Pretender's Game

by Louise Clark

His eyes burned. He said mockingly, “Even after all that has happened, you still have faith in English justice?”

  She winced, then whispered, “How can I do anything else? I must believe in something—”

  His voice roughened, then hardened. “Believe in this, wife. It is because of your fine English justice that I am here, and for one excuse or another, I will not leave this prison a free man.”

  “Do not give up hope, James! I’ve written to my father, asking for his help. Your father and Mr. Ramsey are agreed that if my father demands that you be released into his custody, even Harris cannot refuse.”

  “Released into the custody of an English general? Damn you, woman, what were you thinking of?”

  Thea shook her head. “What is the matter, James? I don’t understand why you would dislike the arrangement.”

  “I am a Highland Scot, Thea, a Jacobite! Tilton is an Englishman, an English Whig. The two can never exist comfortably together.”

  His words bit hard into the dream Thea had long cherished, the dream that her husband would fall in love with her as surely as she had fallen in love with him. What of his tender words the night before the duel? His voice rang in her ears and she felt dizzy. She put her hand out, seeking support and found the cold, hard iron manacle on his wrist.

  The shock of that sensation roused her from her aching, bitter anguish. She stepped back, avoiding James’s reaching hand, and shook out her skirts. “Nonetheless, husband, if my father sees fit to arrange your release you will accept it, for you will be given no choice. Just as you had no choice but to marry an Englishwoman.”

  A small smile twisted his lips. “My beautiful Thea,” he said softly, almost on a sigh. “Do you know you are magnificent when you are angry? Even in this poor light I can see the sparks flying from your eyes.”

  She tossed her head, still angry at him, but knowing her time with him was almost over. There was something she must tell him, whether he wanted to hear the words or not, and she could not be sure when she would see him again.

  “I came here, James MacLonan, because I love you. I do not expect you to feel the same for me, but understand this, I will do anything in my power to free you. You may not like my methods, but I will not allow that to change what I must do!”

  The door edged open and a shaft of harsh yellow light pieced the dimness. “Time’s up and I’ve given you more than I meant,” the turnkey said as he poked his ill-featured head through the doorway. He leered grotesquely. “But the lass here is a mighty fine piece—”

  “If you’ve harmed her,” Thea shouted, relieved to have someone to vent her temper on, “I’ll personally carve you into little pieces!”

  The guard jerked back. “Nay, I was only making a wee jest. The lass is fine. She’s the same as she came in.”

  Thea caught up her skirts and swept regally toward her victim. “She had better be! For I mean what I say!” The guard cringed, nodding understanding as she strode past him.

  As the door slammed, Thea thought she heard a low masculine chuckle, but the sound was so quiet she could have imagined it.

  *

  That afternoon she was in the parlor when Grant MacLonan arrived home. He was accompanied by Brendon Ramsey. Without preamble, Thea said, “I’ve been to see James.”

  Neither man looked surprised. By now they were both used to her daily visits to the prison. Thea tried again. “Did either of you know that Lord Staverton has been trying to arrange passage to France for James?”

  This time Ramsey did look surprised, but the expression on Grant’s face gave him away. He said slowly, “Why do you ask, daughter?”

  “Because his attempts have put James in chains,” Thea said, and surprised herself by bursting into tears.

  MacLonan approached her and patted her shoulder awkwardly. “There, there, Thea. Don’t cry. It will be all right.”

  She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief. “Please tell Lord Staverton to stop what he is doing. The passage to France no longer exists and I could see no possible way of getting James out of the vile prison.”

  “You mean you really did visit James?” Ramsey demanded. “What on earth possessed you to do such a thing?”

  “I told you, I was trying to find a way for James to escape from the Tolbooth so that he could make use of the passage Lord Staverton had arranged.”

  Brendon Ramsey muttered something under his breath, a rather uncomplimentary comment on women and Englishmen. “I have lived in Edinburgh all of my life. I visited James when he was first imprisoned. Did it never occur to either of you that I have seen the inside of the Tolbooth?”

  At Thea’s blank expression, he continued. “No, I can see that it did not. Had you thought to ask, I would have told you the place was a fortress and that it is quite impossible for someone to escape from it.”

  “I found that out, to my cost,” Thea said bitterly. “Mr. Ramsey, Colonel Harris had chains put on James. Can you arrange to have them taken off?”

  Ramsey tapped his fingers together. “I will do my best, Thea, but I can promise nothing.”

  Thea nodded. She put her hands on her belly, seeking comfort from the new life growing there. She must not give up hope.

  “Thea,” Grant said, drawing her eyes to him. “Judge Denholm has managed to force Harris to set a trial date. It is to be at the end of November, almost a month from now.”

  Excitement was followed by fear, as James’s mocking words echoed in her mind. Do you still believe in English justice, Thea? Did she? Could she? “But that is good, isn’t it?”

  “There is more,” Ramsey added heavily, and looked at Grant.

  Thea looked at him too. His expression wasn’t hopeful.

  “Since Lieutenant Williams will definitely recover, Harris has agreed that should James be convicted, the punishment will be reduced to transportation to one of the colonies, not hanging.”

  Transportation! The bitter certainty of James’s words came back to her, haunting her. If he appears safe and away in Europe, they’ll transport me to one of the colonies as they did so many after Culloden. I’ll be used as an example to any man who might consider following the Stuarts again.

  Thea put her hands over her eyes and gave way to despair.

  Chapter 19

  The next morning the butler brought her a card as she was sipping tea at the breakfast table. She fingered the white pasteboard with a little frown. “Is Mrs. Ramsey still here?”

  “She is waiting in the parlor, Mrs. MacLonan.”

  Thea looked at the card for a moment longer, then nodded her head. “I shall go to Mrs. Ramsey. Bring a pot of tea and a plate of Cook’s delicious seed cakes, if you would, please.”

  The servant nodded and went away. Still holding the card with the elegant handwriting, Thea went to the parlor to greet her visitor.

  Olivia Ramsey was standing by the fire, still wearing her hat, cloak, and gloves. She smiled when she saw the surprised expression on Thea’s face. “I was not sure of my welcome, my dear, after you very nearly snubbed me in the street yesterday.”

  Thea could not remember the walk home from the Tolbooth. Her thoughts had been with James, there in the dank, filthy cell in which he was lodged. She bit her lip. “Surely not, Mrs. Ramsey. I would never do such a thing. I know you are a dear friend to my family!”

  Olivia smiled thinly. “I am aware of your troubles, Thea, and so I did not assume your intention was purposeful, but I have heard others who are not so charitable.”

  “I had no idea,” Thea murmured. With Brendon Ramsey so deeply involved in the efforts to help James, Thea did not want to insult his wife, so she hastened to help Olivia off with her cloak, then found her a place by the fire. Once the tea was delivered and poured, Thea said, “Mrs. Ramsey, pray do accept my apologies.”

  “Of course, Thea. Now, you will want to know the reason I am here.”

  Thea raised a brow. There was a decisiveness to Olivia’s tone that she could not miss.

>   “As I am sure you have guessed, there has been much gossip about James’s imprisonment. My husband and Mr. MacLonan have been talking to everyone of importance in this city, and their wives seem to have just as much information as they do.”

  Thea felt herself coloring. “And just what do they know?”

  Olivia sipped her tea and eyed Thea consideringly. “They know that James has been imprisoned for dueling with Lieutenant Williams. They know that the lieutenant is expected to recover. They know that you have fallen desperately in love with your Highland lord and would do anything to free him, including a recent visit to the Tolbooth.”

  “Is that all?”

  “They have not decided if you are a heroine or a hoyden for going to the Tolbooth. At the moment, opinion leans toward a heroine. And that is why I am here.”

  Thea shook her head. “I am thoroughly confused, Mrs. Ramsey.”

  Putting her cup down with a snap, Olivia said tartly, “Consider, Thea. Society has decided that you are to be congratulated, not censured, for bravely entering a horrid prison in order to ease your husband’s suffering. Now is the moment for you to re-enter society. I am having a musical evening in three days. I want you to attend.”

  “Go to a party?” Thea said, aghast. “Mrs. Ramsey, the last thing I want to do now is spend an evening smiling and pretending to be happy!”

  “Then you have not thought this through.” She scanned Thea thoughtfully. “My husband tells me that you have written your father, but he has not responded. Why did you write him?”

  Thea blinked. “Why? Because I hoped that he would be able to help.”

  “In what way?”

  “Why, he could use his influence, of course!”

  “Yes! That is my point exactly. Your father has influence.” She stopped for a heartbeat, then continued. “So do you.”

  Thea drooped. Shaking her head, she said, “No, I do not. That is what this is all about, Mrs. Ramsey. I had no power to help Maggie MacLonan, or to influence Lieutenant Williams. I could not stop James from coming to Edinburgh to challenge Williams and I could not keep Colonel Harris from chaining my husband like a common felon. I have not even been able to influence my father enough to cause him to consider aiding his son-by-marriage.” Her voice wavered. “You are wrong, Mrs. Ramsey, I have no influence, or power.”

  There was silence after Thea finished. Then Olivia said gently, “Do not despair, Thea.”

  She sniffed. “How can I not? In a month James will be sent to trial. Colonel Harris is asking that he be transported to the colonies if he is found guilty. And he will be because the charge is assault with intent to kill, and that is exactly what happened.”

  “Nonsense. James participated in a duel that was conducted in a perfectly respectable way. It was not attempted murder.” When Thea looked disbelieving, Olivia hurried on. “But that is neither here nor there. What is important is that you must assert yourself, Thea. Mr. Grant MacLonan is wealthy and can purchase influence, but he is a Highland Scot whose two sons followed the Pretender. My husband is a Whig and his influence is great amongst those who count in our society, but he too is a Scot. You, Thea, are not. You are English and your father is General Sir Frederick Tilton. Remember that!”

  “How can I forget,” Thea said bitterly, straightening all the same. “That is why James married me and look what good it has done him!”

  “Than make it do some good, Thea. Come to my musical evening and let people know that Theadora Tilton married James MacLonan, but she is still a Tilton and she is still English and she is still a good Whig and…” Olivia paused and smiled dangerously. “She does not like the way her husband is being treated. You have more influence than you think, Thea, but you will never know how much until you use it.”

  Thea picked up a seed cake and began to nibble. “There is merit to what you say, but—Mrs. Ramsey, I have not been out in society since I returned to Edinburgh. I have nothing to wear.”

  Olivia sent Thea another of her shrewd assessing looks.

  “You do seem to have gained some weight.”

  Thea blushed. The sickness that had plagued her was easing and she was beginning to notice changes in her body.

  Evidently, they were visible to those observant enough to see them.

  “Obviously,” Olivia drawled, her gaze lingering at Thea’s much fuller breasts and thickening waist, “marriage has been kind to you.”

  Thea blushed harder. “That wasn’t exactly what I meant, Mrs. Ramsey. When we came down from Glenmuir I only packed morning dresses. I did not think that I would have need of any other, for I did not expect to remain in Edinburgh this long.”

  Olivia waved this away. “My dressmaker will fit you. I shall simply tell her that she must have a gown ready for you by Thursday or she will not be able to expect my custom to continue in the future. She is a sensible woman and she will do it.”

  “But—”

  Olivia raised her brows. “Do you have another excuse? Something to do with the condition of your health, perhaps?”

  Thea was not about to confide in Olivia Ramsey. James had a right to know about his own child before half of Edinburgh heard, and Thea was quite sure that Olivia would not hesitate to use the information if she thought it might do some good, even if Thea had sworn her to secrecy. So she bowed gracefully to the inevitable. “I think a gown that used materials with bright, cheerful colors would be best, don’t you?”

  Olivia’s eyes gleamed. “Silver tissue for the petticoat, I think, with blue, perhaps, for the overskirt. Yes, a blue the color of your husband’s eyes. An excellent idea! You can point that out to people, Thea. The overskirt must be embroidered with silver thread. Should it be in a Scottish thistle, do you think?”

  Thea nodded. Energy had begun to flood though her, driving away the depression that had sapped her strength since her meeting with James the day before. “Intertwined with an acorn and the leaves of an oak—an English oak.”

  Olivia clapped her hands together. “Excellent! Yes, Scotland and England entwined. It is perfect! Now, when should you arrive? Should you be there from the beginning? No, I do not think that will work. You should be late, Thea. Make an entrance. You know how to do that. Grant MacLonan must bring you. Together you will make people stop and look—force them to notice you. Hold your head high and show them you will not be daunted. They will be flocking about you before you know it.”

  Hope made Thea’s eyes bright. “I believe you are right, Mrs. Ramsey.” She hesitated, then added, “But what if you are wrong?”

  Olivia smiled thinly. “Power withers and dies if it is not used, Thea. You must try. Now, let us put on our hats and cloaks and we will go to my dressmaker. She can work miracles, but not without a little assistance.”

  *

  Thea’s hand tightened on Grant MacLonan’s arm as they paused in front of the door to the Ramsey residence. He patted her fingers reassuringly.

  Thea took a deep breath. “I am ready,” she said. “I hope that Mrs. Ramsey was correct in her assumptions.”

  “What is the worst that can happen? That we are snubbed and Olivia Ramsey has to answer impertinent questions regarding her reasons for inviting a jailed man’s wife to her party? I fear that would be more difficult for Olivia than for us.”

  Thea glanced at him, a little surprised by his words. His eyes were alight with mischief. In that moment he looked so very much like his son that Thea’s heart twisted. Then she laughed. They were here to help James and for that cause she would risk anything. “Lead on, dear sir. We might as well discover what awaits us.”

  A burst of sound greeted them, for the party had been under way for well over an hour and people were chattering cheerfully over the music. Thea surrendered her cloak to the servant, revealing the gorgeous gown that Olivia Ramsey’s dressmaker had spent most of the past seventy-two hours creating. The silver petticoat and cerulean blue overskirt were draped over the wide hoops that flared the skirt out, hiding Thea’s thick
ening waist. The vibrant colors of the rustling satin were a rich compliment to Thea’s fair skin and drew every eye to her when she and Grant were announced.

  With her head high, she stood very straight and surveyed the crowd with slightly raised brows. Her glance was cool, almost, but not quite, haughty. In a bored way she snapped her fan open so that she could flick it casually as she surveyed the party-goers. Her gaze swept round, lingering here and then there as she deliberately made eye contact with only a few individuals. Conversation stilled as curiosity was piqued. After a moment she raised the fan to hide her mouth as she leaned toward Grant MacLonan.

  “Has this gone on long enough?” she whispered.

  In turn, he allowed his gaze to sweep the room, pausing occasionally. When he spotted the Duchess of Argyll he smiled and nodded. To those watching, unaware of what Thea had just said, it seemed that Thea had made a comment to Grant and he had been trying to verify it. Now he pointed to Olivia Ramsey and they moved toward her. Olivia, who had been lingering in the background, deliberately allowing Thea to be the center of attention, moved forward to meet them.

  “My dear, you look lovely,” she gushed loudly for all to hear. “One would never know that the government has taken it upon itself to persecute your family.”

  Thea was shocked by Olivia’s direct tactics, and for the space of a heartbeat she was too surprised to think of anything to say. Then she rallied, smiled sweetly, and replied. “My dear Mrs. Ramsey, thank you for your kind words. I know that many Scots feel the English have treated them badly over the past few years, but I must believe that the system is sound. James has been imprisoned by a jealous man whose spiteful behavior has, unfortunately, been allowed because he has no one to rein him in.”

  “My dear!” Olivia said, apparently aghast. “Do you mean…” She deliberately let the question drift off as she noticed someone nearby avidly listening. “But I must introduce you to Mrs. Buchannan.”

  “I know Mrs. Buchannan!” said Thea brightly. “‘Were you not Miss MacAuley last winter? I had not heard you were married. Tell me, how do you find your new status…” The conversation drifted into domestic issues. Thea would wait until Mrs. Buchannan, who was the daughter of a member of the Scottish Parliament, brought up the question of Colonel Harris before dropping her next little bit of slanderous gossip.