Free Savage Deception (Liberty's Ladies) by Lynette Vinet Page B

clutched at her stomach. She doubted that Anne and the children would be able to survive without David.
    “Perhaps there’s something we can do. Have you talked to Lord Rawdon?” Diana became calm, realizing that if she gave way to her own hysteria, Anne’s dilemma would be worse.
    Anne wiped her eyes with the back of her fists. “I can’t even get into see the bloody swine.”
    Anne never used strong language, but in this instance Diana agreed with her and mentally cursed the British general in even stronger terms.
    “Your showing up now is a kindness, a miracle from God, Diana. I need help with the children since I’m unable to care for them now. All I seem able to do is weep.”
    “You’re ill and under a great strain.”
    “Why ever would you think I’m ill?”
    “Because of the letter from Lo…”
    Diana broke off, seeing Anne’s baffled look. She was baffled herself. Now that she’d seen Anne she could tell that Anne wasn’t sick at all, sick at heart, maybe, but certainly not sick physically. But the letter from Rawdon had said Anne was ill and needed her, yet Anne stated she’d never been able to see Rawdon.
    “Have you contacted Lord Rawdon by message?” Diana asked.
    “Humph! If only I could. Nothing and no one gets past his people except for the chosen few.” Diana saw that Anne’s face was flushed, her spirit seeming to return because of Diana’s presence.
    So Anne hadn’t written or seen Rawdon. Then who sent the note to Briarhaven?
    Diana opened the drapes to allow the mid-morning sunshine into the room and told Anne to rest, that she’d have Ruthie send up some warm tea so they could talk. Anne smiled gratefully, but the second Diana left the room Diana heard her start to cry again. Downstairs, she spoke with her nephew, who was named after his father and resembled him, and the two younger girls, Jane and Prudence. They were more than happy to see her, and as they ate some cold mutton and drank their tea with her, Diana listened and laughed with them, but she couldn’t forget that Rawdon, or someone who forged the general’s name, had commanded her to come to Charlestown. A sense of alarm swept over her as she wondered who it might be.
    ~ ~ ~
     
    “Ain’t got no more firewood except for the little in the stove,” Ruthie told her later. “Ain’t got no money either now that Mr. Richmond is in prison. Miss Anne is brave, but she can’t make it without the mister. I don’t know what will happen to her and the children.”
    Ruthie’s voice quivered and Diana hugged her. Ruthie had been with the family since before the Montaigne sisters were born and considered herself to be more than a servant, almost like their mother. “You shall all come to Briarhaven if David … if the unspeakable happens.” Diana couldn’t even say the word hang. How did Anne manage to live with the horror of not knowing how David was, of wondering if he’d soon be executed? For all of Anne’s tears, Diana admired her sister for not falling completely apart as she feared she herself might do in a similar situation. “I have some money,” Diana assured Ruthie. “We’ll get some firewood and food. In fact, I’ll do that this afternoon.”
    Checking upon Anne and finding her asleep an hour later, Diana decided that now would be the perfect time to run her errands. She’d told Ruthie that she had money, which was true, but she hadn’t told her how little money there was. Diana doubted she’d be able to afford much in the way of food. She might even have to resort to fighting off the vultures at the market for the pickings, and as far as firewood, she hoped she could talk Anne into burning some of the furniture if she couldn’t afford the wood. The children needed the extra warmth.
    A blustery wind whipped the tendrils of Diana’s hair about her face. The sun’s rays slanted downward but barely warmed Diana as she pulled her black cloak closer against her body and stepped out of the front door. A