The Persuasion of Miss Jane Brody Read online

  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.

  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.