Rebel Magisters (Rebel Mechanics #2)(70)

I was rather surprised that we hadn’t yet heard from the governor. I would have expected him to rush in to take control of the children as soon as he heard what had happened. He had to have heard by now. Even if he hadn’t been informed through official channels, he would have received Flora’s message. If he hadn’t responded, did that mean he really was behind it? Was he even now interrogating Henry?

The governor finally arrived when we were at dinner. Mr. Chastain ushered him into the dining room and ordered a footman to set another place. “There’s no need,” the governor said brusquely. “I won’t be staying to eat. But I thought I ought to see to the children.”

Olive jumped out of her chair to go greet him. “Oh, Grandfather, please, won’t you help Uncle Henry?”

“I’m afraid I can’t show favoritism. He has to be treated just the same as anyone else.”

Flora surprised me—and probably everyone else present—by giving an unladylike snort. “Come now, Grandfather,” she said. “You can’t pretend that to be the case. People are treated differently based on their rank all the time. I’m sure he’s not being given the same treatment as one of the Rebel Mechanics might be.”

“He is being treated with all fairness, but I can’t use my power to free him. The charges against him are very serious.”

“What did he do?” Rollo asked eagerly.

“That’s nothing to be discussed here. Now, I suppose it would be too much trouble to expect all of you to come to my house tonight, but Miss Newton, perhaps you could supervise the packing tomorrow.”

“Packing for what?” Rollo asked.

“With your guardian in jail, you should come live with me.”

Flora surprised us again. “No, we won’t,” she said firmly. “I think it best for Olive and Rollo that their lives are disrupted as little as possible. They need to be in their own home, with their own belongings, following their usual routine. The staff here can look after us, and Miss Newton can supervise the children. It will be no different than if Henry were away on business.”

“This may not be resolved quickly. Your uncle may never come home.”

“When it is resolved, we can make decisions.”

I thought for a moment that the governor would argue with her, but he nodded and said, “You have a very good point. Miss Newton, I will leave them in your capable hands, but I will check in on the children frequently.”

When he was gone, Olive said, “I don’t want to go live with Grandfather. I want to live here, with Uncle.” Tears trickled down her cheeks.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Flora assured her. “This home belongs to Rollo, and he has every right to stay here. The management of the estate may go to someone else if Henry is convicted, but there’s no reason we should have to move. I won’t go.”

As I’d anticipated, Olive didn’t want to sleep alone that night, so I stayed in her room with her. It was a sleepless night for me. The presence of that letter in my desk drawer seemed to call out, like a telltale heart beating its presence from its hiding place. I also found myself imagining Henry’s plight, in varying degrees of horror. As relieved as I was not to have been arrested, I felt guilty for being free while he suffered when I’d committed nearly as many crimes as he had. Morning came as a great relief, for I no longer had to pretend to be asleep. I could get up and do something.

“Do you think we could visit Uncle in jail?” Olive asked as I helped her dress.

“I don’t know. We’ll have to see if his attorney has any news. I’m not sure Lord Henry would want you in the jail.”

“But I want to see him.”

“I do, too. But a jail isn’t the sort of place little girls or young ladies should visit.”

I tried to go about my normal routine, eating breakfast, getting Rollo to school. The news about Henry hadn’t been in the newspaper, so I noticed no scandalized glances at our appearance there. Olive had no enthusiasm for her schoolwork, and I didn’t push her. Flora joined us at lunch, though none of us were very hungry. We merely pushed food around on our plates. “I believe we could all use a turn in the park,” Flora said as the plates were cleared. “It’s a pleasant enough day, if we dress warmly.”

I wanted to ask who this imposter was who was impersonating Lady Flora, but I’d always known that she was merely playing at being a brainless flibbertigibbet. That was why her uncle despaired of her. She was capable of being so much more than she allowed herself to be. Now she was rising to the occasion.

We put on coats, hats, and gloves and set out into the park. It was a crisp, cold day, and the wind was relatively gentle. Olive clung desperately to my hand, like she was afraid someone would take her away from me. Flora appeared to be on high alert, and I wondered if she was wary of the authorities or possibly hoping to encounter Colin. She hadn’t said anything about him since we’d returned from our trip, but I didn’t know if that meant she’d given up or if she was strategizing and hoping to lower my guard. All three of us flinched when we passed a policeman, but he merely nodded in passing.

A voice called out, “Why, it’s Miss Newton!” and I turned to see a man and a woman sitting on a nearby bench. It was Lizzie and Colin, but their clothing was much more respectable than their usual Mechanics attire. No one would have thought twice about their presence in this part of town. Colin smiled at the sight of Flora, but his eyes were more serious than I’d ever seen them, and Lizzie’s face was unusually grave. I got the distinct impression that they knew what had happened and had come looking for me.