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As they reached the fresh air of the outer hall, Jane began to feel more like herself. Alas, as they entered the kitchens, the cooking smells set her off again and she ran outdoors. She held on to a post near the stables to steady herself.
The cold air around her neck helped steady her stomach, but all the same she felt utterly wretched. Perhaps she’d contracted something from being so close to her husband’s decaying body.
Lady Jardine approached, without the babe - she must have handed him back to the nurse. She held a mug of hot water filled with crushed ginger. Jane sipped it and found it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. A little peppery, but the aroma did soothe her roiling nerves. That’s what this must be - nerves.
“You are with child already,” Lady Jardine said. “I had sickness with my three as well.”
Jane blinked. Lady Jardine had borne four children.
“The boy caused no complaints,” Epiphany quickly added. “Only the girls. Girls cause sickness. Boys create heartburn. This is wonderful news. Now there will be nothing standing in the way of my son. I wish you and your future daughter well. It is time for me to leave.”
“The Baron did not recognise your son,” Jane said as she sipped more of the hot water.
Goodness, it was clearing her head in the process.
“Yes, he did.” Lady Jardine protested. “He clearly said, ‘Another Ealing’.”
“I heard differently. I clearly heard him say, ‘Not an Ealing,’ and you reacted poorly to that. You were unhappy with his pronouncement.”
“I think you’ll find the courts will agree with me when the time comes. And in any case, you’re having a girl, of that I am sure. Enjoy your marriage to the smelly old man. And I’d advise you to have a bath and have the staff change the sheets more regularly, because his problem is getting terribly out of hand.”
It took all of Jane’s energy not to burst out laughing. Her face creased. She was going to expose her terrible secret and undo all their work, from her own fevered inability to keep herself together. The clouds above held more rain, they would have to move inside once more.
Lady Jardine harrumphed.
“Yes, what I said was upsetting, but it is the truth. I shall see you in, I presume eight or so months’ time and I shall be right again. My father will still be soiling the bed and you shall have a girl to show for all your troubles.”
Oh, dear heavens, this was even funnier. Lady Jardine had completely misread Jane’s face and thought her to be upset. This could work. A cold fat drop of rain splashed her on the forehead. Jane buried her face and wept with relief.
“There, there,” Lady Jardine patted Jane condescendingly on the shoulder. “You will see in time I will be right. I always am. Farewell, my new mother, I hope you don’t die in the childbed. I do at least want to see you delivered of this girl so that I may continue to claim what rightfully belongs to my son.”
With that, Lady Jardine took to her feet and strolled back to the house.
******
Jane stood by the window and watched the carriages trundle out of the main gate. She slumped forward and made a comically loud sigh. There were no spies here in the estate - not from the way the staff had behaved around the Jardines.
“They are truly gone?” Mister Foote asked as he stepped into the room.
“Yes!” Jane could swoon with relief. “We are free at last.”
“For how long?” Mister Foote said.
“Epiphany declared I was with child already,” Jane said, “She volunteered she would arrive again for the child’s birth.”
Mister Foote’s face lit up in a smile.
“You are with child?”
“According to Epiphany, I am.”
“That is wonderful!”
He reached for her.
Jane fell into his embrace, “I cannot be sure, truthfully, I could have been overcome with fumes as much as I am overcome with the early signs of carrying an infant.”
“Once you are confirmed as being with child, I shall search for new employment.” Mister Foote said.
