Page 79

Asher climbed onto the table. “You stand there, Miss Hadford, and I’ll stand over here.”

Jane obediently took her position, and Alice carefully transferred the water from one container to the other. When she finished, she set the jar down with a sigh of relief. “Did we get ’em all?”

“I think so.” Asher’s face was in the bucket, and his voice echoed eerily. “Some of the fwogs are standing on the sticks.” He popped his head back up, a big smile on his face. “They like it, Alice.”

“I should say so,” Alice said. “Their home just became much bigger.”

“But it’s not as big as the pond.” Asher’s narrow shoulders slumped. “I pwomised Lord Bloxley I’d take them back to the pond when they turned into fwogs. He said they’d be happiest there.”

“We will take them back,” Jane said, already dreading the outing. How could she orchestrate the return of the frogs without communication with Alexander? “But we must wait for the rain to stop before we go.”

Asher frowned. “I thought fwogs like the wain.”

“I believe they do,” Jane said. “But they are used to being wet. You and I would not fare so well.”

The door to the nursery opened, and Phoebe walked in. “Good afternoon, Asher. How are the tadpoles?”

“They’re fwogs now,” he said proudly. “See.” He pointed to the bucket, and with no small measure of trepidation, Phoebe inched closer.

“So they are,” she said, remaining at least a foot from the table.

Jane smiled. “They won’t bite, Phoebe.”

“Maybe not, but they’re slimy and jumpy.” She shuddered, and Jane laughed.

“To what do we owe the pleasure of your company if you are not here to admire the frogs?”

“Oh.” Phoebe thrust an envelope at her. “This just arrived. Aunt Millward seemed to think you would want it right away, and as I was more than ready to escape Mother bemoaning what all the Society biddies will say about our prospective new family member, I volunteered to take it to you.”

Jane’s heart began to pound. She took the letter. A quick glance at the address told her that Alexander had penned it. Lowering her hand so Phoebe would not see it tremble, she managed an almost natural smile. “Thank you, Phoebe. So, Mother’s anger has turned to lamentation?”

“It has indeed. I believe she made the change sometime yesterday.” She looked over at Jane with a twinkle in her eye. “Which, as you well know, is a good thing.” She raised her fingers one at a time. “Anger, lamentation, grudging acceptance, satisfaction. It’s her normal cycle when life does not go exactly as she’s planned. Remember how long it took her to go through each phase when Father told her we would be moving?” She smiled encouragingly. “Take heart, Jane, her progression has been much faster this time. We’re halfway there already. Before you know it, she will be coming up to the nursery to check on the frogs.”

“But we have to take them back to the pond,” Asher said. He picked up one of the sticks and raised it so Phoebe could see the two small creatures sitting on it.

“Oh my!” Phoebe inched closer to the bucket. “You really do have frogs.”

With Phoebe’s and Asher’s attention temporarily diverted, Jane moved to the rocking chair and slowly eased into the seat. She set the letter on her knee, dread and relief battling a vicious duel in her chest until she could stand it no more. Picking up the envelope, she broke the seal and withdrew the letter.

Claremont House

12 May 1788

Claremont House? He’d written this from London. What was he doing there? Ignoring the chatter surrounding the bowl of amphibians, Jane began to read. When she finished, she lowered the letter to her knee again and stared unseeingly across the room. Never had her feelings been so bruised. Her joy that Alexander had rescued David and Elijah conflicted with her distress at learning of Daniel’s death. Her relief that the delay in hearing from Alexander had nothing to do with what she had shared in her last letter was countered by the sickening realization that he had not yet read it.

A scream escaped Phoebe’s lips, shattering Jane’s painful cogitation. Jane struggled to her feet. “Phoebe! What is it?”

“Frogs. Three of them.” She was shaking her arms and shuddering. “They jumped on me.”

Asher was already on the floor, attempting to gather the jettisoned creatures.

Alice was on her knees beside him. “I’m very sorry, miss,” she said. “I really thought they’d stay in the bucket.”

“Perhaps we can find a piece of muslin to put over the top to keep them in,” Jane said.

“But they won’t like it.” Asher was close to tears.

“It will not be there for long,” Jane said. “Just until we take them back to the pond.”