be an examination only, but acknowledges that even that was a breach. Jane … his behaviour confounds me.”
“But an apology is the most natural thing in the world, under the circumstances.”
“For anyone else, yes. I do not exaggerate when I say that I have never seen him apologise before. Let alone admit to a mistake. And—and, he wept.” Vincent turned fully and walked away from Jane. “God. It is…”
Frank’s quiet double knock sounded on the door.
Vincent wiped his hand across his face. “Enter.”
Carrying a decanter and three glasses, Frank slipped into the room. He shut the door behind himself and carried the decanter to the table. “Shall I pour?”
“Please. And sit, if you will. I have need of some advice.” Vincent pulled out a chair from the table. “Jane?”
She settled into the chair as Frank poured the amber liquid into small cut-crystal glasses. The scent of honeyed almonds and lemon rind filled the air almost like a glamour. Vincent took his glass and sat to Jane’s left, with the paper in front of him.
Frank hesitated only a moment before settling opposite him. He turned the glass and the crystal caught the candlelight. “I selected Manzanilla. The Oloroso had also been decanted, but I find it too cloying.”
Taking a sip, Jane nodded in appreciation. It reminded her of roasted nuts, figs, and caramel. “Lovely choice.”
Vincent picked up his glass but barely touched it to his lips before setting it down again. He looked at it, and then very deliberately pushed it aside. He sat forward, sliding the paper to the centre of the table. “My father gave me Zeus.”
“What!” Jane could not contain her astonishment and repugnance. She knew that Zeus was enslaved, of course she did, but to be given the young man, and by Lord Verbury, made her stomach churn.
“I praised Zeus’s steadiness of character and spoke of what a help he has been during our time here.” He rubbed his brow with both hands. “Before I understood his purpose, he had Miss Sarah pull out a deed and give it to me. It is dated prior to his supposed death, and I am to claim to have discovered it in his office as part of my inheritance.”
Frank had frozen with the glass of sherry in the air, his eyes wide. Swallowing, he set the glass down with care. “His handwriting has changed since the stroke. May I look at the deed?”
“Please.” Vincent waved his permission. “The implication was that there are other deeds for me to ‘find’ if we continue to stay here, though I do not hold much stock in that.”
Frank unfolded the paper and studied it. “Ah … this is my mother’s hand, which is a credible match.” He lowered the document. “You said you wanted advice.”
“On three points, yes. The first two are related.” He listed them on his fingers. “What is the best way to tell Zeus? And is freeing him advisable?”
Jane stared at Vincent in disbelief. “But of course we must free him. How could you consider keeping him a slave?”
“Because I need to make certain that it will not open Zeus to the same prospect of criminal charges that Frank faces if Pridmore exposes my father. As a slave, he is bound to obey, but as a freedman, the fact that he has been helping keep my father hidden could be a hanging offence.”
For the first time, it occurred to Jane that the same might be applied to them. “Are we liable as well?”
“Likely not, given my very public break with the family—though being here may complicate that somewhat. Still, my chief concern is what happens when Pridmore is fired. If he chooses to expose my father, then he will attempt to shift the blame to Frank. I think we can manage that, but do not want to unintentionally endanger Zeus. So the question is whether to free him before or after we take action.”
Frank placed the document back on the table. “Explain the circumstances and ask him what he prefers, but I will lay money on him choosing to be freed.”
“Even with the risk?” Jane asked.
“Better that than the risk that he might never be freed.” Frank shrugged. “Ask him. As for how to tell him, I would wait until the morning, so that when he gives you his answer, you can file the papers and pay the fee directly. You will need to go to St. John’s for that, so I will arrange the carriage with Jove.”
Vincent nodded. “We shall need to discuss a salary, if he chooses to stay on.”