Chapter Twelve
DEPARTURE DAY HAD DAWNED, crisp with frost.Jonathan’s coach was packed with their luggage.Lady Elizabeth, Katherine, and Anna, the latter released from her duties for the next two weeks, were seated inside with hot bricks under their feet and fur rugs on their laps, ready to set off.Jane still stood in the street, mentally checking that she had completed all her tasks.Mrs.Creevy and Joe would look after the house in the family’s absence.
At that moment, the housekeeper hurried out onto the front step, holding out an envelope.“Miss Jane, the mail.You didn’t take it from the hall table; it was late this morning.”
Jane thanked her and opened Charlotte’s weekly missive, sent from near Portsmouth.It was just one page, an unusually short correspondence from Charlotte.Jane skimmed the brief message.She read it again, more slowly this time, to take in the full meaning of the words.Her stomach knotted with fear.
“What is it, Jane?”Elizabeth called from within the carriage.
Jane looked up at the three faces in the carriage, all turned to her expectantly.“Bad news from Charlotte.She requests my help.I must travel to Portsmouth immediately.”
Three voices responded.
“How?”
“You can’t!”
“Shall I come with you?”
“No, I must go on my own.I only have money for one person to travel and it must be me.”
“Wait, Jane,” said Elizabeth.“Send word to Jonathan.He will help you.”
“More like stop me!”she countered.“I am going to rescue my sister.Her husband has taken to beating her.She says she is black and blue.He is being transferred with his regiment to India and they will embark within days.There is no time to waste.If I am going to help her, I must go now, and I will do it without involving your brother, Elizabeth.It’s impossible under the law to keep a wife from her husband.I can’t involve Jonathan; it would damage his career.I will have to hide Charlotte until we are sure her husband’s ship has departed.”
“If you won’t let us or Jonathan accompany you, at least take the money I have for our journey.”Elizabeth thrust coin and notes at Jane.
Jane took the offering.Gratitude and embarrassment at needing the money flushed her face.“Thank you, Elizabeth.I’ll catch the next stagecoach to Portsmouth, snatch Charlotte as quickly as I can, and take a coach to Winchester, stay there a week, and then on to Everslie Park...if Jonathan will take Charlotte in after the regiment has departed.”
“I’m sure he will, Jane.Let us tell him now, and he will help you.”
“No, I must not involve him in this...at least until the regiment leaves the country.Trust me, Elizabeth.”
“What about taking Joe to help you?”
“No, he is needed here.Believe me, I can accomplish this.”She must save her sister.
“Where will you stay?”asked Elizabeth, concern lining her brow.
“Charlotte suggests the King’s Arms near her lodgings, where I will be able to watch for his leaving.”
