The Last Heiress by Mary Ellis

Author:Mary Ellis
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736950534
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.

Ten

It was all Amanda could do to sit still in the Stewarts’ stuffy, enclosed brougham. Once they arrived at their destination, the judge insisted she remain in the carriage because “jails were no place for ladies of a delicate nature.” She didn’t feel as though her nature was very delicate. If Rosalyn hadn’t ridden along too, Amanda may have followed Judge Stewart into the forbidding brick building. What if the local militia refused to recognize civil authority? What if Nate had already been transferred to the brig at the Confederate fort? One troubling possibility after another came to mind while the judge was inside.

Just as the last of her patience ran out, Judge Stewart and a haggard Nate Cooper appeared in the doorway. He wore no hat or frock coat, his shirt was badly wrinkled, and his vest flapped open. Upon closer inspection, Amanda spotted the reason why. “All his buttons are gone,” she murmured.

Rosalyn leaned toward the window. “Be thankful he still has his boots. I’ve heard the jailers are less reputable than their prisoners—no offense intended to Mr. Cooper.” She smiled comfortingly at Amanda before settling back as her husband and Nate entered the carriage.

“You sit there, Mr. Cooper, next to Miss Dunn,” said the judge. “She was very brave to speak to me on your behalf.”

“I am grateful for your intervention, sir, and to you, Miss Dunn,” Nate murmured, locking gazes with her.

“I see they stole your buttons. Did they treat you miserably? Did they refuse to provide food? You look thinner than I recall.” Amanda prattled on as though she had just been released from confinement.

His pale face brightened measurably with a smile. “Worry not. I spent only two days incarcerated thanks to your swift action and the judge’s mercy. No one can lose much weight in so short a time.”

“Was it loathsome, Mr. Cooper? Did the air smell foul and were the walls crawling with vermin?” Rosalyn pressed a hand to her throat.

“Where do you hear such things?” asked the judge, aghast.

“At sewing guild, my dear.” His wife’s focus remained on Nathaniel.

“No, Mrs. Stewart. My window caught the night breeze and my treatment was relatively humane. When I refused moldy bread and rice, the guard said the meal was the equal to those served at the fort.”

Judge Stewart cleared his throat. “Enough talk about bad food. Why don’t you and Miss Dunn join us for dinner tonight? Our cook works magic with she-crab soup.”

Amanda tried to look encouraging, but Nate shook his head. “Thank you, sir, but I’m eager to check on my store. Besides, I have inconvenienced you enough for one day. Perhaps Miss Dunn can be persuaded.”

“What say you, my dear? Shall we take you home or back to the Henthornes’?” Rosalyn’s gaze rotated between them.

“If you don’t mind, I would also like to be dropped off at Cooper’s Greengrocery. I won’t be able to sleep until I hear every detail about his arrest.”

Rosalyn hid her smile even as her husband laughed heartily. “A woman unafraid to speak her mind? I hope that affliction doesn’t spread across America.

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