True Heart (31 page)

Jovial and serious at once, Napier said, “How nice that you've excluded the Stewart monarchs.”

Seeing his blunder, Redding swallowed hard. “Well, I . . .”

“Seem to be out of punch?” Edward glanced at Redding's full glass.

“Gone flat it has, as flat as the constable of Glasgow's good humor.”

“Then allow me.” Edward also took Virginia's glass. “I'm certain the two of you have pleasantries to exchange.”

Virginia watched him walk away. “The father of invention.”

“He is that and your brother-in-law too, I'm told.”

Virginia nodded. “Yes, he married my sister Agnes. I'm staying with them.”

“He said you spent some years in the tidewater.”

With absolute certainty, Virginia knew that her family had not elaborated on her time in America. They were too loyal to reveal secrets. Once again, she was glad she'd kept the truth from them. “Yes, that's where I first read
Reason Enough.
It's a remarkable work and best describes the state of mind prevalent in American both before and during the war.”

He demurred with “Some say Burke put it better than I ever could.”

She remembered Cameron's words, spoken what seemed like years ago in Virginia. “Burke disdains any progress beyond a snail's pace.”

“Well said.”

Since learning of tonight's event, she'd rehearsed what she wanted to say next. “I was wondering if you would accept a gift from me. It isn't much, but I made it myself.”

He frowned. “A gift? But we've only just met.”

“I know that, but . . .” She took the rolled document from her purse. “I wanted to give you a copy of
Reason Enough.
I scripted it myself from the
Virginia Gazette.”
On a rabbit hide that she'd tanned herself and with ink she'd distilled from lampblack and her own urine, Virginia had labored over the work. But she wouldn't tell him that.

He took the scroll. “I'm . . . I must confess, I'm at a loss for words. A happy turn of events some would say.”

“Your words inspired me at a time in my life when I'd given up hope.”

“A duke's daughter without hope? Sounds contradictory.”

Unwilling to divulge the bad turn her life had taken, she made light of the subject. “It no longer matters, but I wanted to say thank you and wish you well.”

He didn't unfurl the document but tucked it into his coat. “I shall treasure it, Virginia MacKenzie.”

“Treasure what?” said Edward. “Not Virginia, I hope. Cameron Cunningham will have something to say about that. They are betrothed.”

To her surprise and small disappointment, Redding said nothing to Edward about the gift. In fake gruffness, he asked, “Where is this Cunningham? I hope not with the duke of Ross. That man could teach stubbornness to King George.”

Both Edward and Virginia laughed. She said, “Cameron's in Edinburgh, but he'll be home on Saturday.”

*  *  *

Unfortunately Cameron's return was overshadowed by the arrival of the
Glasgow Courant.
In boldface type, the newspaper reported that Horace Redding had been arrested and charged with possession of treasonous material.

The evidence?

A tanned rabbit hide bearing the outlawed text of
Reason Enough.

“What will happen to him?” Virginia collapsed into a chair but couldn't sit still. Getting to her feet, she paced the length of the spacious dining room and stopped.

Cameron, Lottie, Sarah, and Edward sat at the table. Michael Elliot, Sarah's husband, stood in the doorway.

“Please sit down, Virginia.” Lottie sniffed into her napkin. “You'll make yourself sick with fretting.”

“Leave her be, Lottie.” Across the room, Agnes paced too, the baby, Juliet, clutched to her shoulder.

Cameron helped himself to another oatcake. “Sarah knows what will happen to him.”

“I'm not a barrister,” Sarah said.

But she knew, Virginia was certain of that. Facing them, her stomach sour with worry, she repeated a familiar phrase from her childhood. “Sarah knows. Sarah knows everything.”

She signed in resignation and pushed away her untouched meal. “That pamphlet is considered treasonous material. If he's found guilty, he'll be hanged or transported.”

Virginia rolled the newspaper and whacked the back of Cameron's chair. “Transported to where?”

“Australia.”

Cameron rose, took the paper from her, and held her hands. “ 'Twill be all right. Father knows people.”

Misery weighted Virginia, misery and anger at her own ignorance. “It's all my fault.”

“Nay.” Cameron pulled her against him and, murmuring “shush,” rubbed her back. “Trust me.”

She basked in his comfort, but the blame was hers. “I tell you, I'm responsible.”

A chorus of objections filled the room.

Virginia squeezed her eyes shut. They were her family and bound by loyalty to support her. Years ago when Mary had drawn her first satirical cartoon and sent it to the mayor of Tain, the family had rallied around her. They'd stood by her even as she apologized a week later.

Sarah's husband, Michael, who'd arrived earlier in the day with Cameron, poured Virginia a glass of water. “How can Horace Redding's problems be your fault?”

Sarah said, “Redding brought it on himself. He's a troublemaker.”

“Of course he is,” Agnes declared. “He knew better than to bring that essay with him.”

Lottie blurted, “Others have gone to the gallows for possessing that essay.”

That's why he hadn't unrolled the hide last night or mentioned it when Edward had rejoined them. A painful possibility popped into Virginia's mind. “What if he thinks I did it on purpose? Because of his disagreement with Papa.”

“You? Shush,” Cameron murmured. “What could you possibly have to do with their quarrel?”

A chorus of “Yes, what's” sounded, but the question hung in the air long after the room grew quiet.

“It is my fault.” Choked by self-loathing, Virginia moved away from Cameron and faced her family.

“You mustn't blame yourself,” Agnes insisted. The baby burped loudly, and nervous laughter erupted.

“It's my fault because I'm the one who gave it to him.”

“What?”

The prospect of confessing her role in the tragedy should have made Virginia feel better, but it did not. She hadn't even been home long enough to reacquaint herself with everyone in the family, and she'd already brought shame upon them.

Gathering courage, she said, “I admired him from the first word of that essay. For ten years, I read almost every copy of the
Virginia Gazette,
and never once did I read that possession of the document was punishable.”

“It wasn't in America.” Cameron wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “You couldn't know that.”

“I should have known.” What other rules would she break? “But life is so different over there.”

“Tell us about it, Virginia,” Cameron urged.

The need to unburden herself rose like a tide in Virginia. But hadn't she done enough?

“We are not strangers,” he said softly.

“Not at all,” Lottie said. “Look how much you've remembered already.”

Strangers, family, friends. They didn't deserve to bear the responsibility of her mistakes.

Patting her child's back, Agnes said, “We'd love you, Virginia, even if you had remembered nothing more than the design on that keg.”

Cameron squeezed Virginia. If he decided tomorrow to give his heart elsewhere, that small comfort would stay with her until God called her home.

She looked up at him. “Can your father truly help? When will he return from Italy?”

Like sunshine, his smile warmed her. “He'll return soon, and yes, he'll do everything in his power. We all will help.”

“You're never alone, Virginia,” Agnes declared. “You're never alone.”

Between fretful sniffs, Lottie said, “Don't forget our father and David have friends at court.”

“We'll need a barister,” said sensible Sarah.

Edward nodded. “But not a Glaswegian. That fellow in Carlisle . . .” He turned to Agnes. “What's his name?”

“Aaron MacKale.”

“Yes. I'll send for him today.”

“Thank you.” No sooner were the words out than another possibility occurred to Virginia. “Why not deport Redding to America?”

Cameron's smile turned bittersweet. “Because seditious material is outlawed. Our king is still tormented over the loss of his American colonies.”

Edward rose and took the baby from Agnes. “Some say that's what drove him mad.”

“Hoots! The pettiness and boredom of his own court is what's to blame.”

Edward came over to Virginia. “Excuse me, Cunningham.” When Cameron released her, Edward said, “Virginia, kiss your niece. 'Tis time to put her down for a nap.”

Edward handed over the baby. Cradling her, gazing into her angelic face, Virginia felt her pain ease. This sweet child was Agnes's baby, named for Virginia's mother, the duchess of Ross.

So many dreams were coming true for Virginia and now this nightmare.

“You're a MacKenzie, lass,” said Edward. “Never forget that.”

The MacKenzies wielded great power in Scotland. Edward Napier was considered a national treasure. Cameron's father was a member of Parliament.
Hope is not lost,
a voice inside her said.

“ 'Tis magic, no?” said Edward. “The way holding a baby can clear your mind.”

National treasure didn't begin to describe Agnes's husband. “Yes.”

“Good.” He patted her shoulder. “So what is next?”

Possibilities flashed in her head. “We need a plan.”

“She's right,” Cameron said.

Looking around the room, Virginia reconsidered the situation. Putting herself in Redding's place was easy, for bondage was surely similar to jail. “First, for Mr. Redding,” she said to all in the room. “We must look after his needs. He should not suffer humiliation or hunger.”

With a look, Cameron urged her on. “I'll see to it today.”

Lottie stood. “I'll supervise the preparing of a basket.”

“Don't forget bed linens,” Virginia said, remembering the nights of luxury she spent in the main house at Poplar Knoll prior to Cameron's arrival.

Agnes tapped a spoon against her glass. When she had everyone's attention, she stood. “Sarah, choose some books from the library—nothing seditious, mind you. Fill a box, and get Mrs. Johnson to find a lamp and plenty of oil. And a comfortable chair.”

More to himself than the crowd, Cameron said, “We'll need bribes for the guard.”

“I have money,” Virginia said, regretting the purchases she'd made in Norfolk. The remainder of her one hundred pounds would go far in ensuring Redding's comfort.

“I'll take care of it,” Cameron offered.

“No.” Pride urged her on. “I insist on using my money.”

“Very well. You can pay me back later.”

Virginia remembered meeting the constable of Glasgow last night. “Who arrested Redding? Was it Constable Jenkins?”

“ 'Twould be his first arrest,” Agnes grumbled.

Lottie said, “Agnes should be named constable.”

Edward looked askance at that. “Countess of Cathcart is enough responsibility for me, thank you.”

“Worry not,” Cameron said. “I'll visit Constable Jenkins myself.”

“Nay,” snapped Edward. “You'll send a coach for him but show him no more courtesy than that.”

Although Cameron still held Virginia, he faced Edward Napier. “Why should I welcome him when our cause will be better served if I happen upon him at the cordiner's guild.”

“The cordiner's guild?”

“Aye, with luck and good planning, I should arrive just as he collects his stipend from them.”

“He takes bribes?” Agnes shuddered in revulsion. “That's politics.”

“I'll go with you, Cameron,” Edward said.

“There you have it,” Lottie declared. “The constable doesn't stand a chance. Just don't take Agnes along.”

“I resent that!”

Virginia prayed the plan succeeded. “Redding cannot be punished for my mistake.”

“Look at me, Virginia.” Taking the baby, Cameron gave the child back to her father. “If it comes to it, I'll pluck him from that jail myself and take him back to America.”

Agnes banged the table. “Hoots! I'll help. The locks must be old. Any awl will spring the mechanisms. We'll make a drawing of the building, noting every guard and exit. Notch can obtain a schedule of the guards—”

“Take the baby, Agnes,” her husband said in a voice that dropped like stones into the conversation.

She looked him up and down, a challenge in her eyes. He lifted a brow, and to everyone's surprise, she capitulated.