He winced. “I wish you had come to me. I would have helped.”
She shifted uneasily. “I feared you would be obligated toconfide my secret to your wife, or even to Mr. Ward, if finances were involved. Both had many connections in Bristol. I doubted a week would have passed before everyone in my home parish had heard of my fall—my own father among them.”
“That’s why you said nothing. We were concerned when you left so suddenly. I tried to find you, to no avail.”
She nodded. “Mr. Lowden mentioned that.”
He shook his head in regret. “You were in a terrible situation. When I think of all you’ve gone through ... I am sorry indeed.”
Hannah paused to relish the sweet salve of that acknowledgement. Then she said, “You should know that Dr. Parrish gave me ten pounds from your purse for the journey to Bath to collect Danny. I used it to pay what I owed, and of course for traveling expenses. But that is all I’ve taken from you, besides food and shelter.”
He held up his hand. “Don’t give it another thought—or try to pay it back.”
“I won’t.” She managed a weak chuckle. “I couldn’t.”
“I would not want you to.” He took a sip of tea and avoided her eyes. “May I ask how long you plan to stay here?”
“I planned to stay only until my arm healed and I could find a new situation. Who would hire me with my arm in a sling?”
“I see.” He bowed his head, drumming his fingers on the table, before looking up at her once more. “Then why not remain in your ... present situation?”
Hannah felt her mouth fall open. Was he really suggesting they allow the ruse to continue indefinitely? She asked, “What are you saying?”
Sir John tented his fingers and regarded her earnestly. “If you continue on as Lady Mayfield, Danny would be my heir.”
Heir?She had never considered such a possibility.
Sir John went on, “But if it were known that you and I were not married at the time of his birth, then that would not be possible. Worse yet, you would be exposed as a fraud.”
Hannah cringed. “I will be anyway, as soon as we return to Bristol.”
“Why return, then?”
“Even if we don’t, someone will come here eventually. Someone who knows I am not Marianna.”
“Perhaps.” Sir John exhaled and drew his shoulders back. “Well. Leave it with me for now. I will talk to Mr. Lowden about the options and legalities and draw up some sort of plan.”
Talk to Mr. Lowden ...Just as she’d feared he’d do.
Sir John sipped, then paused, looking at her over his teacup. “In the meantime, don’t ... go anywhere, all right?”
Hannah picked up her own cup, noticing her hand tremble. She managed a vague smile but made no promises.
Emboldened by Hannah’s recent warmth toward him, James returned to Sir John’s bedchamber that afternoon to talk sense to the man. He was his solicitor, after all. And part of his duty was to counsel his clients and help them steer clear of ruinous decisions. Though James privately acknowledged that he was no longer an impartial party in the case.
He found Sir John seated in his wheeled chair at a large oak desk, busy over correspondence. James had overheard Edgar Parrish and Ben Jones discussing how they would elevate the man’s desk on blocks, so the arms of his wheeled chair would fit under it, but this was his first time seeing the result of their handiwork.
Sir John was fully dressed, his hair and beard were neatly trimmed, and his eyes held a keen light. He certainly no longer looked like an invalid.
“Sir John, might I have a word?”
“Of course.” Sir John set his quill back into its holder and regarded him, then nodded toward the armchair in the corner. “Have a seat.”
“No, thank you.” James drew himself up. “Forgive me, but I think it my duty to counsel you against your present course. It can only end in scandal or heartbreak or both.”
Sir John gave him a wry glance. “Your professional powers now extend to matters of the heart?”
The room felt suddenly warm and stifling, but James took a deep breath and reminded himself to remain calm. He said, “Have you asked yourself—or Miss Rogers for that matter—why she has remained?”
