Page 111 of The Heir
Thankfully, the inn was a reputable place, and they were given a room with a clean bed and a private parlor. Jane handed over half the money remaining to them as a deposit and told herself they’d find a way to make up any shortfall when the time came. Surely the princess or Lehzen would loan them something.
She did not even consider asking Father.
The landlady brought hot water so they could scrub the travel mud off themselves. Betty helped them into dry things. Jane was exhausted, but she found she couldn’t settle down. She went to the windows and peered out, trying to see up to the sky.
“Jane, for heaven’s sake, come away,” snapped Liza.
“I just wanted to see if it was clearing.”
“It’s not.”
“I was hoping to go to the post office.”
“Well, you’ll have to hope we don’t catch our deaths instead. Come back to the fire and let me brush your hair before we have to cut it short to get the snarls out. Betty, you go see if the landlady has any tea or if there is anything hot on the fire.”
“Yes, Miss Conroy.” Betty scuttled out.
“You and the princess can wait one more day, Jane,” said Liza. “Everything will be fine.”
* * *
It was the creaking step that gave Lehzen away. Phillips, who had been dozing by the kitchen door, shook himself and rose to his feet.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. Sir John said you’re not to leave.”
“But—” began Lehzen.
Phillips was already shaking his head. “He was very clear, ma’am. It’s as much as my position’s worth.”
“Perhaps—” She reached into her bag.
But Phillips shook his head again. “No, ma’am. I’m sorry.”
There was nothing left to do but to beg. “Please, Phillips. The princess is ill. She needs a doctor at once.”
“I know, ma’am,” he whispered.
“Then let me go.”
“I can’t. He’ll sack me. I’m all the support my family’s got.”
I will not cry, Lehzen told herself.I will not fall at this man’s feet. I will think. There must be something. There must be . . .
She looked around the darkened kitchen, saw the clock, saw the keys hanging on their hooks, saw the calendar on the wall, with the date circled.
Remembered the princess’s whispered plans, and her heart squeezed painfully.
“If I cannot leave, perhaps you could send the boy with a letter? It’s for a friend of mine. I just need it left at the post office. What harm can that do?”
Phillips met her gaze. Lehzen did not permit herself to so much as blink.
“Right,” he said. “A note to the post office. I’m sure that would be fine. Give it to me, and I’ll see the boy’s sent just as soon as the rain clears a bit.”
It was the slimmest possible hope. It was almost certainly no hope at all. But it was all that she had.
* * *
“Oh, do sitdown, Jane,” cried Liza.
