“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.”
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 knockedon 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.”
