The Persuasion of Miss Jane Brody (14 page)

She walked quickly and directly to her room. The bed that had reminded her so much of new-found joy this morning, now mocked her for a fool. She didn’t go near it but stood before the window staring out at the bare winter landscape re-emerging from the beautifying snow. She had been wrong. She could not give up her independence to marry this man for the sake of her family. The realisation made her light headed and she sat down quickly on a nearby chair. What was to become of them?

It took her a few minutes to remember that there was a signed contract that saved her family from penury. She was so thankful. Tears of relief slid down her face and she had to stifle gulping sobs with her handkerchief. She re-ran their argument thinking of all the things she should have said.
The difference between my sister’s marriage and Elizabeth marrying Dr Logan is that we know Dr Logan very well. He is not a stranger giving us only impressions of his character.
Why hadn’t she said this?

Charlotte and Anna found Jane still sitting there minutes later. She had stopped crying by then and welcomed them, but they immediately saw that she had been in tears and demanded to know why. She explained. “I believe I have made a terrible mistake in agreeing to marry Lord Dalton.”

Both were shocked and Anna disagreed. “He is devoted to you Jane. I hope I can make such a good match. He is so handsome and gentlemanly.”

“That is not all that is important and appearances can deceive,” Charlotte added quietly, conscious of her own experience.

Jane felt obliged to defend the man. “I’m sure he will make an excellent husband for someone else who does not mind having decisions made for them and their opinions ignored. Unfortunately, that is not me. I was mistaken in thinking that either he or I could change. It is not to be.”

“But what shall we do for income now? Of course I will go back to Lord and Lady Marchmere instead of giving notice, but is that enough income? I hardly think it can be?”

“We shall be fine with a little economy. Lord Dalton has agreed to pay me an allowance should either of us not wish to proceed with the marriage. You will all have a small dowry from him also.”

Anna was perplexed. “How did this come about? You will still be paid an allowance and we are to have dowries? I have never heard of such a thing.”

“Yes, Lord Dalton has been very generous in the settlements and we agreed that if we did not suit, as this was a marriage of convenience, then there would be some compensation.”

“A marriage of convenience?” asked Charlotte in confusion. “What utter rot. I have never seen two people more smitten with each other. It appears I have missed a delusion being created.”

Jane thought she had said enough. “We have tried to make the best of it.”

“Well, you have succeeded,” was Charlotte brief retort. “Why don’t you think about your options for a little longer? This sounds very like a lovers’ tiff gone awry to me.”

“Yes, do Jane. Don’t make a hasty decision,” Anna agreed.

Charlotte nodded in accord.

Anna hesitated before asking, “Jane, does your breaking off your engagement with Lord Dalton have anything to do with something that I heard Lord Marchmere tell his wife?”

Jane was puzzled. “I don’t know what Lord Marchmere would have said regarding our engagement.”

“He said that Lord Dalton was to be congratulated in both getting himself an attractive wife for breeding so quickly after coming into his inheritance,
and
silencing a damaging political voice at the same time. He laughed when he said it, in that nasty way he has. He is not a pleasant man. I am very glad that his wife is far different. I don’t know why she married him.”

Jane was so distracted by the first part of Anna’s speech that she scarcely noted the last comments, nor did she answer her sister as she was so deep in thought trying to assimilate the information.

“I must speak with Lady Elizabeth,” she finally stated. “Dr Logan leaves tomorrow and I think we all should do the same while the weather allows it. Perhaps now is the time for you to pack for our departure.”

The sisters left the room together to carry out their tasks. Jane found Lady Elizabeth in the morning room with Dr Logan.

“Did you speak with Jonathan?” Elizabeth enquired.

Jane’s reply was subdued. “Yes, but to no avail. He is insistent that you wait.”

“We can wait Elizabeth. He may relent long before five years are concluded.” Dr Logan appeared confident of their relationship’s endurance, but Jane suspected, in view of his previous hesitation because of Elizabeth’s age, that he may have been happy to accept a delay to ensure that Elizabeth’s affections continued unchanged.

“I shan’t wait longer than my twenty-first birthday Marcus. I will be old enough then to make my own decisions. I’m sure we can live on your income if necessary.”

At least Elizabeth was adamant that her feelings wouldn’t change and that her will would prevail, Jane thought.

She arranged for her family to travel back to London with Dr Logan, who volunteered to give them the use of the carriage while he rode. Elizabeth and Dr Logan left to spend their last day together on a long walk in the park, now warmer weather had arrived. Jane returned to her room to pack before confronting Jonathan, still mulling over Anna’s revelation.

Luncheon was a subdued occasion for everyone. A change from their previous meals together. When Jane asked Jonathan if she might speak with him afterwards, he nodded his agreement. Everyone dispersed quickly from the table to pursue their last afternoon’s entertainments.

Jane didn’t delay in delivering her set speech to Jonathan. “Lord Dalton,” she said. He glared. “
Jonathan,
I wish for my sisters and I to depart
Everslie
tomorrow morning with Dr Logan.”

Jonathan looked surprised and saddened. “Why Jane? Is this because of my refusal to allow Elizabeth to become engaged to Dr Logan just yet? I thought you would understand my reasons.”

“Understanding your reasons is not the problem. Agreeing with them is! I can see that in the future, should I marry you, that I will have little chance of having my opinions heard nor their having any impact. I need to consider whether I can live that way for the rest of my life.”

“If that is all, then surely we can talk this through.”

“If that were all, perhaps; but it is not. I now find that our engagement has been some sort of political tactic to silence or discredit me and my cause.”

Jonathan looked dumbstruck. “Nonsense Jane. That is not so. I am entirely sincere in my intentions and affections. I would not have taken you to bed otherwise.”

“Fine words sir, but Lord Marchmere has been boasting of your success in gaining both a wife for heirs and a political advantage in one fell swoop! Anna has it from the horse’s mouth! You cannot deny the charge.”

“I can and I do Jane. I have not treated you false. Marchmere is an arrogant swine who likes to let his mouth run off with him. I assure you that what he says is not true.”

Jane would have liked to believe him but didn’t see how she could, when all the evidence and his recent edicts seemed to confirm him as a hardened conservative.

“Whether it is true or not what Lord Marchmere is saying, is moot, I wish to leave with my sisters and Dr Logan tomorrow. I will ponder all that you have said and done since I have known you to try to discern the truth of it. I will let you know within the week whether I wish to continue with our engagement… unless of course, you wish to dissolve it now.”

Jonathan looked stricken, but his face hardened even as she watched. “No Jane, I do not wish to abandon our engagement and considering our actions last night, I think you ought not either. Neither of us would wish the consequences of our actions to be a bastard child. I need an heir and you need your reputation.”

Jane’s reply was icy. “Thank you for putting my options so clearly Lord Dalton. I will make my decision using all the facts available to me though.”

“They are what they are.” He sounded bitter.

“I have been living in a dream world for the last few days. I suspect it was the relief of having saved Charlotte, but there is no excuse for my naivety. You have not changed. Your attitude to women and their role in this world has not changed.”

Jane left the room saddened by the interview.

Another unhappy meal was got through and a quiet evening followed it. Not even Katherine was oblivious to the tensions between Jane and Jonathan and the other couple.

Early the next morning the house party broke up. Lady Elizabeth gave a heart-rending farewell to her wished-for lover. Dr Logan was his usual courteous and confident self as he thanked Lord Dalton for his hospitality and understanding. Lord Dalton shook his hand warmly and hoped to see him soon in London just before parliament resumed. Then it was Jane’s turn to farewell her host and hostess. She hugged Lady Elizabeth warmly and advised her to have faith that she would get the right result in the end when her brother saw sense.

Then Jane turned to Lord Dalton. This was the man who had come to assist her in saving her sister, who had been kindness itself to her over the last few weeks, who had in one night shown her what she had thought were the mysteries of love. Now, it appeared that the whole scene from their meeting to Christmas night was a pretence. Not love, but lust and the desire to gain political acclaim. It was hard to believe but the truth seemed plain. Had he also been responsible for the sordid rumours about their association? Those rumours which had eventually led to her becoming his fiancé. She desperately needed to be alone to think.

Jonathan bowed formally over her hand. Then he assisted her into the carriage with her sisters and closed the door. He was frowning but his eyes had a look of sadness as he made his last farewell.

It was over, she knew it.

 
Twelve

As he watched his hoped-for future drive away from him, Jonathan knew that he must forget her.

He turned to his sister, offering his arm. “Come Elizabeth, we can keep each other company with a walk in the garden.”

For the first time in her life she gave him a look of contempt and silently walked away from him into the house.

Stung, he turned on his heel and headed for his library. He was brooding, he knew he was. Wandering around the room staring at books and not seeing them was a clear sign of it. He put up with himself until after luncheon, also spent alone in silence, as his sister had taken to her room with a headache.

Jonathan then did what he hadn’t done since he was young and fresh on the town. He started drinking. By dinner, again not attended by his sister, he was getting beyond a pleasant blur. He called on his butler to bring the usual after-dinner port, meant for sharing with friends, and drank steadily into the night. He woke late the next morning, sprawled in a wing chair in the library with the roaring headache he knew he deserved. He opened the book-room door and yelled for his butler who arrived promptly.

“Coffee, and quickly,” he ordered, then winced.

It was a testament to his poor condition that when the coffee pot arrived a few minutes later, he looked up at the man who had served the family for many years, without ever seeing the ‘young master’ in such a condition, and snapped at him.

“About time and get that disapproving look off your face.”

Several cups later he was feeling somewhat better – better enough to leave his resting place and contemplate climbing the stairs to his bedchamber to be washed, shaved and dressed for riding. His valet tut-tutted, but upon seeing his master’s frown, silently proceeded to restore him to usual neat appearance.

Jonathan knew the stalls were full of horses that needed exercise after the long frost. He would ride each and every one of them until he could get over the pain of losing Jane, which was far worse than the ache in his head.

An hour later on his way to the stables Jonathan stepped into the cold day and his hazy brain suddenly became crystal clear from the shock.

He had hoped that Jane would have relented by the morning after their disagreement, but in hindsight, that was expecting too much of a woman of strong personality and definite views like Jane. A major part of the problem was the crazy idea that by his marrying her, Jane and her cause should be brought into disrepute.

Where did she hear the idea that he was carrying out some plot to neutralise her cause?
Marchmere obviously, but why would anyone believe that source? And how could she believe that he would do such a thing? He did want to perform well in the House, but he wouldn’t jeopardise his future happiness to do it!

Reaching the courtyard of the brick stables he called to his groom to saddle up his hunter. A dozen horses looked out of their stalls at him with interest. The tall grey gelding danced around the cobbled stable-yard as the groom brought him forth, fresh from days of idleness. Within minutes they were heading across the park towards the lake, Jonathan’s mind momentarily occupied by controlling the excited horse, which was keen to travel faster than a collected canter.

By the time they had passed the classically-inspired gazebo at the far end of the lake, his mount was completely under control and Jonathan could return his attention to his problems. There was probably nothing he could do to prove that Marchmere’s claim was false. Perhaps all he could do was present the facts of the situation and explain how Marchmere might have presumed that Jonathan had taken his advice. Jane’s own brother, William, had been present at the club that day. He could at least pinpoint the date of the conversation and prove that Jonathan had been introduced to her before the suggestion. He resolved to contact Jane’s brother, who was probably still with Lord Stacy. Even so, it might not be sufficiently convincing, he feared. However, decision made, he turned for home choosing a path which took them around the other side of the cold lake, wrinkled with melting ice.

Returning to the stable Jonathan unsaddled his horse and handed the reins to one of the stable boys to tend to him, while he went off to make ready another of his rangy hunters, full of unexpended oats and bursting to gallop. The fresh air and purposeful exercise was doing him good.

Astride the subdued horse shortly later he considered the other part of the dispute with Jane – his sister’s marriage to Logan. He didn’t dislike Logan at all. He knew he was worthy and his regard for Elizabeth sincere. He was certainly not a fortune-hunter. However, there was wide disparity in their rank. Aunt Lucinda, who had been in charge of Elizabeth’s come-out last Season, would have put on a real turn if Jonathan had allowed her engagement to Logan, especially before Elizabeth had enjoyed the full benefits of a Season. The last one had been marred by her poor health. If Logan and Elizabeth took their time, waiting until after Elizabeth’s coming of age later in the year and the season, Jonathan believed that she would satisfy his need to know of her constancy. In addition, their aunt would not be able to say that Elizabeth had taken the first man who looked at her.

The disparity in their ranks and means would always be a barrier, Jonathan feared, and one which may make certain members of society turn up their noses at the match.

Jonathan was annoyed that he hadn’t seen the proposal coming. If he had, he might have been more prepared with a considered response. He recognised that he had been too wrapped up in his own affairs to notice the romance between his sister and his friend.
Too late now for might-have-beens.
He could stubbornly let his decision stand or he could go to his sister, his only and very dear sibling, and try to convince her that although immediate agreement wasn’t possible, a short wait to the end of the season in six months should bring the result she wanted.
If she still wanted Logan after a full Season of society events and meeting all the eligible bachelors then she could have him.

Jonathan turned for home. Eating breakfast - make that luncheon - now seemed a possibility. If Elizabeth didn’t join him for the meal, he would follow it with a visit to her sitting room to talk with her.

♥ ♥ ♥

Elizabeth looked pale and unwell when he went to her rooms later that afternoon. Jonathan did what he should have done previously and explained his strategy carefully. When he finished, he could see that Elizabeth felt her hope returning. He concluded: “So you see Elizabeth, that by the end of the coming season you will be of age and have experienced everything the social round can show you, and be much more able to know that Logan is the right man for you. I am not, and never have, looked for a society match for you if you didn’t want that. Aunt Lucinda does though, so we must be careful how we play our cards – you not hanging on Logan’s sleeve, but taking part in all the social events which she thinks you ought attend. Bear in mind also that if you choose Logan, you will choosing a man who has to work for his living and that will mean that you have to allow him time to do that. He won’t be at your beck and call for social events as a gentleman of leisure might.”

She nodded. “Jonathan that is part of the attraction – that he has a profession which takes him out to do good in the world. I am willing to support that. It was through our interest in helping people that we first became aware of each other. It is my interest also.”

Jonathan was reassured by her words and left her to write the news to Dr Logan.

♥ ♥ ♥

Arriving home late in the evening Jane and her sisters climbed out the carriage and up the stairs to knock loudly on their front door, hoping the Mrs Creevy or Joe would hear them. Jane thought they were a sorry sight after a long day’s travelling. A footman and Dr Logan were grouped behind them on the pavement ready to assist with their baggage. They didn’t have long to wait. Joe cautiously opened the door to see who stood on the front step at such an hour, then flung it open to help them with their luggage.

Leaving their portmanteau to be unpacked the next day, the sisters quickly prepared for bed and slid under the covers as soon as they could. The house was not warm like
Everslie
so there was no incentive to dally out of bed away from the heated bricks ready to warm their toes.

Jane, however, found it almost impossible to sleep. Her mind whirred trying to decide her future based on what was best for her siblings.
Should she marry, swallow her pride and accept that decisions other than household management would no longer be hers to make? She had missed Jonathan in her bed last night, but the suspicion that the whole affair had been a set-up for political reasons, with Jonathan as the lead player, made anger burn in her.

At the end of a long, restless night she was still resolved to end their engagement. She rose at dawn and penned a formal letter requesting that their engagement be dissolved and that a notice to that effect be placed in the newspaper. Tears of sorrow and humiliation trickled down her face as she folded and addressed the missive. Drying her eyes with ruthless determination to return to normality, Jane planned the forthcoming day. She restarted the family routine - lessons for Katherine, sewing and household tasks divided between the sisters, while she and Anna set forth dutifully on social calls.

They walked through the grey streets, devoid of snow and ice but still wet from the rain which had washed them in the night. Their first call was to Mrs Courtice. Expecting to spend a talkative half hour with their old friend, Jane was surprised when the butler greeted her and with great sadness in his voice told her that the dear lady had passed away the previous day. Stunned, Jane returned home with Anna, putting off their visiting until the next day. She then set out to confer with Dr Logan - not only had they lost a dear friend but also a valued, essential co-worker in their charities.

Jane joined the doctor’s waiting room queue anxious to speak with him. At last it was her turn. His response to her news was as shocked as Jane’s had been. He, however, as Mrs Courtice’s doctor, had known much more about the elderly woman’s ill-health. Jane agreed to take on Mrs Courtice’s philanthropic tasks for the Welfare League as well as her own. Despite this they both knew that finding a benefactor to replace her would be almost impossible. Wearily Jane returned home. The emotional blows seemed to be coming thick and fast.
She felt despair
, but determinedly told herself that the silver lining to the cloud was waiting to be found.

A day later she heard from Mrs Courtice’s solicitor, inviting her to attend a reading of the lady’s will in his office the day after the funeral. Jane was not completely surprised by this as she hoped that Mrs Courtice had endowed money on one or more of the charities which they jointly served.

Mr Pettigrew’s office was now familiar to Jane from her previous depressing visits concerning her father’s affairs. This time she did not wait alone. A gentleman she had met a few times over the last few years waited also. Jane knew him to be Mrs Courtice’s nephew, Viscount Travener, a blond and attractive dandy, whom she presumed was to be the principle recipient of the lady’s estate. They passed courteous greetings before their conversation lapsed into silence. Jane noted that he tapped his walking stick against his boot in impatience. To her delight Dr Logan arrived also, striding briskly into the crowded room. He bowed to Viscount Travener, and took a seat beside Jane after greeting her. Soon they were ushered into the office and settled into chairs in front of the solicitor’s large desk.

Mr Pettigrew, still looking morbid, greeted them formally and stated that he would read Mrs Courtice’s will and then explain how its recent codicils affected them. Jane became curious to know how the will could affect her, except in the administration of charity funds. She fixed her attention wholly on the solicitor as he began to read. Her state of curiosity was satisfied by the endowments that Mrs Courtice had left their charities – enough money in trust to continue the current munificence that the lady had supplied. Jane smiled at Dr Logan and relaxed into her chair with relief.

The majority of Mrs Courtice estate, less gratuities for a number of people who she wished to acknowledge, was to go to her nephew, who couldn’t help but smirk in expectation. With the solicitor’s reading of the final codicil, written a few weeks before, came incredulity for all as its implications became clear. To Dr Logan she gifted £20,000 so that he might achieve personal happiness and continue his medical services to the charity homes they had established. To Jane, Mrs Courtice had also left £20,000 and her father’s former house in Harley Street, recently purchased, so that she might retain her independence and continue her educational establishment and philanthropy.

Jane was astonished. Never had she had any expectation of benefiting from her good friend’s death! It was too enormous a gift for her to justify and clearly Viscount Travener felt so too, if his exclamation of annoyance and surprise was anything by which to judge.