Tiffany’s gentle laughter rippled through the air.“My dear girl, those are the hardest words to get any man to say,” she stated firmly.“It’s as if the words don’t exist in a man’s vocabulary.They assume that women should know when they love them.”When Elizabeth looked skeptical, Tiffany went on, “I can tell from watching Jonathan Hird that he loves you very much.”
Elizabeth glanced out the window and then back to Tiffany.She sighed deeply.“Do you think I’m making a mistake?”
Tiffany nodded.“I’m afraid so, but we’re on our way to Briercliff now, so we’ll have to continue.The damage is done.Perhaps, once you see Dawson, you’ll feel better.Then you’re going to have to tell Jonathan the truth.”
“Why am I always doing the wrong thing?”
“Because you’re human.We all learn from our mistakes.Granted, some of us are slower than others.”Tiffany chuckled.
Elizabeth’s voice sounded tired even to her own ears.“You made your point.I will tell Jonathan the truth.”
The truth shall set me free, Elizabeth hoped.Or cost me the only person I have ever loved.
Chapter 16
Jeffrey made his way to the marquess’s room and quietly slipped inside.“Excuse me, my lord.”He cleared his throat.“There is no good way to tell you,” Jeffrey said, then hesitated.“But they have arrested Lord Jonathan for treason,” he blurted out.
“They didwhat?”The marquess sat straight up in bed, something he hadn’t done in a month.“Get me a wheelchair, and order the carriage.We’re going to see my barrister and then we are going to find my son!”
Jeffrey stepped closer to the bed and peered at the marquess.“But your health, my lord.”
“Blast and damnation, my health!”The marquess slapped the bed.“Now, do as I say!”
“Lord Jonathan did ask that I send someone to Trent House to inform Lady Elizabeth to send for His Grace, but when I went across the street I was informed that she had returned to Briercliff.”
“Then dispatch someone to Briercliff with a note immediately.”Lord Middlesex placed several pillows behind him.“Get me some paper.”
Jeffrey shuffled over to the desk and brought back a tablet, pen and quill, and a lapboard.
The marquess dipped the quill into the ink and started to scribble a note.“Send someone reliable.”He folded the letter and handed it to Jeffrey.“Send him on horse, so he can travel faster.Now, where is my carriage?”
Jeffrey’s head was spinning, and he felt as if he’d been turning in circles ever since he’d entered the bedroom.However, it felt good to have activity in the house again.Things had been much too quiet.It had been a very long while since the marquess had shown any life.
“I’ll have the carriage brought around front, sir,” Jeffrey said.He hurried as fast as his old bones would allow.
Before long, he had the staff assembled to help bring the marquess downstairs and load him and his chair into the carriage.Jeffrey watched as they brought the marquess down the stairs and assisted him into the brougham.
Watching the carriage roll away, Jeffrey thought it had been a while since he’d seen such fire in the old man’s eyes.Perhaps it was a jolly good sign.
The carriage stoppedoutside a red brick building.The Marquess of Middlesex waited patiently while they unloaded his chair and rolled it over to the vehicle’s door.One of the footmen helped him into the chair, then rolled him into the office.
Once inside, the marquess wasn’t to be kept waiting.
“Can I help you?”a young man asked.
“Of course you can.Go and get Edward now,” Lord Middlesex commanded.
“He might be busy, sir.Who may I say is calling?’’
“The Marquess of Middlesex.”He glared at the young man, daring him to ask another question.“I have no time for questions.Now, do as I say!”
The young man, whose face, by now, had turned very red, left.In just a few moments, the marquess was shown to the back room.
Edward Turner rose and walked around his desk.“Lord Middlesex, it is wonderful to see you up and about.”Turner clasped the marquess on the shoulder.“I’d heard you had taken to your bed.Nice to see that isn’t true,” Turner said, then reached for a brown box on his desk.He opened the lid and held the box down.“Cigar?”
Lord Middlesex took one of the long brown cigars and smelled it.Then he tucked it into his top pocket.“With the news I’ve just had, I’d have crawled out of my grave if I’d been dead.”
“Sounds serious,” Turner commented as he returned to his chair behind his desk.“Tell me, what has happened to make you so angry?”
