*
It would not be accurate to say that they left the room immediately. Jane’s ostrich plumes needed to be reseated and Vincent required a fourth cravat. Nor would it be correct to say that all their good humour survived the walk to the dining hall.
Zachary waited in his livery, ready to serve, but was the room’s only other occupant. The table was set with places for four. Jane’s brow contracted. Lord Verbury had invited them to dine with him but had not mentioned a guest, and yet one was clearly expected.
As they waited, the squeak of Lord Verbury’s chair caused Vincent’s shoulders to set. He pressed Jane’s hand where it rested against his arm. Vincent dipped his head to murmur, “If Sir Ronald is our fourth, we shall take our leave.”
She lay her free hand on top of his and murmured. “I love you very much. If you should have … difficulty, look at me and remember that.”
He gave a sad smile. “Ah … I am not inscrutable after all. You know me too well for that.” He inhaled, and his posture transformed into that young man of fashion who was so foreign to her. The elegant, erect carriage, the easy grace of his stride, the expression of good breeding—all of them belonged to some other man.
That man inclined his head as Lord Verbury appeared in the door, pushed by Miss Sarah. Vincent’s voice was modulated and civil, without being coldly formal. “Good evening. Thank you for inviting us.”
“Thank you for accepting.” With an awkward twist, Lord Verbury waved his bad hand. “We have few options for dining in company these days.”
With a smile, Jane released Vincent’s arm. “Then let us hope that this is the first of many agreeable evenings.” She clasped her hands under her stomach in a pose that she had learned made her increasing figure even more apparent.
As she had hoped, Lord Verbury’s gaze was drawn there for a moment, though not so long as to be improper. He allowed a small smile to answer hers. “Let me perform the introductions, then. You have not had the opportunity to meet Sarah, who has been my preserver during this ordeal.”
“It is lovely to meet you.” Jane covered her surprise at the introduction and stepped forward to meet his mistress as a peer. It seemed that she was to be their fourth, though Jane could not imagine Lord Verbury inviting a mulatto to the table in London, slave or no. Even here, Lord Verbury had not granted her a surname or title, as though to make her position clear. Still, Jane resolved to use at least the style that she had heard from Louisa and call her “Miss Sarah.”
Jane had taken the opportunity offered by the ledgers to gather some information about Miss Sarah. She had borne Lord Verbury four children in addition to Frank and Zachary. Only three had survived childhood. The remaining child was a daughter, Milly, who served as an upper maid in the house. Lord Verbury had sired other children by other women, but not so many as Jane had at first thought.
Regardless of Miss Sarah’s official station as a slave, it was clear that Lord Verbury regarded her as something more by the very fact that he ate dinner with her. She lowered her head and curtsied to welcome them. Her elegance would grace any ball in London, even at her advanced years. “My lady is very gracious. His lordship has spoken of you often.” It was the first opportunity Jane had to hear her speak. Her voice had the broad vowels and soft consonants of an Antiguan, without any traces of an affected British accent. It was beautifully modulated and even that short speech flowed like a stream.
“Shall we sit and become better acquainted?” Vincent gestured to the table, which sparkled under a profusion of silver and crystal.
Zachary stepped forward to take Lord Verbury’s chair from Miss Sarah. As he wheeled it to the empty space at the head of the table, Vincent pulled out the chair at the foot of the table for Miss Sarah. Jane went to stand next to the chair at Lord Verbury’s right and waited for Zachary to assist her. Vincent sat opposite, and, in very short order, they were assembled.