Chapter 16 #2
“Jeffrey went to deliver your message, but found she’d left for Briercliff. I’ve dispatched a messenger to her.”
“I see,” Jonathan said as he ducked back through the door to hell.
So she ran away again. Would he ever learn?
Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief upon finally seeing Briercliff again. The carriage came to a stop, and she and Tiffany waited for a footman to help them down. As she started up the steps of the castle, Elizabeth took a deep breath. Even the air was fresher here than in London.
Giles opened the front door, and Elizabeth actually surprised him with a hug. “It’s good to be home,” she said happily.
“And happy we are to have you home, Lady Elizabeth,” Giles said, his face a bright red. “I wager you’d like to see Master Dawson?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“He is in the garden with Annie.”
“Come on, Tiffany. Let me introduce you to my son.” Elizabeth couldn’t wait to hug Dawson.
As they hurried through the house, Tiffany said, “Briercliff is even bigger and prettier than I remember.”
“It is special. I have so many fond memories of growing up here,” Elizabeth said as she reached for the French doors which led to the terrace.
“How large is Briercliff?”
“Let me see,” Elizabeth said and paused to count to herself. “There are thirty-four rooms, two three-bedroom cottages, and two fish ponds.”
‘‘It’s definitely not a modest estate. I think ‘castle’ best describes the place.” Tiffany laughed.
“I think so, too. Especially in winter, when it is very cold,” Elizabeth said as they descended the slate steps.
The back lawn stretched out before them.
The lawns were terraced, each level leading to another.
She caught a glimpse of Annie’s head on the second level, and Elizabeth knew that Annie was working in her favorite flowerbed.
“Annie,” Elizabeth called, so she wouldn’t startle the woman.
A small, brown-haired boy peeked around Annie. “Mummy,” Dawson yelled as he ran toward her, his arms wide open.
Elizabeth scooped her son up in her arms and twirled him around. “I’ve missed you so much, pumpkin.” She hugged him tight, then placed kisses on his cheek.
Dawson leaned back and said, “Look.” He handed her a slightly crumpled jonquil, crushed in his chubby hand.
“This is for me?” Elizabeth asked.
Dawson nodded and grinned. “I grew it myself. Annie said it was the bulb I planted last year.” Dawson finally noticed Tiffany and frowned as if he were trying to remember if he’d seen her before. “Who’s that?” He pointed.
Elizabeth placed Dawson on her right hip so they could face Tiffany. “This is Lady Tiffany. She and I used to play together when we were your age.”
“My name is Dawson.”
Tiffany smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, young man.”
“You’re pretty,” Dawson told her as he squirmed to get down.
“You are home a bit early,” Annie said as she laid the trowel down and brushed the dirt off her hands.
“I missed my son,” Elizabeth said a little too quickly.
Annie stood and peered at Elizabeth with that knowing look. “Of that, I’ve no doubt, but I think you’re not tellin’ me all there is to tell.”
“We’ll speak of it later,” Elizabeth said in a low voice. Then louder, she asked, “You remember Tiffany?”
Tiffany had bent down to talk to Dawson, but she straightened at the mention of her name.
“Aye.” Annie hugged Tiffany. “Ye’ve grown into a lovely young woman, and I see ye are expectin’ a wee one of yer own.”
“Yes, in about five months.” Tiffany smiled.
Dawson pulled on Tiffany’s hand. “Come on,” he said. Tiffany followed him back to the flowerbed.
Annie watched Elizabeth with a speculative glare. “Ye’ve seen Jonathan, haven’t ye?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“I dinna think he was comin’ home.”
Elizabeth shrugged, trying not to meet Annie’s knowing eyes. “Neither did I.”
“Did ye tell him?”
Elizabeth shook her head, unable to find the words to tell Annie how she felt. “Ye see how miserable yer feelin’?”
“Miserable would be a good word to describe my emotions,” Elizabeth said, understanding the obvious.
“The longer ye wait the harder it will be.”
“I know, Annie.” Elizabeth sighed and looked at her. “I’ve already heard this lecture from Tiffany. And I’m going to tell him. I promise.” I just don’t know how, she didn’t say out loud.
Annie nodded her approval. “Good.”
Dawson brought Tiffany back, pulling on her hand. He had picked her a flower, too.
“I like her,” Dawson said as he looked up at Tiffany and grinned. “She said she’d play with me.
“Good. I hope you are going to be good friends, and when Tiffany has her baby you will have someone else to play with.”
Dawson screwed his face into a frown. “Are you going to have the baby tomorrow?” Dawson asked Tiffany, seriously.
Tiffany laughed. “Good Lord, I hope not. No, Dawson, it will be a little while. In the meantime, you can play with me.”
“Come on, let’s go,” Dawson said as he ran toward the house and motioned for the rest to follow.
The next morning, Giles came to Elizabeth as she was eating breakfast. “A rider has arrived with a message for you, mum. He’s in the foyer.” Elizabeth pushed back her chair and stood. She suspected it was a message from Jonathan ordering her to return to London at once. It would be just like him.
“Do you suppose ... ?” Tiffany was thinking the same question that Elizabeth had on her mind.
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out in a few moments,” Elizabeth said, then left the room. She went straight to the foyer, her heels clicking on the floor. A young boy stood by the door, shoulders slumped as if he’d been riding all night.
When the messenger saw Elizabeth, he straightened and handed her the note. She immediately opened the letter and scanned the contents. Her heart plummeted to her toes. She had expected a letter from Jonathan demanding that she return to London, but not this.
She looked at the messenger, who couldn’t be more than sixteen, and said, “Wait a moment, and I’ll send a reply.”
He nodded. “Yes, mum.”
Elizabeth walked briskly to Adam’s study, picked up a quill, and penned a note back to Jonathan’s father. Returning to the foyer, she handed the boy her note. “Please make certain Lord Middlesex gets this note.”
“Yes, my lady.” He nodded.
Elizabeth looked at Giles. “Please have the kitchen prepare something for this lad to eat before his return journey.”
She watched them leave, then went back to the breakfast room where she sank into her chair. Her legs had done well to support her for as long as they had.
“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Tiffany said as she patted her lips with a linen napkin.
“I’ve just received terrible news,” Elizabeth said, then looked at the empty chair. “Where is Dawson?”
“Annie took him to the nursery. She should—”
Just then the door opened and Annie swept in. “That wee one is full of energy today.” She looked at Elizabeth and immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I just received a message from Lord Middlesex. They have arrested Jonathan for treason!”
“Oh, my God!” Tiffany said.
“Saints above!” Annie said at the same time.
“I can’t believe it, either,” Elizabeth said, wringing her hands. “It must have happened shortly after I left. Jonathan wants me to send Derek to get Adam. Can you get him quickly?”
“Aye,” Annie nodded. “Derek is in St Ives. But ’twill take him too long to reach Adam in America.”
“I know,” Elizabeth said. “But we can’t just sit here and do nothing.
I know Jonathan will have to appear before the Assize judge, and the judge usually comes in the summer months.
That will buy us some time.” Elizabeth’s thoughts churned.
“I’m sure the marquess has hired the best barristers. I don’t know what else to do.”
Annie shook her head. “I’ll go and get Derek right away. In the meantime, lass, ye better be doin’ a lot of prayin’. ’Twill take a miracle to get him out of this one.”