“Get in, Jane.We will set you down at the staging inn,” said Elizabeth.She gave the coachman instructions, and they set off.
As soon as they arrived at the bustling inn, Jane hugged her sisters and assured them she would see them in a week—with Charlotte.
It was after nightfall before Jane’s coach reached the King’s Arms.She stumbled out, her back and limbs aching from the jolting and jarring of the journey.She had difficulty getting a room because she was traveling alone but made a great fuss about governesses on their way home after working all hours for ungrateful families not being treated with respect by anyone.For her efforts, she got what must have been the smallest and drabbest room of the inn, overlooking the busy yard where coaches would arrive and depart with horns blaring throughout the night.She expected little sleep anyway with so much going through her mind, so it would not matter, she told herself.
***
ALOUD KNOCK SOUNDEDon the door of Jonathan’s study.Before he could answer, Elizabeth rushed in.Jones, his butler, stood in the doorway.
“Jonathan, I need your help!”
Fear for his sister gripped his chest.“Whatever has happened?Why have you not set off for Everslie Park?Has there been an accident?”
“No, nothing like that.May I speak with you privately?We will set off immediately afterward.”
Jonathan’s apprehension morphed into puzzlement.“Yes, yes.”He dismissed Jones and asked Elizabeth, “What is it?”
“It’s Jane,” she exclaimed.
His just-recovered heart plummeted.“Jane?What on earth?Is she unwell?Has she refused to travel to Hampshire?”
“She has gone by stage to Portsmouth to rescue her sister.”
Jonathan’s brows rose in astonishment.“What?”He took Elizabeth by the arm and led her to the sofa beside the crackling fire, then stood beside the mantlepiece.“Here, sit down and tell me all.”
Elizabeth gulped a breath.“Charlotte’s husband has beaten her and his regiment is leaving for India in the next few days.Jane has gone to take Charlotte into hiding!At Winchester, until the regiment departs.She refused to contact you as she said it would damage you politically to be involved.”
Elizabeth wrung her shaking hands together on her lap and looked at her brother for guidance.
Jonathan strode to the sofa and sat beside her, taking one of her busy hands in both of his.He looked into her worried eyes.“That’s as may be, but I can’t let her do this.It is far too dangerous.Did she take Joe?”
“No.The stage will have departed by now.”
He considered her words.“This is what we will do, Elizabeth.You and Jane’s sisters will continue on your way to Everslie Park.There is still time to get there today, but you will take Dr.Logan with you in the carriage.He was to accompany me in my curricle.”
“I didn’t know he was invited.I haven’t seen him recently.”
He could see that this turn of events threw his sister into confusion.“Yes, a late development.I will explain later.You are to drive to Dr.Logan’s residence on Harley Street and deliver a note from me.It will explain everything.Take him up with you and proceed to Everslie Park.I will take my curricle and try to catch the stagecoach before it reaches Portsmouth.Do you know where she was to stay?”
Elizabeth gave him the details and took the note he wrote at his desk.
Within a few minutes, Jonathan had seen the womenfolk off, ordered his curricle to the door, and had his portmanteau stowed in it.With a dry comment to his groom standing behind him about the freezing weather and which part of him might fall off before the journey was over, Jonathan set off at a swift pace for Portsmouth.
“Hope this weather don’t turn to sleet, guvn’r.Don’t mind bits not used falling orf from the cold, but arh wouldn’t like to get me beaut’ful face cut abart.”
The weather-worn groom’s reply forced a bark of laughter from Jonathan before his mind returned to planning how to save two women from their actions.
After hours of driving, the last few in the dark on unfamiliar roads, the lights of the King’s Arms soothed like the comfort of a walled harbor after a storm.Jonathan blinked his gritty eyes and rolled his aching shoulders as he eased his vehicle to stop in the yard.Jonathan secured the reins and jumped down.His groom held the horses’ heads already.“See to the horses, Nate, while I organize the accommodation.”Jonathan strode into the inn.
“Have you had the coach from London arrive today?”he asked the rotund landlord.
“Yes, my lord.Bit late owing to the frost.”
“Did a young lady get off?”he enquired.
“Don’t know about a younglady.Just a slip of a governess who gave me a talking-to when I wouldn’t give her a room.”
Jonathan smiled in recognition of something Jane would do.“Did you relent and give her a room?”
