“But you chose to leave him behind.”
“Only temporarily. He was being held by the matron of a corrupt maternity home. Though I didn’t know the true nature of the establishment when I left Danny under her care. I needed to find a situation not long after I delivered him. And one cannot do so with a child in arms.”
He frowned. “Has this any bearing on the current situation?”
“It does. For the matron said I could not have Danny back until I paid her exorbitant fees. Fees she’d raised over and over again after I’d agreed to her initial terms. I could not pay them. That’s why I returned to the Mayfields in Bath and asked for the allowance I’d previously earned there as lady’s companion, but had never collected. When Lady Mayfield asked me to travel to Devonshire with her as her companion, I thought I wouldstay with her just until I earned enough money, and then return for Danny.”
“That is not the way Lady Mayfield recounts the events. She said you came begging for a place. Are you calling her a liar?”
It was a trap, and how tempting a trap it was. If she began speaking ill of her former mistress, the magistrate would of course defend the lady of his own class. It never went well for anyone who spoke against her master or mistress.
Hannah said carefully, “I sit in judgment of no one, your worship. Perhaps she and I saw the arrangement differently.”
His eyes glinted. “Lady Mayfield is right, you are cunning.”
She shook her head. “No, your worship. I am only a mother, who did what she had to do to rescue her son. Did I do wrong? Yes. But did I intend to take more money from Sir John, for either myself or my son? No. I did not.”
“I will decide who did wrong, Miss Rogers. That is why we are here, after all.” He glanced again at his notes, then said, “If this sorry tale is true, why did you not end the ruse when you were reunited with your child? Why return to Clifton House at all?”
Hannah nodded. It was a logical question. “I thought about it, your worship. But Edgar Parrish was so concerned about me, it felt ungrateful ... wrong ... to refuse to return with him. How they all would have worried. Besides that, my arm had been broken in the crash. I could not very well find another situation until it mended. How was I to provide for Danny on my own? So I returned to Clifton, thinking I would stay until I had the full use of both arms and then I would try to find employment somewhere in Devonshire.” She self-consciously cradled her arm. “Dr. Parrish removed the bandages only yesterday.”
“So, you do not even deny that you allowed these good people to believe you were Lady Mayfield.”
“I cannot deny it. Though my reasons—”
“Reasons? What care I for your reasons? Can reasons excuse deceit? Theft? Fraud?”
Hannah tried to hold his burning gaze, but she did not succeed for long. He was vehemently set against her, thanks to Marianna. Thanks to the truth. And he was right. She had done wrong. Knowingly committed fraud. God may look at the heart, but the law cared little.
He gestured toward his clerk for some document. “I have heard enough. There is clearly enough evidence to commit Miss Rogers to the county gaol at Exeter to await trial.” He dipped a quill and signed the paper with a flourish.
Dr. Parrish sputtered, “But—Miss Rogers has a child! Surely there is no cause to separate mother and child for such a period.”
“There ismore thansufficient cause, Dr. Parrish.” He fixed the doctor with a menacing glare. “And I am the only judge of that here today.”
Hannah thought she would be sick. Everything she had done to try to protect Danny ... and now she would sit in prison and he would be taken from her. Would the court even allow Mrs. Turrill to keep him? And even if Mrs. Turrill were willing, could the woman care for Danny and support herself? Not to mention Becky?
Hannah was back to where they had started. Her hands tied. Danny out of reach. What if Becky ran off with him again? She recalled the image of Becky huddled over him in a Bath alleyway and shivered.Oh, God in heaven, have mercy! Whatever happens to me, please help Danny. Please watch over my son....Tears streamed down her face.
The magistrate spoke quietly with his clerk, giving him some instructions. The clerk, in turn, wrote something in his register.
While they were occupied, Hannah looked at Marianna, hoping to see a crack in her icy countenance. “Why?” she whispered.“Is it not enough to send me away in shame? Why are you determined to destroy me?”
Marianna lifted her chin. “You were my companion. You were supposed to stand by me, remain loyal, no matter what. That you of all people should betray me...?” Her dark eyes sparked with ire.
Hannah shook her head. “I did nothing to you. I took nothing from you—nothing you wanted. But you will take everything from me?”
The magistrate gathered up his papers and pushed back his chair. “The justices will want Sir John’s testimony, of course. That is, assuming he is in his right mind.”
“I am.”
Hannah snapped her head around at the sound of his voice, as did everyone in the room.
Her heart soared to see Sir John standing there, leaning on his cane, tall boots muddy, face wind-chapped, hat askew. Had he ridden the final stretch on horseback?
He tossed his hat down on a side table. “And if you dare harm one hair of this woman’s head, or even think of separating her from her child, you will be guilty of a gross injustice, and I for one shall not stand for it.” He slowly ran a smoldering gaze from Lord Shirwell to the Parrishes, to Marianna. He lifted a hand in his wife’s direction. “What pretty tales has the missing Lady Mayfield been telling you?”
Marianna lifted her chin. “The truth.”
