“This is madness,” Joseph said. Mercy felt the brush of his fingers at the small of her back, as though he wanted to direct her away from the crowd. But they were both trapped here in the middle of hundreds of men. Even as the line of women ahead began moving again, there was no place for any of them to go except forward.

“Keep your face hidden, Mercy,” Joseph said with quiet urgency from behind. “And don’t make eye contact with anyone.”

Mercy wished for Joseph’s cloak again so she could throw it over her head and hide just as he’d instructed. But she’d already given it back to him after he’d insisted she keep it.

The men pressed in closer, emboldened after Pioneer’s daring proposal. Finally, some of the women, frightened by the forthrightness, began to run. Mercy lengthened her stride, sure that at any moment someone would jump into her path and propose marriage. She couldn’t let that happen.

When the blue-uniformed constables finally led them inside a large building still under construction, the women collapsed against one another in relief.

Mercy turned to thank Joseph and realized he was gone.

twenty-six

Outside the newly built legislative building, Joseph craned his neck for a glimpse of Mercy. The bluejackets had prevented him from entering earlier with the women. And now he was standing like a bumbling idiot with all the other men along the crowded fence that connected the building to several others, all of which were part of the government complex.

He’d already attempted to convince the constables to allow him inside by assuring them he was one of the party, the ship’s surgeon, that he’d spent the past months with the women, and that he belonged with them. But the bluejackets had been instructed by the Female Immigration Committee not to allow any single men into the women’s quarters, and no amount of cajoling or bribing on Joseph’s part had worked to change their minds, not even when he informed them that he was Lord Colville, Baron of Wiltshire.

Of course, they’d profusely apologized but had maintained their strict stance. Joseph asked to see Lieutenant Verney or one of the other gentlemen on the welcoming committee. He was told that no one was readily available.

Finally, Joseph had wandered away, only to discover the women had been ushered into a side yard of the legislative building, where tubs of water were set up for them to wash their clothes. While it was a kind gesture from the ladies of the committee, little did they realize most of the poor women were wearing all they owned.