Page 128 of By the Sword
‘You took a terrible risk,’ Henrietta said.
Freeman’s lips compressed. ‘He was quick to remind me of my loyalties, Hen,’ he said. ‘It’s done. I’ve ordered the coach and will go straight to the Tower.’
Kate laid a hand on his sleeve. ‘Thank you. This is a debt we can never repay you.’
The lawyer put his hand over hers. ‘Kate, you must prepare yourself. He is seriously unwell.’
Kate’s happiness evaporated. ‘Unwell? What do you mean?’
The lawyer swallowed. ‘A lung fever, I fear. Another few days and I would have been too late.’
Kate put her hand to her throat. Lung fever could kill the strongest man. She took a step back and felt Henrietta’s reassuring hand on her shoulder.
‘There is no time to lose then,’ Henrietta said. ‘Go Nathaniel.’
‘I’ll fetch my cloak.’ Kate turned for the door.
‘No,’ said the lawyer in a tone that brooked no opposition. ‘It’s no place for you.’
Kate turned back to face him. ‘I’m not easily upset.’
‘No, Kate. I will not waste time arguing with you. Make whatever preparations you think are needed and we shall return within the next hour or so.’
Picking up his hat and gloves, Nathaniel Freeman left the parlour.
***
The Freeman coach turned in through the gates of the house long after it had gone dark. Kate seized the lantern she had ready by the door and ran out into the cold night air, with Henrietta and Ellen hard on her heels.
Dickon jumped down from the box and opened the door and for a brief, horrible moment Kate thought it had all been a terrible mistake and she found herself unable to move. Surely the ragged, filthy ruffian Dickon had to lift from the coach was someone else? The sturdy groom put one arm around the man, steadying him and the man lifted his head.
‘Kate? Is that you?’
Her heart shattered into a thousand pieces at the sound of his voice and the wretched state he was in. She gave a choking sob and thrust the lantern she held at Ellen and ran to him with tears running down her face unheeded.
Dickon relinquished his hold and she took him in her arms. ‘My dearest love,’ she said. ‘You’re safe now.’
‘I never thought to see you again–’
His legs gave way and together they sank to the ground, disturbing the neatly raked gravel. Kate smoothed back the tangled hair from his forehead that burned to her touch. His eyes, bright with fever, held hers and his breathing came in short, painful rasps. Was it possible they were too late?
From the door of the house came a wail. Kate looked up and saw Tabitha, clad only in her nightgown, standing on the step with her hands to her mouth.
‘He’s dead.’ The girl’s eyes grew wider and her face paler. ‘It’s all my fault.’
She turned and ran.
‘You leave ‘im to Mistress Freeman and me,’ Ellen said, placing her hand on Kate’s shoulder. ‘Go and see to the child. You’re more use to her than you are to him. You’ll just get in’t way.’
Ellen was right. There was nothing practical she could do for Jonathan. She surrendered him to Ellen and his aunt and went after Tabitha.
The child had retreated to her bedchamber and huddled on the bed with a wriggling Oliver in her arms. Kate laid her hand on the child’s rigid back.
‘Tabitha, he’s not dead,’ she said softly. ‘He’s very ill but he’s not dead.’
Tabitha pressed her face into Oliver’s side, her shoulders heaving with the wracking sobs. Kate took the child in her arms, allowing Oliver to wriggle free. He sat on the floor looking up as Kate rocked the stiff, unresponsive child.
‘It’s all my fault that they put him in prison and now he’s going to die.’ Tabitha’s voice sounded muffled against Kate’s bodice.
