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“Jerome!” she clung to him. “You are innocent, and so I shall tell anyone who dares to say otherwise!”

He smiled, his throat tight with love for her. “I know, love!” He kissed her then. Several kisses and tight hugs later, he left her to collect his valise, stop by the library to get himself some paper, pens, ink, and reading matter, and rejoin Mr. Forbes and his men, dressed in his overcoat and hat.

Ava followed him down and out into the street, where he took a final farewell of her under the embarrassed eyes of the magistrate and stepped up into the hackney that would transport him to Newgate prison.

*

Ava watched the carriage disappear from her sight down the street and turned with determination to request her carriage immediately. Twenty minutes later, she burst in upon her sister-in-law with the news of Jerome’s arrest.

Letty, who had been lying on a chaise longue in her dressing room, sat up in alarm at Ava’s stormy advent and, once in possession of the facts, said with calm practicality, “We shall visit Sir William immediately. Fortunately, I know him, which is why Jerome suggested you come to me to request his assistance. I must say he is an excellent barrister; his record of wins is extremely high. And in this case, the outcome cannot be in doubt, for Jerome is innocent and there is not sufficient evidence that the charge could be proven in any case. Do not despair, my love, we shall prevail.”

The ladies met with Sir William Garrow at his home in Great George Street. The man was sixty but still hale and vigorous, Ava was pleased to note, and having heard their story, he was very willing to wait upon the marquess at Newgate.

*

Jerome’s cell at Newgate was on the top floor and had a window, a fireplace, and a bed with a real mattress and bedclothes, so he was far more fortunate than most of the inmates of that hellhole. He was also blessed with a table and two chairs and candles for light. He was located in the central block above the keeper’s house, which was much less noisome than the other parts of the prison and boasted four larger than normal cells with fireplaces like his and windows.

He was not so foolish as to think that his bedding was free of the vermin that infested the place and reflected that his clothes would need to be fumigated or, more likely, burnt when he left the prison. Or he could gift them to the inmates? That was probably the best idea.

The room was stone walled with a wooden floor and painted ceiling. There was even a rug on the floor. Really, if it weren’t for the great iron door with its grid and the bars on the windows behind the casements, he could almost fancy himself in a room in an ordinary inn.

He had been conducted to his cell by the keeper himself with much bowing and scraping—the man had pocketed immediately the sum Jerome handed across for the privilege of being housed in this superior room. He had barely settled into his new abode when he received a visit from Sir William Garrow.

The barrister was shown into the room by the keeper who received another douceur for the service.

“Sir William.” Jerome held out his hand to the barrister, who was a tall, well-made man who looked younger than his sixty years. “My wife obeyed my instructions immediately, I take it. Thank you for attending me here. Please take a seat.” He indicated the guest chair and took the other himself.

As Sir William lowered himself into the chair, he said, “Indeed, I was most delighted to receive a call from your wife and sister. I am, as I gather you apprehend, quite well acquainted with your sister and her husband. And I believe we may have spoken briefly in Parliament when I was a sitting member over my cruelty-to-horses bill that you were so kind as to support.”

“We did, although I did not know if you would remember.”

“I do remember, my lord.” Sir William smiled and settled into his chair, taking out a traveling desk from a case that he had brought with him. He arranged this on his lap and uncapped the inkwell. Dipping his pen, he wrote something across the top of the piece of paper before him.

“Now, my lord, your good ladies furnished me with brief particulars of your case. However, I need to hear the whole story from you. By the way, before I came here, I stopped in at Bow Street and ascertained that Sir Nicholas Connyngham Tindal will be representing Lady Mostyn as the prosecutor. Normally I would not be able to obtain a copy of the charges against you, but given your special status as a peer, an exception was made. Naturally, because of your elevated position, the matter will be heard before the House of Lords, as soon as may be convenient to their lordships.”

“Thank you.” Jerome inclined his head and felt a wash of relief flood his chest, and the tight, sick feeling he’d had in his stomach since he was first apprised of the warrant for his arrest eased.

“Now, my lord, your story if you please.”

So Jerome proceeded to tell him. While he spoke, Garrow made notes and occasionally asked for clarification of a point. At the end of it, the barrister sat back with a grin of satisfaction which Jerome thought was a heartening sign.

“My lord, I venture to say that you have nothing to worry about. We shall have you out of here in a trice. The only witness to this terrible tragedy besides yourself is the late Lord Mostyn. The case will be thrown out for lack of evidence and a verdict of accidental death given, mark my words. There is ample evidence that the Dunsenays connived to trap you into compromising their daughter. No doubt the prosecution will bring forth such witnesses to corroborate your flirtation with the girl. But never fear, I shall turn them to account.”

“You cheer me immensely with this news, Sir William.” Jerome sat back in some relief.

Garrow began to pack his traveling desk away and stood to shake Jerome’s hand. “A pleasure, my lord. I look forward to defending this case with the greatest enthusiasm. It quite takes me back to my younger days.”

Jerome rose to shake his hand and see him to the door, where a guard unlocked the heavy iron door and let Sir William out.

As the door shut on him again, Jerome turned away to the window from which he could see the street, for the cells were arranged along the outer wall of the building. How long will I be incarcerated for? He had asked Rob and his friends to urge that the matter be dealt with as soon as possible. Rob would go straight to Attorney General Brougham and Prime Minister Liverpool, to have the matter brought before the house as soon as possible.

His friends would naturally speak on his behalf as character witnesses. Indeed, it was hardly needed; he was known to almost the entire membership of the house. They knew the good and the bad of him, but his newly married status should be a point in his favor. It could be shown that whatever unsteadiness of character he may have shown in his youth, he had, of later years, demonstrated more moderation. Although there was that cursed article in The Chronicle . . .

He heaved a sigh and lay down on the bed, suddenly bone weary even though he had done little beyond riding with Ava that morning. Thoughts of Ava brought an ache of longing to his chest. I miss her so.