“No, but I want to be. Are we done?”
“Not yet.” I slammed the drawer shut. “We don’t have answers.”
“Jemina, what if there are no answers? What if the truth is down at the bottom of the sea?”
Shaking my head so fast it would surely spin off and bounce on each of the barristers’ desks. “No, Patience. I can’t accept that. The truth has to be here.”
“What if despite our best efforts we find no proof that Hope is yours?” Patience winced, her voice cracked. “Can you live with just loving that child, who is yours again by right of marriage?”
I dropped papers and flew to her side. “Are you in pain?”
“Burning in my chest. I must’ve eaten something horrid.” She wiped at her face. “I am in pain for you. I wish you had answers. I wish I had them about my sisters.”
“Patience, I’m sorry.” I knelt by her side. “I shouldn’t have made you come.”
“You’re my sister. I have to be here.”
I held her hand. “I’m done. I’ll take you home.”
“Jemina, I have to be fine not knowing what happened to Helena and Charity. I have to have faith that somehow they found joy.” She kissed our linked hands. “I will always honor them and keep their memory.”
Noises came from the hall. The movement was fast. There was no time to blow out the candles.
The door opened, and Lord Gantry pounded inside. “There you two are.”
I was relieved it was only him until I heard tapping on the window.
My breath came fast seeing Daniel gaping at me, slipping on my rope.
I rushed to the window and pulled him inside. “What are you doing? The branch might break under your weight.”
“I realized that a little late, halfway up.”
He put an arm about my waist, but I pulled free.
Gantry held out his hand to Patience. “Come along, Your Grace, the duke has quartered soldiers in Sandlin Court. Lady Bodonel and Hope Thackery are his captives.”
“Is she sleeping? Has my daughter had another nightmare?”
“Yes to both questions, Lady Ashbrook,” Daniel said, “but I calmed her. I promised to bring her mother back as soon as possible. Let’s not make me a liar.”
“No, just a keeper of secrets.”
“Give him a chance,” Patience said. “And, Barrister, be as good as you can winning the jury of my friend’s heart. Your side is sadly behind.”
“Patience, keep my room ready. I have a feeling I’ll need it tonight. Sandlin Court is perfect, my daughter’s already there.”
Patience offered me a shrug. “Come along, Gantry. We have a war to stop. The duke must’ve enacted his plan B.”
“He knows of your delicate condition, Your Grace. He’s worked up a number of scenarios to try to keep you safe but not clip your wings.”
“Busick . . . He knows? That’s why he’s been working so hard, fretting? Because of me. He knows?”
“Yes, he does,” Daniel said. “He’s thrilled as any man would be to share a child with their beloved.”
Daniel walked to the door and held it open. “Godspeed, Your Grace.”
Patience kissed his cheek. “Godspeed to you. You too, Jemina.”
