She fought against the overwhelming urge to close her eyes and rest her head on the soft pillows but in the end, she sank to her knees and the room darkened as she began to fall.
*
“There must besomething we can do. I’m not going to let you hang for a murder you didn’t commit.” Bastin paced Henry’s cell. “Why are people so willing to believe this damned fishmonger from Whitstable over you? Why does he seem to have more influence than the Earl of bloody Stokeford?”
“You know why. The public wants an eye for an eye, and Mr. Leonard’s a powerful man. A beautiful, innocent young lady, who also happened to belong to one of the richest families in England and who was engaged to a viscount, has been murdered, and the people want answers. Unfortunately, I am the only person who has been tried and convicted of the crime.”
“We must prove that this man has personal reasons for pointing the finger at you.”
“It’s too late.” Henry slumped against the stone wall of his cell. “The trial is over. A verdict from the Lord High Steward’s Court cannot be appealed.”
“Not by another court, no. But Upwey says the Lord High Steward can overturn his own court’s verdict if new evidence comes to light, so we must try. If I could only find Anne. I’ve sent a man to York to search. She said she was going to her uncle’s home. But I don’t know the family’s surname, so it won’t be easy.”
“None of it makes sense,” Henry said. “Why would Trawler go to all this trouble after Mrs. Crawford left to go to her family? It just doesn’t make any sense.” Suddenly a thought seized him by the throat. “Do you think he might have hurt her?”
“What do you mean? How?”
“If he could blame me for another—” Henry couldn’t say the words. “He might have—”
“Do you mean…murder?” Bastin stopped pacing to stare at him.
“God, I hope not.” Nausea rose in Henry’s throat at the thought of Anne suffering at the hands of Nate. He wrapped his arms around his stomach. “Whatever happens to me, promise you will find Anne and make sure she is safe. If that bastard has done something to her—” he swallowed the bitterness in his throat—“make him pay. I cannot go to the gallows with her death on my conscience.”
“You’re not going to die.” There was a fierceness in Bastin’s voice that Henry recognized, and he knew it meant his friend would stop at nothing. “There’s a solution out there,” Bastin continued, “and I’m going to find it—all I need is a few minutes alone with that rat.” He clenched his fist.
“It won’t help Ottilie or Alice if you do something criminal.”
“I know that. Do you think I want to put my family at risk?” Bastin sank into the chair by the table. “But if I cannot solve this puzzle, then I’m afraid the risk to Ottilie and our babe’s health will be even greater.”
“Then take your family and get out of England until my execution is over.” Henry went to sit next to Bastin at the table. “Keep your family safe. That’s all that matters.”
“I’d never abandon you, and neither would Ottilie.” His friend reached to grab Henry’s arm.
“No contact with the prisoner!” the warder stationed by the barred door snapped, and Bastin made a face before he let go of Henry’s arm and leaned back in his chair.
“Ottilie…She wants to see you, and I—it’s not in my power to deny her.”
“But it is in mine. Tell her I will not have her come to the Tower—it’ll be too upsetting for her. Keep her as far away from me as possible, Jack. Do it for the health of your unborn babe.”
Bastin nodded.
“I asked the same of Lord Stokeford—to keep my mother away. He’s arranged for me to have ink and paper brought to my cell tonight, so I can write to her and to Ottilie. That way, they’ll have something that can bring them comfort after—”
“Enough!” Bastin stood abruptly. “I won’t hear any more talk of death.” He stood and swiped his hat off the table. “There’s work to do, and you can rest assured I won’t stop until I find Anne, or I get hold of the fishmonger and force the truth out of him.” Bastin strode to the cell door. “Let me out!” he called.
To Henry’s surprise, two more warders appeared at the cell door as the first warder withdrew his heavy set of keys, unlocked the door, and pushed it open. But instead of letting Bastin out, the other two warders marched inside and stopped at either side of Henry.
“You are to come with us at once.”
Henry’s heart spiraled and as he tried to stand, he discovered his knees had weakened from the sudden shock flooding his system. The yeomen grabbed him by the elbows and held on tightly. They’d moved up his execution. He’d heard of such ploys before.
“Where are you taking him?” Jack strode forward.
“Don’t worry, Bastin. I’m ready.” Henry slumped against his friend. “Tell Ottilie I love her and to remember—”
“Stand back!” One of the warders withdrew his baton and used it to push Bastin away from Henry.
“I’ll get Mr. Upwey. Don’t worry; he’ll sort this out.” Bastin made for the cell door.
