The Persuasion of Miss Jane Brody (13 page)

 
Eleven

He was motionless. His deep dark eyes were riveted to hers. They slowly closed and opened to look at her again, this time with regret. “I fear you won’t be happy with that decision tomorrow Jane.”

She bit her lip and glanced at their clasped hands before looking up at him again. “I think you’re wrong.”

His voice sounded calm and reassuring. “There will be many chances when we are married for us to share what you feel now Jane.” He linked fingers with one of her hands and drew her forward. “Come, let me escort you to your door.”

Disappointed and embarrassed by Jonathan’s rebuttal, Jane allowed herself to be led up the wide staircase to the upper floor. Her free hand trailed along the sinuous polished timber handrail. She felt like a naughty schoolgirl being sent to bed early for bad behaviour.

No, I won’t be passively led to my door
,
like a child,
she thought defiantly. She tugged at his hand in an attempt to free it. He didn’t let go but stopped on the staircase to look down at her with a questioning expression. He must have read her truculent mood because he took two steps towards her and lifted her into his arms, stifling her resistance to him. He climbed the remaining stairs quickly and strode down the corridor towards her bedchamber.

He halted abruptly outside the door and set her on her feet. “Good night Jane, sleep well,” he said with perfect composure and lifted her hand to kiss it and take the sting out of his actions.

Jane held his fingers tightly while one hand slid up his chest, across his shoulder, to clasp the back of his head steady while she hungrily kissed his mouth. He groaned.

“Don’t leave,” she said.

“I must.”

“Don’t.” Jane recognised the passion that had been building in her all week, fed by new insights into his soul, sharpened by his thoughtful Christmas gift, and capped by her new-found love. It was a potent aphrodisiac. She decided then and there to follow its whispered call. She wanted to show him her love.

Using the hand that Jonathan had released when he took hold of her shoulder, she felt for the bedroom door handle and opened it. The door swung inward and they swayed inside together, still in each other’s arms.

“I must go Jane.” Jonathan persisted with his gentlemanliness. His actions were arguing with his words.

“You must stay,” she countered, sure of which side of his argument she wanted to win. Her busy fingers began to work on the buttons of his coat, then his waistcoat, before sliding beneath them to skim her hands over his muscled body through his soft linen shirt.

“No regrets Jane?” he asked, halting his kisses to gain her attention.

She opened her eyes to gaze unfocused into his. “This is the right decision.”

He persisted. “It is not one that you can go back on. Once your innocence is lost, it is gone forever.”

She raised herself on tip-toe to kiss his withdrawn mouth. “I want to give you my innocence,” she said.

“You must be sure.” His eyes searched hers.

“I’m sure.”

Finally he must have accepted her decision, as he gently lifted her and sat her on the canopied bed before kneeling to remove her shoes and garters. As he worked, she began undoing his cravat, destroying his valet’s skilled creation. With glee she watched the linen flutter to the floor, then gave him her full attention as he slipped off her stockings one at a time, kissing each foot as it was revealed before gently lowering it to the carpeted floor.

Kissing her lips, he drew her to her feet, plunging his hands through her hair, shedding pins in all directions as her careful arrangement collapsed down her back.

He undid the ties at the back of her neck, then she felt him peel her winter evening gown slowly downwards. The dress joined her shawl already on the floor at her feet. She felt the cool air of the room on her bare skin. Turning her, he tugged at the ties of her petticoat and stays before pulling the laces free with a graze of sound. One after the other, the garments fell to the ground. He gently pushed the shift off her shoulders, sliding her hair to one side to kiss her neck, which she tilted at his touch. His hands covered her breasts and Jane felt a rush of desire run through her body. She shivered.

He guided her under the covers into the warmth of her bed. The mattress sank under his weight as he sat to pull off his shoes and stockings. She watched him strip off his coat and waistcoat in one movement before pulling his linen shirt over his head. Only his breeches remained. He disposed of them and his drawers quickly.

She held out her arms in welcome. His warm naked body slipped into her bed and into her arms. He tenderly brought her body to ecstasy as he had done before. But she wanted more – she wanted him inside her. She kissed him fiercely, again tasting the exhilarating blend of his evening cognac and him.

Now, she lay encircled in his arms. His muscular chest felt firm beneath her cheek. Her fingers played in his hair, uncurling each soft brown spiral to its full length in fascination before releasing it to resume its former curl. She blushed to think of how she had held him tightly in her arms, kissing him ardently, and urging him with her whole body to take his pleasure from her. She had acted like a wanton until he submitted to her wish. She was at peace, perhaps for the first time in her life.

♥ ♥ ♥

Boxing Day was the first morning in the week that the weather was warm enough for Jonathan to risk riding his favourite horse out of the stable yard. He exulted in the fresh air and the exercise after his enforced idleness, but most of his exuberance came from the wonder that a night spent in Jane’s arms could bring so much happiness. This week together had fulfilled his every hope that his feelings for Jane would be matched by compatibility in their daily lives. Now he also had proof that their passions were in synchrony.

When he first met her he had wondered how her loosened hair would curl around her slender shoulders, and had tried to envisage how far down her naked back it would drape. Now, he had seen it glimmer in the candlelight as it swung to her waist.
Her glorious hair.
He had pushed it to one side to kiss her neck. Everything that had followed had been sublime. His happiness was complete. There was no way in which he would contemplate withdrawing from their engagement now. He was a satisfied man.

With that thought he turned his horse for home and breakfast.

♥ ♥ ♥

Jane stretched sinuously in the cosy cocoon of her bed remembering the night before. Her body felt deliciously alive and energised. She blushed at the thought of the things they had done. Then she noticed her Christmas book beside the bed and reached over to stroke the volume and open its pages, smiling again in remembered joy at receiving the well-considered present. His gift showed he understood and approved of her interests. She now knew that Jonathan was generous, gentle and kind, but strong, decisive and brave when necessary - as his actions to help save Charlotte showed. Their proposed marriage of convenience was going to work. Surely there could be no better man for her.

This morning Jane felt that she floated from bed to breakfast room. Her thoughts were so wrapped up in the happiness and experiences of yesterday that today had a dreamlike quality.

Elizabeth was sitting at the table with an untouched cup of tea by her side. Once seated, Jane watched her friend fiddle with her toast breaking pieces off without eating any of them. This went on the whole time it took Jane to finish her breakfast. Jane began a number of conversational leads but none led to a sustained chat. She set her cup down, saying: “Elizabeth, tell me what is the matter. I have never seen you so distracted.”

Elizabeth looked up and apologised for her absorption. “Marcus is meeting with Jonathan in the library to ask him if we may marry. He has been in there half an hour!”

Jane wasn’t surprised by this development. “Surely that is a good sign. If Jonathan had said no immediately, Dr Logan would have been in and out of there within minutes.”

“Maybe Marcus is taking a roundabout way of getting to the subject.”

“It’s possible, but so is that they are discussing settlements and so forth.”

Elizabeth relaxed a little. “Yes, you’re right. There is no need to worry unnecessarily. I must be more positive until there is reason to be otherwise.”

As she spoke the words, the door to the breakfast room opened and Dr Logan stepped inside, his normally impassive face looking disappointed.

“Oh Marcus, what did he say?” Elizabeth requested.

Dr Logan took the seat beside Lady Elizabeth. “The answer is no… but a qualified no… more of a not yet.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Lady Elizabeth asked.

“According to your brother - and I have to agree with him - you are too young to be making a decision to marry such an older man. He would prefer we wait.”

“How long?” Elizabeth asked, stricken.

“Until you are twenty-five.” The words were stark.

Elizabeth gasped. “Five years! Oh, how could he be so cruel?”

“He doesn’t see himself as being cruel. He sees himself as protecting you from a bad mistake.” Marcus answered evenly. “That you may change your mind within a short while and he doesn’t want you to be stuck in an unhappy marriage.”

Jane was aghast as Jonathan’s edict was outlined. She must do something to stop this injustice. Her chair scraped the polished floor as she stood abruptly. “Excuse me, I must speak with Jonathan.” She strode to the doorway and tugged the heavy door open, then marched along the corridor to Jonathan’s library to demand that he allow Elizabeth to find happiness with Dr Logan. With her hand poised to knock on the door, she came to her senses. It would do her no good to demand anything from Jonathan. He would only dig his heels in further… she must be logical in her argument for Dr Logan’s suit.

Taking a deep breath she entered the room at his behest. “Jane, my love.” Smiling, he stepped forward to take her hands in his and kissed her lips softly. “I have longed to see you this morning.”

“Yes, and I you my lord.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think you should ever call me ‘my lord’ again after what we have shared Jane.”

She smiled tightly. “Jonathan,” she began again. “I have just spoken with Elizabeth and Dr Logan. You have refused their engagement. Why?”

Jonathan’s face lost its softness. “It is my decision, based on my obligation to protect my sister… and all the women of my family.”

“Yes, but why? What are you reasons? Dr Logan is a good man – the very best. I have known him for years and he has never done a dishonourable act. He would take good care of your sister and she seems committed to him. They have known each other for a year now, it not a new acquaintance. He is not a fortune hunter. Whatever can be against the match?”

“If I must enumerate the reasons for you,” he replied sternly, “they are these – Elizabeth is twenty…”

“But so are many young ladies married each Season at such an age.”

“Yes, you are correct, but she has chosen a man twice her age who is not of her rank and is not wealthy. Each of these factors would be enough in its own right for me to refuse a match for my sister.”

“So, are you saying that when they have waited until Elizabeth is twenty-five and they are of the same mind that you will then refuse permission for their marriage?”

“No, I will have no say in their marriage then. Elizabeth will be master of her own funds and of her own fate. They will know by then that their love has lasted and will last.”

“But, by then Dr Logan will be close to fifty years old, five years closer to the end of his life. They may have twenty years together but Elizabeth may still be left with young father-less children.”

“That is not sufficient an argument for their marriage now.”

Elizabeth tried another tack. “Dr Logan is a gentleman. He may not be of Elizabeth’s rank but he comes from a good family and he is related to a baronet. Although he is not a rich man, he is not a poor one either. He has sufficient income to support a wife and family, I believe.”

“None of this changes the fact that there is a very great age difference between them and I believe Elizabeth needs longer to prove her steadfastness.”

“I don’t agree.” Jane began to sound embattled.

Jonathan sighed. “Jane, you of all people, having just rescued your sister, should be aware of the dangers of early and hasty marriage.”

Jane drew back as though struck. “I don’t believe the cases equate at all!”

“Do they not? In what way? Your sister married at age twenty to a man older than herself who seemed to be well-placed to succeed in his career. Your father thought so.”

“Yes, but I did not.”

“And are your opinions infallible? We can all misjudge people’s characters and situations.”

Jane stood deflated. Jonathan’s rigid and stubborn stance had given her a clear and depressing glimpse of her future at the mercy of his decisions. All this morning’s joy was gone. She felt cold and her stomach clenched with anxiety. She drew herself up to her full height. “I see I have misjudged you Lord Dalton. I thought you were a compassionate man and one of intellect, open to reason. I understand now that I am mistaken.” Jane turned on her heel and left the room closing the door softly and deliberately behind her.