Though she had been brought Jane into the Ayliffe household by Brennan, the servant belonged to the countess, in body and soul. After nearly five years they had become dear to each other, very nearly confidential friends. And Anne trusted her implicitly. She told Jane some parts of her secret conversation with Lady deFrayne, the significant truth being that her own family would be appalled to learn she would even consider trying to help that family. Of course, Jane was more than sympathetic, for Marcella was a difficult woman to abide. As Anne also explained, she did not want to involve her husband lest he, too, should oppose her interference. Jane seemed to accept all this. Jane was, therefore, Anne’s only escort and companion to the home of Daphne deFrayne. Two squires led their palfreys to Knightrider Street, where the women left them and walked on alone from there. Anne frowned in concern when a man answered her knock at the modest residence.
