Don't Look Back

Chapter 74

Six weeks later

Georgiana didn't expect the shocking anvil of guilt that dropped as she rolled their carriage into London.

Sir Radmore handed her a newspaper, and she felt her heart shatter.

"We shouldn't have left." She whispered.

He nodded. "Caught up in our own bliss, I think." He replied.

"In prison, it says. Radmore!" She whacked him on the chest with it. "I told you we needed to wait."

He shrugged. "And though I have the utmost respect for that view, you know that I could not allow you to slip through my fingers." He pulled Georgiana to him and tried to kiss her.

"He is in prison because we were not here." She shoved him back and glared. "We were too selfish. And after everything we saw, we just abandoned him."

"Well, we will remedy all that." He jumped back in the carriage.

"We shouldn't need to." She snapped. "The man is blind and was nowhere near the incident."

"Well, the papers can spin a story."

She looked at her new husband without amusement. "Well, you must use your influence in the places. I know you have strings to pull and fix this."

He sighed. "Fine." Tapping his cane, he knocked on the ceiling. "To my lawyer, it is."

—

Sitting in his cell, he could better see his surroundings. Blurry, but the vision was still returning. Cold comfort that it was, he might be able to see the noose when before him.

"You are one lucky man." The jailer said, coming to him.

"Word from my lawyer?" Sidney asked.

"Better." The man clanked the keys. "Pardon from the high courts themselves. Word is you are not even going to stand trial." He said. "Lucky break."

Sidney blinked. He went to rub his face, but he was stopped as a familiar voice stopped him.

"Sidney?"

"Georgiana?"

She was a shadowy figure in the darkness.

"Can you see me?" She asked.

He nodded. "A little."

She reached through the bars as the jailer tried to find the right key.

"Where were you?" Sidney asked her.

She looked away. "I did something quite foolish. I went and married Sir Radmore."

Grabbing her hand, he squeezed. "Were you forced?"

She shook her head. "No, but I shouldn't have until you were cleared. We never imagined they would have thought you did it." She shook her head. "To be honest, I am uncertain we were thinking at all."

Sidney nodded. "Charlotte had to leave me for fear worse suspicion would fall upon me."

"Where is she?" Georgiana asked as he finally came through the barred door.

"She is gone." He sighed. "Lady Susan has written to me, but I dare not ask anyone to read the letters for fear the information is leaked to the papers. The guards listen, and I am lucrative news."

"Do you have them?" She demanded.

Sidney nodded and offered the folded paper.

"Come, Sir Radmore waits. We will manage everything after you have washed and rested." She put her arm around him.

"Am I really free?" Sidney asked.

Georgiana nodded. "It took our detailed statements and confession of elopement. The papers are going to have fun with that one. At least it will be new news."

Sir Radmore was down the hall. He heard their conversation and scoffed. "Stuff them all. I have the most lovely woman in all of England."

Georgiana rolled her eyes.

"I need Charlotte," Sidney whispered as he settled in the carriage. "How long have I been locked up?"

Georgiana looked at him sadly. "Over a month. You are too thin."

He waved her off. "I will recover, god willing. What happened to you? You are married?" Sidney asked her.

Georgiana shook her head. "Madness. I am certain I will regret it for a lifetime."

He nodded. "Madness is sometimes a dream come true." He thought of his own madness with Charlotte and leaned on the window as he tried to see out.

Georgiana opened the letter and sighed. "I have already inquired. Charlotte is in the country."

"Has she gone home?" Impatience laced Sidney's tone.

Georgiana shook her head. "No." Her brow furrowed. "I know you must want me to meet with her as quickly as possible."

Sidney nodded. "We can both call on her."

"You need your rest and to see the physician." She argued. "Your vision is returning. Perhaps it can come back faster now you are in better conditions."

He shook his head. "It will or it won't. I can see colors, shapes, and outlines. It is better than I ever hoped for. For now, I only wish to see Charlotte."

"We will." She promised. "Be patient."

"What of Lord Sellac?" Sidney asked. "What of the cur?"

Sir Radmore shrugged. "The law will handle him.

"Will they? After the way, they mishandled me."

Georgiana hushed them both. "We will fuss over all that later. I feel I haven't slept in a week."

Sidney heard her yawn and wondered if she was suffering more than fatigue.