While he bathed and dressed, he considered how he might handle this lord if they were to meet face to face. Should he be lucky enough to recognize him? He could hardly wander the halls of Parliament on the off chance of coming across him. Hart had a sense the lord was tall, but as he wore a tall beaver, it was difficult to gain an idea of his height. Only his voice lingered in his memory. A voice to send the chills down the back of any man who had reason to fear him. Hart wanted to find this criminal as much as Fleming did. The violence perpetrated on Wakeham was a little too close to home. Fleming’s letter mentioned boxes of smuggled goods they’d uncovered in the basement of Wakeham’s house. As well as a stash of money hidden in a cupboard. Would the thieves come back for it? And might this lord’s interest have been aroused after Wakeham mentioned Hart’s involvement?
After an early luncheon, Hart left the house. He searched the Square again for someone who might seem out of place. In the fenced-off gardens in the center of the Square, a gardener weeded the beds. A footman walked a pampered pet. Two ladies strolled with a gentleman along the path and a housemaid sat watching a young child. Satisfied he found no one suspicious, Hart climbed into his carriage and went to Parliament House.
*
Eager to beginher day, once Hart had removed his distracting presence from the bedchamber, Maddie scampered out of bed and rang for Jane.
A few moments later, her maid entered. “Shall I ring for hot water for your bath, milady?”
“Yes, thank you, Jane.” As Maddie searched her drawers for a clean handkerchief, she watched her maid in the mirror, moving about the room, tidying up. She supposed she’d been too distracted as of late to take much notice. It was clear her maid was quite unlike herself. Her actions were not as quick and efficient as they normally were. She looked drawn, and by the expression in her eyes, Maddie was sure something worried her. Jane had sighed too, several times. Maddie had let this go long enough. Diane wouldn’t care if she was late.
“I should like a moment to talk to you, Jane.”
Jane turned to look at Maddie, and her face blanched. “Is anything wrong, milady? Has my work not been up to scratch?”
“It is not about your work,” Maddie said. “Come and sit by me on the sofa.”
Jane slowly crossed the room. “It doesn’t seem right to sit with you. When I have so much to be getting on with.”
“Don’t be foolish. We have been together through thick and thin, Jane. Now is not the time to become so…so maidish,” Maddie said for want of a word. She patted the sofa beside her.
Jane sat ramrod straight on the sofa. She swallowed. “What is wrong, Lady Madeline?” she asked again.
“I was about to ask you the same thing, Jane.”
“Me? I…I am not sure…”
“Yes. You are very sure. What worries you?”
Suddenly, Jane covered her face with her hands. “You will be shocked.”
“I’ll survive. Goodness, how much we have faced together? There is nothing you could say to shock me now.”
Jane’s shoulders heaved. She dropped her hands and turned her teary face to Maddie. “I am with child.”
Maddie gaped at her. This was the last thing she expected. “You have lain with Henry? Oh, Jane, how foolish. It is a grim life for an unmarried woman with a child in this world.” She firmed her lips. “Henry must marry you.”
“That’s just it, milady. We are married.”
Maddie stared at her. “What? You’re married? When?”
“The same day as you and his lordship. We went back to the Marriage House for the handfast ceremony.”
“And all this time you’ve kept it from us? How difficult that must have been for you.” Amusement twitched Maddie’s lips. “But somehow you have overcome it. But why on earth didn’t you tell me?”
Jane wrung her hands. “His lordship will put us off. We wanted to wait until there was somewhere else we might go where we could be together.”
“Lord Montford would let you go? What made you think such a thing?”
“It happens in all the big houses, milady. Staff are not supposed to marry.”
“What nonsense. You shall remain in our employ as long as you wish.” Maddie patted the maid’s shoulder. “Now dry your tears and let’s see what can be done. You need to be settled before you have your baby.” She paused. “I shall have to tell his lordship today, you understand.”
“Oh, milady, are you sure he won’t dismiss us?”
“Perfectly sure.” Maddie rose from the sofa. “Come, we’ll talk about it as you help me bathe and dress. I don’t want to keep Lady Diane waiting.”
Jane was already pulling the bell rope for hot water to be sent in. “Which gown will you wear today?”