Newcastle, United Kingdom
October 1851

Thomas's heart was beating in his chest as he sat there in that musty pub Harry had told him about. It had been a week since Thomas had received Harry's letter, and still, he found that each time he read it, his hands could not help but tremble. Harry's words had all but doused the spark of hope within him with kerosene, prompting it to become a fell-fledged flame. He had waited years for this opportunity, and now it that he had made it into the city undetected, Thomas was finally allowing himself to be excited for what was to come.

Turning the paper over in his hand, Thomas once again set to reading Harry's letter; it was all he could do to keep from being devoured by his own anticipation. The candle light flickered beside him as he poured over Harry's words, savoring each sentence in his mind before moving on to the next. The bulk of Harry's letter contained news of Jane and of her desire to meet with Thomas, as well as the means to accomplish it. That was Thomas's favorite part.

He didn't like Harry's messily-written postscript, though. Reading it was like the bad taste in your mouth after a sweet wine; it kind of ruined whatever the pleasant feeling Thomas had received in reading the first part of the letter. It was likely at this juncture that meeting Jane would become a reality; however, the circumstances about that meeting had become tainting by the circumstances in which she was ensnared.

Harry had at long last informed Thomas of the danger that the Pelham family posed towards Jane, and even worse, the danger James posed to her. It was a brief explanation, seeing as how this section of the letter seemed to be rushed and much less deliberately thought-out than the rest. This change in formatting led Thomas to believe that something had happened to make Harry respond in this way, and he was anxious to find out what it was.

Then there was the part at the end. Thomas stared down at the paper in his hands, eyeing Harry's final words to him suspiciously. When requesting Thomas's immediate presence there in Newcastle, Harry had ended his correspondence by writing, "Please, my friend. Waste no time in coming here, for I fear that you are our only hope."

The word "our" was what interested Thomas. Though he did not want to falsely assume anything, he could not help but wonder what Harry had meant by including this plea. Why was he to save them both? What stake did Harry have in any of this? It was easy for Thomas to configure his own interpretation, for he once knew a time when he would have said the exact same thing if had been he and Victoria. Thomas knew that Harry had grown to care for Jane far more than he had anticipated, but this- could this transcend merely caring for her? Had Harry fallen in love with her?

Thomas didn't really know what to make of that possibility, mostly because he was aware of Harry's reckless past, and he wasn't sure whether he was okay with such a person vying for his daughter's hand. Despite the fact that Thomas did trust Harry more than he had any other person in his life, Thomas could not help the fatherly instinct to protect her at all costs, even if it meant denying a man who, in many ways, was his best friend.

Shaking these thoughts from his mind, Thomas folded the letter and slipped it into his coat pocket. He took up the beer in front of him, drinking deeply and sighing as the cold beverage somehow managed to warm his insides. He needed the relaxation that the drink gave him, because every passing minute made him more and more anxious. What if Harry didn't show at all?

Just as Thomas was about to start regretting his journey there, his light blue eyes darted towards the doorway as the door's hinges screeched in protest of moving in the chilly evening weather. Harry walked in moments later, brushing his windswept hair away from his eyes and rubbing his chilled hands together in an effort to restore warmth to them. After shrugging off his coat and hanging it by the door, Harry's eyes searched the pub for his friend, which he managed to accomplish within a matter of seconds.

Nodding his head in Thomas's direction, Harry strode towards the table in the back corner, where Thomas met him standing. Hugging his Harry as he might his son, Thomas clapped Harry's back before resuming his seat and waiting for Harry to join him. Harry smiled at his friend, grateful that he was seeing him in person for the first time in months, but nonetheless worried by the tasks ahead of them.

"How have you been?" Harry inquired after Thomas's health as well as his stay in Newcastle, to which Thomas responded with brief answers, just waiting for the moment when the one subject he really wanted to discuss should be mentioned. Harry was quick to see Thomas's anticipation, so he gave up on the pleasantries and immediately dove into the meat of their conversation.

"So, I'm just going to be blunt with you," Harry began, his expression immediately shifting to hold a rather somber tone to it. "It's not safe for her there with those people. I know you warned me about Regina before, but she's even worse than you described."

Thomas frowned, remembering that wicked woman and the evil she had performed against he and Victoria. He could scarcely imagine her being any worse than she had been twenty years ago, but given the seriousness of Harry's voice, he did not doubt him to be false.

"What has she done?"

Harry's eyes were filled with an emotion that Thomas could not quite place, for Harry kept himself relatively calm and stoic. He could, however, see that Harry was not happy about something, and he feared the meaning behind it given the subject of their conversation.

Shaking his head, Harry scratched the back of his neck and sighed, "Honestly, I can't even talk about it without getting absurdly angry."

Thomas stared at Harry, his mind turning over the possibilities of what that evil woman was capable of. He knew her to be cruel, but he wondered how far she had allowed herself to go. Would she hurt her own grandchild to accomplish her schemes?

"Is Jane okay, at least?" Thomas asked urgently, not pushing the topic of Regina any further. If it really was as bad as Harry was painting it to be, he was not sure he wanted to hear it.

Nodding slowly, Harry dropped his hands from the table to rest in his lap, "Yes, I think so. These past few weeks here have not been pleasant though." Harry's eyes shifted away from Thomas, not wanting to look into his friend's eyes. He was afraid of what Thomas would think if he should find out about he and Jane's relationship; thus, he was careful to keep his face from view, lest the pain in his expression should betray his feelings. But regardless, Harry knew that there were some things he did need to share with Thomas for him to have an understanding of the situation, so he endeavored to enlighten Thomas about Jane's betrothed, James Hale.

"There... there was an incident the day I wrote to you," Harry spoke quietly, thinking back to that dreadful day Jane had run to his room in tears. "As you know, Jane is getting married, and that day I wrote to you, she tried to get out of it, but it didn't work."

Thomas nodded as Harry finished, finally allowing himself to ask the question that had been burning at his mind for days: "What is it that you think I can do?"

Nervously, Harry rubbed his palms against his thighs and darted his eyes away from the man in front of him. It was clear to Thomas that whatever Harry was about to say heavily involved his participation, or maybe even orchestration, and he was not thrilled about it. He wasn't the same adventurous man he had been years ago, so he highly doubted that whatever Harry had to say would prompt him to be that man again.

"She wants to run," Harry admitted at last, not willing himself to meet Thomas's gaze. The notion had been Jane's idea, but it had been Harry who encouraged her to seriously consider it as a viable option. She had hesitated at first, merely because she would be abandoning everything she knew for a life of isolation, but when Harry told Jane of what James had done to his sister, she found herself itching to desert the life that had been planned for her.

Having to marry a man who was so indecent as to abandon the mother of his child when she needed him most was something that Jane could not fathom. She had always wanted to be a mother herself, but the thought of having to do it on her own terrified her, and Jane had a feeling that if she were to go through with this marriage, that she would be left to raise a child with virtually no father. If James chose not to care for the child of a woman that loved him, then why on earth should he choose to be the father of a child who was only born to him because of a deal his father made?

As much as Jane despised the idea of marrying a man so cruel, she hated this notion even more. She had grown up without either of her parents, and it was not a fate that she would wish upon anyone, especially her own child. Whenever the right time came for it, Jane hoped that her own children could have what she didn't. She wanted them to have a father who would love and care for their best interests, no matter the sacrifice it meant for him. She wanted to create the family she had never had.

That is not to say that Jane didn't see the value of what her grandparents had done for her. Objectively, it would be impossible for her to deny that they had cared for her in what ways they could, and that even in her present circumstances, Jane lived a good life. She had no want for food or clothes as many people in that day did, nor did she lack family members that genuinely did care for her. How could she so easily dismiss the love she had received from her aunts and uncles and cousins? And though Jane found herself hating them for what they were making her do, how also, could she ignore the ways in which Henry and Regina had done her kindness?

Simply put, she could not. To do so would be a disservice to their service. Even so, Jane could not ignore the terrible cage into which she was being forced, because that was what the marriage to James would be. It would be a life without love and pleasure. He would doubtlessly squander his time and affection on women who weren't Jane, only to come to her at the end of the day to fulfill his obligation of producing an heir. That was Jane's future if she married James Hale, and she detested the idea with all her being.

Thus, she had agreed to run away with Harry. He had promised her the life that James would never give her- a life with love, trust, and unwavering loyalty. Though she and Harry had only just admitted their love to each other, Jane knew that no matter the risk she took in running away with him, she would not live to regret it. It was a shame to have to leave her family behind, but she knew that she would be doing that anyway when she married James. At least with Harry, she had a chance of happiness. She had a chance to love someone in every way possible, and that was an opportunity that she could not pass up.

Despite whatever good reasoning Harry and Jane had for asking for Thomas's help, Thomas would not easily be swayed. He knew the dangers of attempting this kind of thing, having once done it himself, but now that he was older, he did not think that the benefits entirely outweighed the risks. He understood why Jane should want to run, seeing as how her mother had done the exact same thing; but still, Thomas wondered whether Jane's motive revolved around the desire to rebel or something much more serious.

"Harry, I don't know about that," Thomas began softly, once again raising his beer to his lips.

Harry looked up at him, surprised. Though he had been nervous about telling Thomas of this plan, he had nonetheless expected him to agree. Thomas's hesitation hadn't been a concern of his after what Jane had told him,  so really, Harry did not know what to say. He hadn't prepared a defense.

Thomas could see his friend's surprise, and though he did not know why Harry should have expected him to agree, he nonetheless began to explain himself as kindly as he could.

"Harry, running from something like this should not be done lightly. If she marries this man, then she'll be sent away from her grandparents. Isn't that good?"

Thomas paid special attention to Harry's expression as it shifted to hold the unmistakable ghost of frustration. It was evident that Harry did have something to lose if Thomas should refuse to help Jane in escaping her fate; however, Thomas had yet to see just how much was on the line.

Harry shook his head hastily, "No, Thomas. It's not good. The man she's supposed to marry was my old schoolmate. You once looked down on me for my past, but just know that his is far worse. I have mended my ways, whereas he has not."

Thomas's eyes widened ever so slightly at Harry's words. If he was uncomfortable with Harry pursuing Jane, then he was most definitely opposed to Harry's friend obtaining her hand when he had not changed in the same ways Harry had. This did change things a little; however, Thomas would need more information to further convince him to volunteer himself in this scheme.

"Do you think he would hurt her?" Thomas asked Harry, lowering his voice so the people around them would not hear their conversation.

Harry paused as he contemplated his next words, for as soon as Thomas had spoken, an idea had presented itself to Harry. Regina had been the one who struck Jane, but if Henry already believed that James was the driving force behind that violence, then would it be so bad for Thomas to think that as well? Surely not. Harry was certain that given enough liquor and frustration, James would hit Jane anyway, so telling this small lie now might convince Thomas to act, which might save Jane from a lifetime of unhappiness and misery. Surely, there was nothing wrong in looking out for her best interests.

Nodding, Harry spoke with a convicted tone, leading Thomas to believe his every word. Harry told Thomas of how James had gotten drunk, as was his custom, and how he had entered Jane's chambers with the hope of seizing his marital rights then and there. Only, he failed as Jane protested and forced him away from her, but not without James striking her in the process.

It was a story that harbored much elaboration, though Harry became more and more certain that as he spoke, Thomas was believing him and becoming more and more inclined to aid Jane in her escape. As Harry finished, Thomas groaned and held his head in his hands, appearing distressed and apprehensive.

It wasn't until moments later that Thomas looked up at Harry with weary eyes and an exhausted voice, "For her sake, I will do it, Harry, but just know that whatever it is you think will happen once we do this probably won't. And if we get caught--" Thomas groaned, shifting his eyes down to the table. "If we get caught, you and I just might end up in prison. Henry has that kind of power, and whatever allegations he makes against you, true or not, will hold in court. All the judge will see is that we tried to kidnap the Duke of Newcastle's granddaughter, and we'll be shut up for life. Is that a risk you're willing to take?"

Harry wasn't listening to Thomas's words, though. He hadn't even considered these things, nor even the possibility of their plan failing. He was entirely consumed with the innate desire to protect Jane that he didn't care what happened to himself. Thus, nodding, Harry told Thomas that he was willing to do whatever it took to ensure her safety.

It was then that Thomas could see the extent of Harry's feelings; only a man so completely in love would make a decision as foolish as the one Harry did that night. Thomas pitied Harry, but he also admired him, simply because he was in love as well. Only, Thomas's love was different than Harry's; Thomas loved Jane in the ways a father should love his child, and though he feared what was in store for him, he was certain that he would do whatever it took to save Jane from a miserable fate. Thomas was just thankful that Harry was blindly thinking the very same thing.

***

Bit of a filler, but it's necessary, so sorry not sorry...

Thanks for reading!!! (Also, this story got to 7k, so thank you thank you thank you!!!!)
-Kate