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Chapter Twenty-Three

All in all, Jerome spent eight nights in Newgate before being summoned to attend the House of Lords, during which time Ava, in defiance of his instructions, visited him twice.

The first occasion was on the second day.

“Ava!” He sprang up from his chair, where he was sitting before the table under the window, writing.

“Jerome!” She flew into his arms and hugged him, and he lifted her slightly off her feet in an exuberant hug and kiss, so delighted to see her that he forgot for a moment the impropriety of her visiting him here.

“My love,” he murmured against her hair.

“Oh, Jerome, I’ve missed you so!” she said tearfully.

“And I have missed you, my darling, but you really shouldn’t be here. It’s not seemly.”

“I don’t care about that. Everything is so horrid without you. And people are saying the meanest things! It is all too dreadful. Poor Sophie is suffering too because of it, and I was afraid Letty would be angry about it, but she has been a tower of strength.”

“Letty is the very best,” he said quietly. “I never fully appreciated her until this year. Come sit on the bed with me and tell me everything that is going on. But I warn you, the bedclothes may contain passengers who will want to ride home with you.”

“Urgh!” Ava wrinkled her nose but sat anyway. “Lady Mostyn has been stoking the fires, and gossip is rife. Whenever I enter a room, people stop talking! It’s awful. Most people are keeping their distance from me. A few have given me the cut direct, but the majority are waiting to see what the outcome of the trial is before cutting ties with me completely. But I will remember who stood my friend and who did not. Robert has been marvelous. He has considerable influence, you know, and his steadfast support of your innocence has been wonderful. You know how starched up he can be?”

Jerome nodded with a smile.

“Well, he has been coming the Grand Duke with everyone and that has given them pause. And then there is Mama. She has been absolutely magnificent. She quarreled dreadfully with Lady Mostyn. For you must know, I told Mama what you told me, and Rob backed me up. We were able to convince her that she had been duped by Lady Mostyn. Rob had tried to tell her earlier what you had told him, but she wouldn’t listen then. And, of course, Rob told Ashford and Pendrell as well. So, the three of them are standing buff for you. And Rey as well, for what it’s worth.”

“I’m obliged to him,” he said sardonically, not particularly heartened to hear that Ava was in contact with Lannister.

“You mustn’t mind that I spoke to him. I had to tell him the truth for I could not bear him to think there was anything in the rumors. They are quite outlandish, you know.”

“What are the rumors?” he asked, bracing himself.

“There are any number and each more lurid than the last. The latest is that Charis was with child, and she confronted you on the cliff, and you threw her off!” Ava’s indignation at this horrendous lie would have been comical if the situation weren’t so dire. How are we ever to recover from this scandal?

“I am so sorry you are being subjected to this. Perhaps it would be better to stay home and not go out in society?”

“What, and let them think you are guilty? Never!” said Ava, her eyes flashing blue fire.

“Oh, my darling, I do love you,” he said with a besotted grin and kissed her. A little while later he said unsteadily, “You must leave, sweetheart. I appreciate your visit more than you can know, but you shouldn’t be here. Promise me you won’t come here again. I am confident I won’t be detained for long.”

“I shall visit you as often as is needful,” she said firmly, with a martial light in her eye. “No one will keep me from my husband’s side.”

He considered arguing with her and decided not to, for there was another point he wanted to make instead. “Very well, my love, but I hope that you are being discreet in your dealings with Lannister, for the last thing we need is for the gossips to link your name with his in anything clandestine with me locked up. You do see how that would look, don’t you?”

She screwed her face up and nodded. “It’s horrid and completely untrue, but yes, I do see. I will be careful, I promise.”

*

He also received visits from Robert, Ashford, and Pendrell, who all assured him of their support.

When Rob came to see him, one look at the man’s face was enough to tell him how much strain he was under, and Jerome winced with guilt.

“I’m so sorry, Rob,” he said.

“Nonsense! This is not your fault. It’s that wretched woman’s malice.”

“But you’re not sleeping!”

Robert’s face twisted in a tired smile. “That’s not down to you, old chap. My son and heir is going through a period of not sleeping. And I confess on top of that, my little brother is causing me some anxiety.”