Chapter 17
Leaning her elbows on the table, Elizabeth rested her chin in her hand. “I don’t know what to do,” she said smoothly, trying not to frown. She realized she’d been saying the same thing over and over again for the last week, and she was still no closer to the answer.
For a moment, Tiffany studied her intently. “I think you need to go and speak to Jonathan. You’ll not be satisfied until you do. Perhaps his father can tell you what has transpired. I’m not sure he can, but at least you might find out something.”
“You’re right.” Elizabeth bit her lip and thought about what Tiffany had suggested. “It’s not as if Derek is going to come marching through the door with Adam. He’s been gone only a week,” Elizabeth reasoned, then looked at her friend. “What about you? Do you want to go with me?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay with Dawson,” Tiffany said, pausing to lean back in the chair.
She folded her hands across her lap. “I consider it good experience for the future.” She patted her stomach.
“Remember, I had no brothers and sisters and haven’t been around babies all that much.
I do know that I want to raise my own children and not leave them with a governess unless it’s necessary. ”
“The way Dawson has taken to you, I think you’ll be a wonderful mother.” Elizabeth smiled. “I must admit I’ll feel better with you staying here with him. Even with Annie here, I feel guilty about leaving him so much. I don’t think I can ever repay you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Rubbish!” Tiffany flipped her hand in a dismissive gesture. “You would do the same for me. I just want to see you and Jonathan happy. I must admit,” she added with a sigh, “I never imagined a crisis such as this would arise. But things will work out.”
“I hope you’re right. I’ll go to London and find out what is happening, then return in a few days.” Elizabeth rose to leave.
“Take your time,” Tiffany said, then as an afterthought added, “Remember, Jonathan might be angry and lash out at you.”
“I’ve thought of that,” Elizabeth said as she left the room. At least if he is angry, it is preferable to indifference. His anger shows that I might continue to hold hope for reconciliation, she thought.
Elizabeth knocked on the front door of Jonathan’s town house and waited.
“May I help you?” Jeffrey said, without looking to see the visitor’s identity.
“It’s Elizabeth.” She was glad to see he wore his monocle, but it didn’t help when he was looking over her head. “Jeffrey, I’d like to see Lord Middlesex.”
“Come in, Lady Elizabeth. I’m so sorry, but things have been in such a turmoil, my mind has been on other things.” Jeffrey swept his arm toward the interior, motioning for her to enter. “He’ll be so glad to see you. I believe he is still in his study.”
“Study?” Elizabeth couldn’t believe she’d heard the butler correctly. She’d expected to find him in bed as before. “I thought the marquess couldn’t get out of bed.”
“So did we all.’’ Jeffrey chuckled. “So did we all. However, upon receiving word of the trouble with Lord Jonathan, the marquess has become a changed man. The energy seems to have knocked ten years off his age.”
“They say that some good comes out of every situation,” Elizabeth said as Jeffrey left her at the study door.
Elizabeth strolled into the room where the marquess was working. Immediately, he looked up from behind the large English oak desk. Upon seeing her, he smiled, then frowned.
“It is nice to see you out of bed,” Elizabeth said.
“Who the hell can stay in bed when my son is in prison?” he barked.
Elizabeth smiled at his gruff manner. She leaned over and gave him a hug before taking her seat in front of the desk. She’d always liked his straightforward personality. “I couldn’t believe the news when I heard. What can we do?”
“I wish to hell I knew.” The marquess ripped out the words impatiently, shoving a stack of papers aside. “My barrister tells me it’s serious. It seems someone has come forth and testified that he saw Jonathan siding with the Americans.”
Elizabeth turned the news over in her mind. “We have no idea who this person is?”
The marquess shook his head. His eyes met hers. “None.”
Elizabeth masked her inner turmoil with deceptive calmness while she thought for a minute.
She was more shaken than she cared to admit.
“Jonathan was shot by the British when he rode across the field, so he couldn’t possibly have fought with the Americans.
I can testify to that, because I saw him in the hospital. ”
The marquess raised his brow. “But the question will come up as to what he was doing there.”
“Checking on his holdings,” Elizabeth quickly said.
“Just like my brother. We have land in America, the same as we have land here. However, we are still British subjects.” She couldn’t tell Lord Middlesex the whole truth, because then Adam would be tried for treason as well.
Besides, the marquess would never understand anyone fighting against the British.
“I don’t know,” he said reluctantly. He clenched his mouth tighter and laid the quill down. “Anything is worth a try. But first we must find out the identity of the witness.”
Elizabeth nodded in agreement. “I have sent for Adam. But I don’t know how long it will take him to get here.”
The marquess looked at her for a long moment, his eyes as blue as Jonathan’s, only very tired. “I’ve heard rumblings that they might hold court soon.” He shook his head. “And that is not good. If they find Jonathan guilty, they will hang him, three days hence.”
Elizabeth gasped and gripped the chair’s arms. “We’ve got to do something. We can’t let this happen!” She didn’t know what to do, then a thought crossed her mind and she asked, “May I visit him?”
“Prison isn’t any place for a lady, but you can visit him with the proper bribes.
” The marquess rubbed his chin. “Come to think of it, a visit from you will probably do Jonathan some good. He has asked for you. God only knows how he’s holding up, being caged like an animal.
” Lord Middlesex slapped the desktop. “I can’t believe they would not release my son on bail to me. They have some gall!”
Elizabeth stood, straightened her shoulders, and cleared her throat. “I’m going to see him immediately.”
“Take Ralph with you. He is the young chap that delivered the message to Briercliff. I’ll not have you going about London on your own. Ralph isn’t much protection, but he will watch over you.”
Elizabeth kissed Lord Middlesex on the cheek. “Thank you,” she said. “We’ll work something out. All will turn out right in the end.”
As she turned to leave, she could only hope that statement was true!
Newgate Prison looked cold and grim. Elizabeth shivered slightly as she and Ralph crossed the cobblestone street to the entrance. She didn’t like the thought of Jonathan being in the place at all, much less one hour longer than he had to be.
“What ye here for?” a turnkey asked as soon as they crossed through the front gate.
Elizabeth looked at the tall, thin man. His coat was wrinkled and his hair wasn’t combed. He looked more like a prisoner than a guard. “We are here to see the Earl of Longdale,” Elizabeth informed him.
“That won’t be possible,” he said and turned to walk away.
“Perhaps ten shillings would change your mind?”
He turned back around and grinned. “Well, seeing as yer a nice lady and all.” He held out his hand. “Maybe I can arrange something.”
He shuffled over to a podium where a large black book was kept.
Opening the book, he peered down at the list. “Let me see.” He scanned the list with a scrawny finger, and finally heaved a sigh.
“I got him. He’s in the Press Yard.” The man looked at Elizabeth and added, “It’s where we keep the condemned prisoners. ”
“Condemned?” Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Jonathan hasn’t been tried yet.”
The turnkey closed the book with a solid thud. “Well, Ye Ladyship, ’round here ye have to prove yer innocence. Maybe I should have said it’s where we keep the prisoners waitin’ for reprieves.” He grinned, thinking he’d made a joke and turned.
“My name’s Stanley, Yer Ladyship. I’ll take ye to him. Follow me.”
Elizabeth and Ralph waited for Stanley to get a lantern. He took off the globe and turned up the wick before lighting and replacing the glass. It seemed to take forever. Finally, he gestured for them to follow him.
Entering a dark hallway, they could have used two lanterns to better light the way.
Somewhere Elizabeth could hear water dripping down the walls.
Finally, they turned to a staircase, and she breathed a sigh of relief when they didn’t go down to the basement, which she’d heard was the worst place to be held.
Instead, they went up to the second floor where there was better lighting.
They passed many cells. The prisoners grasped the bars and called out to Elizabeth to stop and talk to them. She ignored them and kept moving. Ralph edged himself over to her left side to shield her from the riffraff, and it made her feel safer.
“Here’s yer fellow.” Stanley chuckled and unlocked the door. He stuck his head through the doorway. “Ye got visitors. Get to yer feet.”
Elizabeth ducked her head and entered the cell. “Please wait outside,” she instructed Ralph and Stanley.
“I don’t know, milady,” Stanley said hesitantly. “He’s been a tough one. He took down two jailers and broke one of their arms.”
“I insist,” she said firmly. “He will not harm me. I'll be fine.”
Stanley shrugged. “Have it yer way. Ye have fifteen minutes,” he said and shut the door.
Elizabeth’s gaze darted around the gloomy interior of the tiny room. It was perhaps nine feet by six feet at the most. There was a cot under a window that had bars and nothing more ... not even a chair to sit on.