The Persuasion of Miss Jane Brody (8 page)

As he exited the front door Lord Dalton stopped and turned back to Jane to say quietly, his eyes upon hers, “Until tomorrow Miss Brody. We have much to discuss.” Jane felt flustered by his portentous words.

 
Seven

Next morning Jane woke with a start while it was still dark. The air in her room was chilly, as her meagre fire had died long ago. Chaotic thoughts tumbled around in her mind – Anna off teaching; Christopher somewhere on the wide Atlantic Ocean bound for Jamaica; Lady Elizabeth and Dr Logan glancing longingly at each other when they thought others weren’t looking; Lord Dalton’s solemn face with intent brown eyes boring into hers. No wonder she couldn’t sleep!
Worrying too much and a waste of time attempting to second-guess the future. One day at a time Jane
, she directed herself.

Wearily she threw back the covers and plunged her toes into the thick rag rug beside her bed. Avoiding the vast uncovered floor which surrounded it, Jane stepped to the basin near her bed and began washing with the icy water from the matching urn. By the time she had finished her teeth were clacking together from the cold. She dressed quickly and pulled her long hair into her usual plain arrangement behind her head, then instead of setting a flame to the kindling in her fireplace she rushed downstairs to the kitchen where she had taken to eating breakfast. It was warmer there and it saved them money if they didn’t heat the other rooms until later in the day.

Housekeeping tasks with Mrs Creevy done and lessons for Katherine set, Jane sped up the stairs to her room to remove her apron and tidy her hair before Lord Dalton arrived. Anxiety gripped her at the thought of seeing him again and perhaps accepting assistance from him to resolve her financial problems. She hardly dare hope he had some good ideas for saving her family from a dire future.

At ten o’clock Jane was seated in her tiny sitting room with a small fire crackling in the grate when she heard a rap on the front door knocker. She jumped, realising at that moment how anxious she was. Hands gripped together in her lap, she waited for his entry. Within moments Lord Dalton stepped through the doorway to greet her. He looked his usual immaculately dressed self, handsome in his close-fitting, black superfine coat matched with grey trousers and black half boots.

“Lord Dalton. Thank you for coming today to assist us.” Jane offered.

“I only hope that I can help you Miss Brody. I am sorry that you have been suffering more than your father’s loss in the last few months. It is a terrible thing to be forever penny pinching, as I know from my time before inheriting my title. My father kept me on a very tight rein you see.” He smiled tightly.

Jane nodded in acknowledgement of his words. She indicated a chair at the table. “Please be seated Lord Dalton. We may devise a plan of attack better at the table I think.”

“Perhaps not Miss Brody. Come and be seated with me on this sofa. We can be comfortable to talk there, I believe.”

Surprised, Jane sat where he indicated. Their proximity when Jonathan also sat down was that for an intimate tête-à-tête. Jane felt some trepidation as she looked up at his handsome but serious face.

“Now Lord Dalton, please tell me how we can get ourselves out of this financial morass. I still hold hopes of getting more pupils in this area. It is full of middle-class families who surely want to improve the lot of their offspring. It will just take time for them to know us and trust us.”

“Yes, you may certainly do that Miss Brody. It will bring you in some money but will require a lot of your time establishing and running it. It is a worthy cause, however.” He suddenly changed direction. “You do not have enough money to invest in bonds and shares, do you?”

“Indeed, we have nothing to spare.” Jane was emphatic.

“So that is out of the question. Your brothers, I presume still do not have established careers allowing them to assist you in any way?”

“No, they have offered of course, but they have so little themselves I refused outright. I’m sure that with time they would be able to assist us, but not yet.”

He briefly considered her response. “You don’t have any wealthy aunts or uncles willing to assist you?”

Jane laughed dryly. “None that I know of. I have applied to our maternal grandfather, who cut off our mother when she married Papa, but the answer was a decided “no” and no wish for further contact.”

“That would be old Lord Tindale, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes.” Uncomfortable with such personal questions, Jane fidgeted in her seat.

“Well, he is in very good health for his age so I wouldn’t count on him dropping off his perch any time soon!”

“No, indeed.” Jane wondered what his next angle of attack would be.

He paused. “There was no pension due from the parish that your father served?”

“No, I checked with the Bishop but he was adamant that there was nothing due to my father upon his death.”

“And you father’s independent income is what you are living on at present?” Dalton continued to probe.

“Yes. It is paid quarterly but it is very hard to make ends meet on so little. I have asked the servants if they wish to obtain other employment but they do not. They wish to remain with us. That is wonderful and makes life easier but they still must be paid. Their wages plus rent take most of the interest from father’s invested funds.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That leaves nothing else which I can think of except accepting charity from your friends.”

“Well, we certainly won’t do that!” exclaimed Jane.

“Will you be able to pay all your bills on the income that you receive from your father’s investment funds?”

“Not without my sister or myself working as a governess or by moving to an even smaller house in a less expensive area in London, which will make it almost impossible to run our school.”

“And that is the way in which you and Anna wish to earn your living for the rest of your days?”

“Well, I do, but Anna wishes to marry one day and so does Katherine. That is why I need to earn more money so that they have the option to marry with some dowry.”

“By that time your brothers may be able to assist you though?”

“Hopefully, but I would not guarantee it. And besides, they may wish to marry themselves and would need to support their families. Frances, I know, has a sweetheart and my other brothers may do also. I must find a way to sustain myself and my sisters without relying on anybody else.”

“What are you willing to do to achieve that?” He leaned forward as he asked.

“I don’t know.” Jane was confused now with where this conversation was leading.

“Are you willing to put by some of your principles?”

Jane sat upright and exclaimed in surprise. “My principles? Why should I put aside my principles?”

“Answer the question Jane. What are you willing to do to save your family from penury?”

“Almost anything.” She slumped forward.

“Would you lie? Would you cheat? Would you steal?”

She shook her head. “No. I have not reached that level of desperation yet.”

“Would you be willing to marry for money and security to save your family?” He was leaning back, his head tilted to one side, looking at her speculatively.

Jane hesitated. “Perhaps. But why do you ask? I have nothing to bring to a marriage. I have no dowry. I have a tarnished reputation in society because of my views on the education and rights of women. Who would be willing to take that blemish into their family?”

“Perhaps some wealthy man of middle-class origins, who wishes to align himself with a descendant of an aristocrat who can bring an association with the rich and powerful?”

Her low voice was firm and sure. “Well that isn’t me because my grandfather won’t recognise us.” She threw back her head as though to laugh at the suggestion.

“All right then, maybe someone who doesn’t need your name to add lustre to his family. Someone who is wealthy enough not to need a dowry, nor even to want his wife to have one.”

Jane laughed outright. “Believe me, I know of no-one who fits that bill!”

“Do you not?” He asked quietly, his eyes searching her face.

She scoffed. “No. What does that generous soul get in repayment for his troubles?”

“You, of course.”

She expressed her mirth and disbelief. “I don’t think I’m the usual bargain that men get on marriage. I am not passive, biddable, concerned only with the home and interested only in raising children and bringing social status to my husband and family.”

Dalton ploughed on. “No, you are not. Perhaps then the bargain should be made with your sister Anna? She is all of those things from what I can gather. The only detriment to her that I can perceive is her relationship with you!”

Jane was immediately serious. “No! Anna will not be sold off to the highest bidder. She is all that is beautiful and innocent. I won’t let her be harmed by marriage for mercenary reasons.”

“Then that only leaves you, doesn’t it?” He was implacable.

Jane froze. “Yes, it would have to be me.”

“I agree entirely.”

Jane’s mouth set into a disbelieving line. “Yes, but where is this mythical paragon who wishes to marry me to save my family despite all the things against my name?” Jane was scathing.

“Jane. You are looking at him.”

“You?” She was incredulous.

“Who else Jane? I have offered for you already. Can it be any surprise that I would still wish to marry you?”

Jane was flustered. “But, but… your offer last time was in the heat of the moment. Based on lust! Without thought to the consequences of your actions! This is a much different proposal. You have laid out the reasons why no man of sense and position would want to ally himself with me. What is there in it for you?”

He looked her in the eye. “Jane, I need a wife. I need a companion to assist me with my many social duties, both with the ton and with my dependents. I need someone who doesn’t bore me Jane – and you never do that.”

“Hah! You would be sick of me within a month. I would give you no rest. I am not a peaceful person to be around, especially when there is a wrong to be righted or an opinion to be changed.”

“So very true Jane.” He smiled. “But also so very exciting to be around.”

She disagreed. “You only say that because you don’t know me well enough.”

“We can change that Jane.”

“Not before it is too late and the vows are said!”

“I think we can get to know one another before they need to be said.”

“What if you were to change your mind?”

“If I did, would you hold me to the promise and sue me?”

“No! But I would be back to square one with no means of support and an even more tarnished reputation.”

“Jane, what if I arrange to make a breach of contract payment to you should that happen? Would you be willing then?”

Jane thought for a moment. “What if
I
change my mind and don’t wish to marry you?”

“The same deal then. A payment that would allow you to live, not a wealthy life, but one affluent enough for you and your sisters not to have to work.”

Jane raised her hand as if in protest. “No. I couldn’t. You are offering charity.”

He leaned forward as if to emphasis his point. “Not charity Jane. A workable marriage or, if not that, a way to cause you no harm.”

Still shocked, Jane asked, “Why not just settle the money on me without the engagement, if you are feeling so charitable?”

He sat back on the sofa to deliver his answer. “Because, Jane, I am gambling on higher returns than that.”

The wind went out of her sails with this answer. “This is madness. You can’t be serious with this offer. I feel like I am negotiating for property.”

“At least you are thinking about my offer. That comforts me considerably.” He smiled ruefully.

“I… I… don’t know what to say.”

He leant towards her and spoke earnestly. “Say nothing but that you will think about my offer and give me an answer soon. I will not pressure you … and I will not ask again if you decide against me.”

Astonished and perplexed by the bewildering conversation that had taken place, Jane merely nodded her agreement.

Taking her hand in his Jonathan raised it to his lips and softly kissed each of her fingers. “You will do me the greatest honour if you will accept my proposal Jane.”

“Th… thank you,” she stammered. Her eyes held his, seeking answers.

He released her hand as he stood. “Let me know your decision. I won’t see you again unless you contact me about discussing matters further.”

Jane, looking up into his handsome face, nodded in agreement again.

A few minutes later she heard the street door close, signalling that he was gone.

She sat stunned for a few moments longer then stood up and restlessly roamed the room, not seeing anything as the Marquis’ words raced through her brain. Striding to the sitting room door she wrenched it open, stepped to the top of the rear stairs to the kitchen and called down to Mrs Creevy that she was stepping out for a while. In response the housekeeper came to the lower door and Jane said, “I’ll be back in time for lunch.”

“All right Miss. Don’t forget your pelisse, it’s getting bitterly cold.”

Jane ran up to her room to retrieve it then exited the house, stepping briskly along the footpath looking neither left nor right.

What should she decide? To marry to save her family or to hold onto her principles?