The Mysterious Lord Marlowe by Anne Herries

Author:Anne Herries [Herries, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4603-4932-8
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Jane had chosen a plain dress and donned a dark cloak with a hood. Passing a fruit seller on her way to the notorious prison, she had purchased some oranges; she had also brought bread and a meat pie from the kitchens at Lady Mary’s house. Lord George would soon run through the money he’d carried in his pockets if he had to pay for food to be brought in, and though his lawyer could supply him with more, she felt some relief in being able to bring him some comforts.

Outside the prison she paused, glancing up at its forbidding walls and the stout gate. Had Lord George been imprisoned for debt it would not have been quite so bad, for she knew that debtors were treated quite well and their families were able to visit every day, some choosing to live there with the prisoner, free to come and go as they pleased. Newgate was rather different to the Fleet.

She rang the bell outside. A small opening appeared at the top of the gate as a panel slid across and a face peered out at her.

‘State yer business, miss.’

‘I have come to visit one of the prisoners,’ Jane said, raising her head proudly. ‘Lord George Marlowe. He was brought here yesterday, to await trial, I believe.’

‘Yeah, he be here. I suppose yer can come in fer a short visit. What have yer got in the basket?’

‘Food,’ Jane said and offered the basket, hiding her feelings as he rifled the through the food with his grimy hands and took an orange. She slipped her hand in her pocket and took out a shilling, holding it out to him. ‘For your trouble, sir.’

He nodded, took the coin and bit it, then slipped it into his coat pocket. ‘I’ll take yer to him, but yer can only stay fer ten minutes.’

‘Thank you. You are most kind.’

Jane followed through the courtyard. There were various buildings on both sides and some men and women were walking in the yard. They all looked slightly dirty and unkempt, and she realised these must be favoured inmates who had been allowed to come out for some air. Three of the men were wearing irons on their legs.

Pray God that Lord George had not been subjected to such barbarous treatment!

Jane’s throat tightened as they went into the main building. The air inside was fetid and she had to hold her breath for a moment to keep herself from feeling sick. What a terrible place this was! She was distressed that George should have been brought to this merely through a need to clear himself in her eyes. The foolish man. There had been no need to do such a thing for her sake.

She had not been mistaken in him. He was as honourable, kind and generous as she had thought him when they were escaping.

The gaoler led her past rows of cells where prisoners were herded together, both men and women, all in large cells without a stick of furniture between them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.