“I won’t roam,” Adelia promised. “I only came to speak about Thomas.”
Miss Moore’s face fell, and her eyes filled with tears. “What has happened? Something dire, I know. Else he would have visited or sent a note.”
“He is at Newgate, under suspicion of murder.”
“Newgate,” the woman repeated and slumped onto her couch.
“May I?” Adelia asked, gesturing to the seat beside her.
Distraught, Miss Moore could do nothing but nod. Previously, with Owen storming about the room and punching Thomas, Adelia had been unable to focus on the young woman, but now she had time to take her measure. She had a pleasant countenance, her clothing was neat and clean, and her dark hair was up in a tidy bun. They were probably close to the same age, and Miss Moore might even be a few years younger.This was her brother’s ladylove!
“I am hoping you can help me to clear his name,” Adelia said, but her brother’s woman put her head in her hands and moaned.
“My poor Thomas,” she murmured.
Adelia’s stomach lurched to hear her pain. Obviously, she loved him.
“I have secured a barrister,” Adelia told her. “And I have visited him in jail.”
Miss Moore lifted her head. “Can I go visit him, do you think? Would they let me?”
“I don’t know.” Truly, Adelia had no idea if they let people who were not related by marriage or family into the prison. “I don’t see why they wouldn’t.”
“In any case, he might be angry if I went.”
“Why?” Adelia couldn’t imagine the answer.
A laugh that was partly a sob escaped the young woman’s lips. “Because, quite frankly, my lady, I am not a member of your class.”
Adelia shrugged, reminding herself of Mr. Brassel.
“It seems that doesn’t bother Thomas. Do you think he is ashamed of you?”
“No,” Miss Moore shot back fiercely. “He is worried thetonwould tearmeapart, nothim. So, he comes here where he can more easily fit in than I could in your world.”
That sounded like her brother. Yet, she already knew he didn’t intend to continue this secretive arrangement forever.Had he already asked the woman to marry him?
“Do you know his intentions?”
Miss Moore produced a smile, turning her entire face radiant. “He intends for us to marry.”
Adelia sighed.What a difficult path that would take them upon!If they truly loved one another, though, it would be worth it.
“When?” she asked.
“Afteryou have secured a husband, of course.” Miss Moore said it entirely without malice, but Adelia shrunk back onto the sofa cushion.
“Oh, don’t be alarmed, my lady. It’s only because he doesn’t want a scandal over him and me to put any kind of stain on you, nor ruin your chances to make a good match.”
Then the woman’s face crumpled. “But now I shall never marry him. Newgate! What if he’s hanged for murder?”
Putting her face in her hands, she ended on a wailing note, making gooseflesh rise on Adelia’s arms. She patted Miss Moore gently on the shoulder. If only she could assure her everything was going to be all right.
After a few more sniffles, the young woman raised her head.
“It’s hard not to feel defeated,” Miss Moore continued, “not only about Thomas, but about life in general when one is a working woman with a good education. We know what to expect and what we cannot expect. I’ve heard the vicar give sermons about hope.” She raised her head and looked around. “When I see the beginning and ending of every day as it is, begun in poverty, sometimes despair, and finishing the same at bedtime, how can I have hope?”
She looked Adelia straight in the eyes with an intelligent brown gaze. “And then I ran into your brother. And because I was out of my element—meaning not behind a shop counter—and in his world, since I was in Mayfair, we could meet as…well,equalsis too strong a word. I would never say that, my lady. But I had on my Sunday best, what I wore to my dad’s funeral and my sister’s wedding.”
