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Chills settled through Jane’s body at the thought that their ruse had come unstuck. And it had all been going so well!
“The Jardines are taking their leave,” Stone confirmed.
Relieved, but desperate not to show it, Jane offered a mild, “So soon?”
“It appears so,” Stone confirmed with… what sounded like a laugh in his voice.
Jane dared not look his way lest she start laughing as well.
“There you are!” Lady Jardine yelled at Jane as she stomped down the stairs. “Where have you been! Your staff have made the most outrageous slurs against me! I shall not remain one more minute under this roof with them!”
“Lady Jardine, what has so upset you?”
Not that Jane really cared what the answer could be, she had to steady her features and not give away her inner delight that they were leaving.
“Our nurse merely enquired as to the availability of some herbs from the kitchen garden and within seconds your staff gossiped with my staff, casting aspersions as to the babe’s…” she waved a handkerchief under her nose and inhaled to prevent fainting, “It is so scandalous I cannot bear to repeat it!”
Excellent, Jane thought.
“Oh goodness, how upsetting,” she said.
Lady Jardine declared, “I must speak with the Baron!”
Jane’s stomach roiled. To be so close to victory, only to lose focus at this final hurdle.
“Wait! He is resting!”
“I do not care!” Lady Jardine said.
At the same time, the nurse entered the hall, carrying the babe.
Lady Jardine turned and snatched the infant from her arms.
“I will have my father recognise his heir and Jane shall bear witness!”
There was no way that Jane was going to let Lady Jardine storm into the Baron’s rooms by herself at any rate, but at least now she had the excuse to follow her, if she were supposed to be witnessing this. As they reached the top of the stairs and turned towards the Baron’s rooms, Jane called out, “He won’t appreciate being woken from slumber. He needs his rest after so much exertion!”
It did not stop the woman, as she paced closer and closer to the Baron’s rooms.
“Please, Lady Jardine,” Jane raised her voice that much higher, as she desperately pleaded with her. Had Mister Foote heard her? Would he have time to prepare whatever he needed in time for the arrival of visitors?
“Do not raise your voice to me,” Lady Jardine said between closed teeth.
Drat, the woman wasn’t shouting back. Why choose now to lower her voice when moments ago she had been loud enough to wake the dead?
Oh dear, poor choice of thoughts!
The babe began to wail. Excellent, the noise would alert Mister Foote and he would know who was on the other side of the doors.
“Lady Jardine, despite your demands, this is the Baron’s house, and as his wife, it is my house as well. I shall not have you disturbing him when he needs his rest!”
Please remain out here and argue with me, please don’t–
Lady Jardine wrenched the doors open and said, “I shall not leave until he recognises his heir.”
The first set of doors opened silently, and once again Jane cursed the good housekeeping of the staff for keeping the hinges so well maintained. Damn them all!
“What is that smell!” Lady Jardine said, as she opened the next set of doors to the Baron’s chamber.
