The room was just as lavishly furnished as the breakfast room and study. Large chairs were decoratively scattered around the huge room, which was lined from floor to ceiling with bookshelves. In fact, the more Jemima studied the room, the more she realised books were everywhere. There were piles of them haphazardly stacked on the desk nearest the large French doors, numerous piles stacked on the floor beneath the chairs, and even on the tables next to the hearth! Jemima wondered if the family were avid readers. If they were, they would certainly never run out of material to read.
Shaking her head she reluctantly turned her thoughts to Hugo’s revelations, and the decision she had to make.
Although the way in which Hugo and his men had saved her was still raw, she could understand why
they had needed to carry out the subterfuge. Almost. But, setting that aside, she was no nearer to ridding herself from Scraggan’s menace. She wondered if she ever would be free of the man, who always seemed to be one step ahead of everyone else.
Despite Hugo’s clear belief in the capabilities of his men, the Star Elite, Jemima had first-hand knowledge of just how devious and manipulative Scraggan could be. Just how he managed to get so many people to help him was beyond her; surely they all couldn’t be oblivious to the man’s evil character, could they? But if men didn’t join Scraggan voluntarily, they were conscripted.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Eliza, who poked her head around the door, spotted Jemima sitting in one of the wing-backed chairs and came in, shutting the door behind her.
Jemima fought the urge to sigh. Although she loved her sister, and it was lovely to see her again, the timing of her arrival couldn’t be worse. It appeared that being alone in this house was practically impossible. Still, she couldn’t find the heart to ask Eliza to leave her alone for a few minutes.
“What are you doing in here?” Eliza fussed, studying the dark shadows beneath her sister’s eyes and the slight droop to her shoulders that hinted at her inner exhaustion. “You should be tucked up in bed,” she muttered, waving her sister to the door. “Come on, I’ll help you up.”
“Eliza,” Jemima said, raising her voice louder than she needed to, “I am not tired, and I don’t need to go to bed.” She said the words through gritted teeth to keep herself from screaming. She wasn’t a toddler, and didn’t need to take to her bed to recover from a fit of the vapours like some simpering miss.
Jemima wondered if Eliza realised just how much she had changed over the last few months, and somehow doubted it.
“Sit down for a minute, I need to ask you something.” She motioned Eliza to a seat, her face softening slightly at the hurt on Eliza’s face. “I know you are only trying to help, but I am fine. Really. I need your advice.”
Eliza picked up on the sense of urgency in Jemima’s voice and lapsed into silence, clearly knowing her sister well enough to know when it was wise just to keep quiet and listen. She didn’t have to wait long before Jemima quickly sketched in Hugo’s involvement in her release from gaol, and the risks to their informant back in Padstow now that Scraggan was no longer interested in Eliza and herself.
“You cannot seriously be considering going back there, can you?” Eliza gasped, staring at her sister in horror. It had only been a few days ago that she had been filled with trepidation at the thought of returning to the house she had once considered her home, her haven.
“You know she won’t talk to Hugo, no matter how charming he is. If they attempt to kidnap her to take her to safety against her will, she would just create as much of a rumpus as she could and would end up herself at even more risk,” Jemima reasoned.
“But Scraggan hasn’t found her yet. What makes you think that he is going to bother with her now?” Eliza argued, knowing deep inside that Jemima had already made her mind up. She couldn’t believe it, and fought the urge to run and fetch Edward, or Peter, to talk some sense into her.
“Hugo has men undercover in Padstow. They have reported that Scraggan’s men know there is someone watching them, who poses a risk to their operation. Hugo thinks that now we are out of the way, Scraggan will turn his attentions to the new risk, and take steps to put them out of action too,” Jemima explained, seeing no reason why Eliza shouldn’t know all the details.
“Do you think he could kill her?” Eliza whispered, thinking of the woman they both considered their closest friend.
Jemima looked askance at her sister. “Look what they thought they were doing to us.”
Silence settled between them for several long moments, as both women contemplated the possibilities.
“What does Hugo want to do?”
Jemima sighed and shook her head. “He wants her name so he can send men to protect her. I think they would kidnap her if she didn’t go with them quietly.”
Eliza snorted inelegantly and raised a sceptical brow at Jemima, who screwed up her nose and nodded in understanding. Jemima sighed, knowing that really left only one possibility.
“Peter won’t let you go,” Eliza said softly, thinking of his grief only yesterday.
“Peter can’t stop me. I mean, we’re not married or anything. He isn’t in a position to forbid me.”
“You simply cannot do that to him, Jemima, it is too cruel.” Eliza didn’t try to keep the censure out of her voice as she stared at her sister, wondering what he would do if Jemima left.
“I know, but I am not like you, Eliza. Things over the past few months have been different for me; harder.” Jemima smiled softly at her sister, knowing she didn’t understand, but was glad of her ignorance. “I have things I need to come to terms with before I can consider settling down into matrimony. I think that, while Scraggan is alive, there is still a threat from him, and I cannot put the family at risk. Besides, I don’t think I could ever settle down to a life of nothing more than reading and sewing.”
Eliza understood, she really did, but still felt she had to object to Jemima putting herself in such danger.
“What makes you think you can get in to Padstow and back out without crossing paths with him?” Eliza reasoned, thinking of her own plans to visit her old home under the cover of darkness.
“I am not saying I am going,” Jemima said hesitantly, only to pause when Eliza sighed and tutted at her.
“What?”