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“But where will you go? What will you do?”
“I’ll think of something.”
“The men are attempting to come to a decision about your future right now. You must go in and tell them what you want.”
Jane raised her head and her violet eyes shimmered with tears. “I’m too much of a problem. If they knew who my husband was... Alice, he’s a ruthless, cruel man and not one to be trifled with. Even Lord Hatherly... even he might think twice.”
“Please, Jane. You must go talk to them. If I’ve been any kind of friend to you, do this for me.”
Jane held still for a moment and then she inclined her head. “I will listen to their proposals. But I leave tonight. Not tomorrow. Tonight.”
Alice pushed the door open, and the two women walked into the center of the group of argumentative men.
They fell silent as Jane entered.
The hood of her cloak slipped back, exposing huge violet eyes and cropped black hair that had at least grown in enough to cover the bald patches.
“While you lot have been shouting and arguing, Jane decided to take matters into her own hands,” Alice said. “I found her attempting to slip out the door. Now what do you have to say for yourselves?”
The four men all had the grace to look extremely sheepish. “We apologize, Miss Jane,” Lear said. “Please don’t leave. We want to help.”
Jane stood in their midst and bravely lifted her chin. “I can’t stay in London. If Coleman suspects your involvement, my presence puts you in grave danger. I have to leave.”
Admiration shone in Patrick’s eyes. “But without new papers you will be a fugitive.”
“They think I’m drowned, do they not?” Jane asked.
Lear nodded. “Yes. But we don’t know if they believe that for sure.”
“What’s clear is that my presence puts everyone in danger. I must leave tonight. So, gentlemen.” She stared at each in turn. “Where should I go? I will consider your counsel carefully.”
Alice was startled by her calm, commanding air. Where had this Jane been? The cowering girl who had arrived, so damaged and frightened, was gone and in her place stood a lady as composed and regal as a queen.
“I think you should go to the Duke and Duchess of Harland’s cocoa manufactory in Surrey,” Nick said. “They have a charitable concern that helps women in crisis.”
Jane tilted her head. “I’ve heard of it.”
Alice had a sudden idea. “Or maybe she could come with me to India! As my companion. We could hide her near the docks for the remaining days until the ship sets sail.”
Jane turned to Lear. “Do you have a proposal?” Alice imagined that Jane’s gaze softened slightly when she looked at Captain Lear.
“I think you should go to my friend the Duke of Bayne in Scotland. He’s in need of a governess for his two young children. They’re rather troublesome. It’s a godforsaken bog of a place, but no one would think to look for you there.”
“Will he want a governess with a shorn head?” Jane asked.
“Bayne won’t care about any of that. He can’t pay governesses enough to make them stay at his moldy old estate. It’s the perfect hiding place.”
“How do you know this fellow?” Nick asked.
Lear shrugged. “Supply him with goods same as you.”
“What’s his story?” Nick asked.
“Scottish lord who unexpectedly inherited a dukedom and a tattered old castle.”
“Duke of Bayne. Can’t say I’ve heard of him.”
“Wife died in childbirth. Has two children to raise and he refuses to move away from his god-forsaken, backwater village.”
