Page 26 of A Countess of Convenience

“Well,” her friend glanced away, “Blanchard suggests that there is a good chance they will take the circumstances of your application into account when ruling on it.”

Crestfallen, Judith strode to the window, tired of all the “perhaps” and “maybes” she’d had to endure these past agonizing days. She’d been told time and again by John that nothing could be known for certain until Blanchard had made inquiries and discovered the lay of the land. Now, it seemed, they knew as little as they had before, save the court might act on her petition, which she’d known all along. “I believe we had already surmised that, John. That is no help at all.” She cut her gaze to his face, to be met by an unusually apprehensive visage. “What is it, John? Is there something more from Blanchard?”

John sighed and leaned back, his arms folded across his chest. “Yes, there is. Blanchard suggests that…the fact you are now an unmarried woman will not work in your favor. He says, on average, unmarried women are denied guardianship in such circumstances as these, especially where a child’s other living relations who are married petition for custody.” Lips in a thin straight line, John drew himself erect. “Especially when there is money involved. If Downing has stipulated that Anna will inherit only if she becomes Downing’s ward, the courts will not strip her of that inheritance.”

Swaying on her feet, Judith grasped John’s arm a moment before he grabbed her around the waist, holding her upright and trying to appear normal, even though Mr. and Mrs. Welbourne had turned to stare at them.

“Come here.” He half-led, half-dragged her to her mother’s small toilette table then sat her down on the hard bench. “If you feel faint, lay your head down in your lap. That often helped my mother when she did not actually wish to swoon.”

“Thank you. I believe I shall be all right.” The darkness that had threatened her vision now receded and her breathing became steadier. “So Blanchard believes I will not regain custody of my own daughter? Because I’m unmarried, and Downing can buy what he wants by making her his heir.”

“Harsh to hear, my dear, but likely true.” John would not mince words. He always faced any situation head on, no matter how unpleasant or distasteful he found it. “Will you still wish to travel to London to meet with the solicitor?” He peered into her face. “It is your decision now, especially considering your father’s precarious health. You may wish to remain here and see how he progresses. Perhaps he will be able to venture forth by the end of the summer.”

As always, level-headed John had given her the easiest course. Wait and see. That might be considered wisdom in some circles, but this was her daughter. What parent would say, “I’ll wait and see if I can get her back.” No, that would not be her course. She opened her mouth to demand that he take her to London and then Wiltshire, when John continued, a determined set to his mouth.

“If it were me, however, I would not rest one more day before heading out in the carriage to Blanchard in London.”

The moisture in her mouth dried to sand. Had she heard him correctly?

“If it were my child, I would be gone by first light, make London in a day and a half, call on my solicitor, and demand he devise a plan by which I could get my child back.” John’s eyes snapped with impatience. “No one and nothing could stop me from laying all the evidence before the courts. I would convince them with my passionate plea and tell them as many times as it took until I made them hear me.” Placing his warm, capable hands on Judith’s shoulders, John stared deeply into her eyes, as if willing her to rise to the challenge. “You are a formidable woman, Judith. If anyone knows that, I do. There is no reason under the sun why you cannot make them see your petition is sound. If only you will try.” He peered at her keenly. “So are you with me?”

“Oh, yes.” Joyous at his support, she grabbed his hands, elation sending her senses spinning. “We can leave in the morning then?”

“Unless you wish to leave this instant.” He grinned at her, and her heart sang.

“I think the morning will be sufficient. I will set Sally to packing immediately.” Her wide smile threatened to hurt her face until her mother chuckled behind her, bringing her spirits crashing to the ground. She loosened her grip, and her hands slipped from his. “I fear, however, we have a greater obstacle to overcome. I doubt my mother will agree to leave my father for so long, even though Miles has assured her he will take excellent care of him.” She looked up into his face, trying hard not to weep with frustration. “Without her, I have no chaperone. We dare not travel together alone, John. It would be a scandal that would haunt us both.”

“Nonsense,” he said, taking her completely aback. John had always been one to observe proprieties to a T. “If your mother refuses to go, we can manage until we arrive in London. My sister is there and can act as your companion and chaperone when we travel to Wiltshire.”

“And what about the night we must spend on the road to London?” That was where scandal lay. “Not even the fastest coach and four can make London in less than a day and a half.” Well, she supposed it might be possible. “Although if we drove straight through, only stopping to change the horses, it could be done.” But at what cost to her and John? Miles had said explicitly she must only ride for six hours a day, else her already precarious health would suffer.

“That is the most foolish plan I have heard from your lips, Judith.” He shook his head and lifted one sardonic eyebrow. “Such a scheme would surely exhaust both you and me, not to mention my coachman. Surely you can come up with a more practical and amenable plan.” The second eyebrow lifted. “I have.”

Warily, Judith gazed up at him. What plan could he have come up with so quickly? They’d not had any indication until now that they would need to travel to London in such haste. Unless it was a plan John had had hopes of fulfilling all along.

In her mind’s eye, Judith recalled his face when she’d discovered Simon had been killed. He’d looked at her not with compassion but desire. She’d known then he would seek to court her, to marry her if she’d agree. Now the perfect opportunity had arisen to implement his stratagem. “And…and what plan would that be?”

“Take both your house maids as companions and lady’s maids, so that when we stop for the night and take separate rooms at the far ends of the inn, no one will think anything of it.” A grin of triumph split his face.

Stunned, Judith could only stare at him. How had she misjudged her friend so badly? Was she so fearful of his attentions she would attribute nefarious motives to his honest effort to help her?

“If they sleep in your room with you, so much the better,” he continued. “If the weather is in our favor, I will ride the whole way, although with three ladies in the carriage I doubt even the most gossip hungry matron could cast aspersions on you.”

“But,” Judith’s head was spinning with the possibility, “will my parents be able to spare them for so long?”

“They would only be gone three days. As soon as we reach London, you will have Kitty for a companion, and the maids will be sent back on the mail coach, which doesn’t stop for the night.” He pursed his lips. “I’m certain, out of the goodness of his heart, Lord Farringdon will lend a hand with your parents so the maids may make the trip with you.”

The subtle gibe at Miles held more than a hint of jealousy, assuring Judith she wasn’t wrong in her assessment of John’s ultimate intent. By agreeing to his plan, she ran the risk of encouraging him to think her affection for him ran deeper than it actually did. A risk she would have to take, because John was certainly correct in saying there was no time to lose. She would not wait another day to begin the journey that would take her nearer her goal of reclaiming her daughter.

“It is the perfect plan, John. Thank you so very much.” She slipped her arms around him in a heartfelt embrace. He truly was a marvelous friend.

The air beside her ear warmed as he whispered, “Or you could simply marry me, Judith.”

“John!” She jerked back only to find him laughing at her outrage. “What a horrible thing to say.”

“Surely not horrible, my dear.” He continued to chuckle. “You seemed to be expecting it when I said I had a plan, so I assumed you were open to the possibility.”

“Wretched man.” She slapped his arm and laughed nervously. “You could give a woman an attack of vapors saying things like that. What if I had taken you seriously and accepted you? You’d be in a pickle this moment.”