Chapter 7
Jessica and Brandon entered the parlor, finding Phileas and Rebecca enjoying refreshments with the squire. Phileas and Squire Macaulay stood as she entered. Jessica accepted Phileas's hand in greeting, and then the squire led Brandon away.
Jessica could feel bad news in the air. Phileas led her solemnly to a circle of chairs where Rebecca was waiting.
"Jessica," Phileas began, "I am sorry to inform you that there was a fire at your home. The house was badly damaged. Elijah Parker and I were there when it happened. He is back in London arranging for your furniture and effects to the cleaned and stored until repairs can be made."
"How did it start? Was anyone hurt?"
"We took some minor scrapes in it," Phileas lied straight-faced. "The fire was no accident. The Prussian agent in charge of the attack on Rebecca and I was sent after you. A vase of flowers with an explosive chemical in it caused the damage. The Prussians have mistaken you for being an agent of England. We are very sorry this has befallen you, but you must leave with us. Too many people know you are visiting here. Rebecca has been ordered to protect you until the Prussian is caught. We will take you to Shillingworth Magna. You will be safer there under our protection."
Through the shock of it, Jessica sat staring at her cousin's grave faces as she held the hand Phileas offered her. What he was telling her was unbelievable! A Prussian spy had destroyed her home? And no one had been hurt? Jessica put her full attention on Phileas, not just hearing him, but looking him over. She knew him well enough by now to know that Phileas understated anything unpleasant. It was an English talent. Her father used to do the same thing. The greater the unpleasantness the more trifling he would state it. Phillip's seizure, when he had been forced to tell her of it, was quote, "a minor irritation."
Fogg's face appeared red, possibly from exposure to heat. His hands were not wrapped in bandages, but they should have been. Jessica ran her fingers over the back of his hand noting the small burn blisters. "You should have your hands coated in ointment and wrapped," she said as he tried to pull his hand from her inspection. "I know how to make one that works well."
"Jessica," Phileas snapped impatiently. "We do not have time for that. You need to leave."
"I cannot leave," Jessica said in just as forceful a manner as he used. "Daniel is not with me and I will not leave him behind. He is up in the mountains with Brandon's relatives. I will not leave my son, especially not if there is someone out to do me harm." Jessica stared him down and any further complaints. "If they can't find me, they will go after him instead. No! I will stay here until Daniel comes back in three days."
Phileas silently cursed her stubbornness, but could see no way around it. They most certainly could not leave without the boy. And looking for a group of boys in the mountains, even with the Aurora, would take forever. At this time of year, all the mountains of Scotland would be covered with campers and hunters.
"All right," Rebecca said. "You are quite right. We will just have to wait. Phileas or I will accompany you anytime you leave the house. We will have to insist you not go off the estate. And… I know you are here to be courted but…" Rebecca smiled in the meaningful silence and Jessica echoed it.
"Yes, I will have to keep in sight," she agreed, grinning broadly.
Phileas caught what the women were alluding to and grinned despite himself. Brandon MacAlister would need a talking to, and Rebecca's lopsided grin in his direction told Phileas who had just been elected to do it.