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 lookedcold 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.
Jonathan sat with his back braced against the wall.One foot was propped up on the cot where his arm rested on his knee.He watched her, waiting.He couldn’t believe that Elizabeth had actually come.This was not any place for a lady.He was afraid if he moved she’d prove to be nothing more than a figment of his imagination.His jaw tightened.
Of course, even when she was real, she had a nasty habit of disappearing on him.
“I came as soon as I heard,” Elizabeth said.Her voice was raspy because she had to fight to hold back the tears.
