The Persuasion of Miss Jane Brody Page 16

  The good news had obviously put Elizabeth into a joyful haze and she lapsed into daydreaming. Jonathan was left with his own thoughts, which were bleak. There seemed little hope of his ever successfully wooing Jane now. She had more than enough friends, family and causes to fill her waking life from here to eternity, he thought sadly. Where could he fit into that life? Nowhere, it seemed.

  The journey back to London through the winter landscape seemed interminable to Jonathan. It had never done so before. It had always been accompanied by excitement for what might be waiting there for his amusement and interest. Now it seemed as though the day’s greyness and coldness had seeped into his blood and the world would never be warm and colourful again.

  As the hours ticked on, he thought of Jane’s credo of women’s intrinsic equality which should guarantee their right to education and employment; that women shouldn’t be consigned to bearing so many children that their health was ruined; and that they should be treated equally – that it wasn’t enough for the men who valued their womenfolk to treat them well, that these were inherent rights which should apply to all women.

  Jonathan stretched his legs in front of him and considered the case of his own sister, and Jane’s point of view began to have meaning for him. He, as a male had the right to choose whom he married, even should the rest of his family and society think he as making a mistake and had chosen unwisely. In contrast, his sister’s choice was subject to her relatives’ opinion and command. At best, they may try to persuade her against someone they considered unsuitable. At worst, while she was underage or without financial means they could stop her from marrying. He shifted restlessly in his seat.

  Not only that. He wanted Jane as his wife, in part because of her education and intelligence. She and her sisters had been given the opportunity to learn as much as their brothers. Their education wasn’t just an adornment but an integral part of mind and personality. Elizabeth, in being given the usual education for well-bred young ladies, had not had their opportunity to develop fully. She had been denied any attempt at rigorous study of any subject. Their aunt, like the rest of society, deemed that her role was to be compliant – first to her father, now to himself as head of the family and finally to her husband. An education may have given her the ability to challenge these authority figures. She was an intelligent woman but her horizons had been narrowed by her lack of education. She could not converse with her future husband or himself about the classics, science and mathematics as Jane and her sisters could and did. He looked at his sister beside him, now engrossed in a history book which Logan had given her. With each rapid turning of a page, he could see her devouring the knowledge it contained. He felt a shaft of remorse.

  Elizabeth, like Jane, showed an eagerness to work outside the home, to be engaged with society in a meaningful way. At a young age she had also taken a whole-hearted interest in philanthropic causes – doing more than provide money for others to dispense. She had readily involved herself in teaching at Jane’s girls’ school in the only capacity she could provide, expecting no return except the pleasure of teaching. If there was no heir before he died, how would she support herself if there was no money invested for her and his successor, the new Marquis of Dalton, chose not to provide for womenfolk to whom he had no affective ties? Jane had learnt how difficult it was for a woman alone to provide for her family. Thousands of women must face that challenge every day. Not all those ‘fallen’ women who Jane helped chose that fate, for most it was thrust upon them if they didn’t want to starve.

  At least his conscience was clear regarding financial support for Elizabeth, Jane and her sisters. And he had endeavoured to ensure all his female relatives were provided for, but had he done enough for their other needs? He vowed to take an interest in their affairs, after he returned to London, finding out how they wanted to live rather than dispensing largess.

  Finally, he tackled Jane’s fixation on the rights of all women to control their bodies and the number of children they bore. What had he promised Jane? That they would only have as many children as she wished? How could he hope to grant her that except through abstinence, which he feared was effectively a denial of his love? Here was his biggest conundrum and perhaps for many other men. Most couples believed there was no alternative to abstinence. He stared down at his polished topboots. He must find a solution. He knew that there was – surely if it were more widely known, husbands would be satisfied and wives would be saved from death through endless childbirth. He had the means to initiate change and he needed to take it. Having come to a conclusion and made a decision, he felt energised and eager to take the first step on his new path.

  He realised that his understanding of Jane’s views on these issues had been shallow, but also almost universally believed. It was not a nonsense to talk of women as equal to men. Surely, it was not too late to make amends. It was up to him to do so immediately.

  Thirteen

  Within two weeks Jane’s family had returned to their old home near Cavendish Square. The familiar house was just as they had left it as no new tenant had leased it in their absence. Her sisters, in particular Charlotte, still subdued in her manner, were delighted to reinhabit their old rooms.

  Jane was immediately busy trying to replace Mrs Courtice at the London Welfare League Home. She worked long hours at the institution, the need for its services being as great as before.

  The day after Lady Elizabeth’s arrival from Everslie, Jane received a social call from her, so she knew that Jonathan had returned to town earlier than expected. It felt strange to be within a few miles of each of each other but not have any contact. When reading the morning paper at breakfast she often looked up from an article ready to discuss it with him, as she had started to do at Everslie when they read days-old papers during their enchanted week cut off from the world.

  Elizabeth’s news that Dr Logan’s inheritance had reduced the barriers to their engagement did not a surprise Jane. She had suspected that Dr Logan’s newfound wealth would make him a more acceptable suitor. Logan was planning to take a younger partner into his practice so that he could reduce his long hours while retaining his charitable work. This step would free his time for a family and a social life and make him better able to accommodate an aristocratic wife. There was certainly hope now that the wedding would take place.

  Within a few days of her return, it was Lady Elizabeth who brought word of a new pamphlet writer whose ideas were sensational. “I must tell you,” Lady Elizabeth said blushing, “at first I thought the writer must be Marcus, as the information contained in it is along the lines of things he has told me.”

  Jane was intrigued. “What topic could lead you to think such a thing?”

  “Women’s rights, but specifically their right to limit the number of children they bear - and how to achieve that!”

  Jane was astonished by this new development. They discussed who the writer might be, but Jane was baffled. No-one in their circle of reformers had any idea who it was and openly said so.

  “Who is the printer? We may be able to find out from him.” Jane suggested.

  “Whoever it is, he is not admitting it. That implies he is being paid to do the printing and keep quiet about the author.”

  The new pamphleteer had quickly caused mayhem throughout Society. Conservatives were buying it up to silence the voice and liberal thinkers were buying it to disseminate it widely. One thing was certain; it was making the mystery printer his fortune, as whoever was paying for its production kept funding re-runs. It was all very exciting and gave Jane some hope that her views and those of her colleagues were at last expanding through the population.

  However, each day, full of work for the causes that she believed in, was getting harder and harder to drag herself through. A deep loneliness and longing for someone with whom to share her dreams was growing. The only thing different in her life now from six months ago was Jonath
an’s brief trajectory through it, lighting the firmament of her soul. Her longing for his presence was getting greater not less with time. It shocked her that their brief connection, set against the backdrop of her family chaos, had had such a profound effect upon her.

  She paused her writing and remembered not just their shared interest in current affairs politics and the classics, but also their joyous, exhilarating night together. Charlotte had been right – theirs had been a love match after all, at least on her side. She now understood the longing for a loved-one’s touch, for his company, for his physical expression of love. She knew now why the pain of their parting had not gone away. She hoped it would soon.

  The stark room barely lit by winter sunlight did nothing to distract her thoughts, but she was determined to overcome her weakness. She took up her pen again.

  Love him or not, she steeled herself not to give in to her emotions. She would not go to him and beg to resume their relationship. Besides, there was no guarantee that he would have her back, and every possibility that he wouldn’t. Even if he did, the issues of his making conservative edicts, and their divergent beliefs, had not gone away, but remained a massive impediment. So too was Jane’s preference not to spend the next fifteen years of her life producing babies and even longer raising them. She had briefly pushed this resolution out of her mind when her need to save her family had been foremost in her decision-making. She had imagined that once Jonathan had his heir, he would tire of her, that they would cease that side of their marriage. If he did not lose interest, then perhaps she would find a way to ensure there were not too many pregnancies without barring him from her bed. Her thoughts in this area, as to how, had been vague. Now, thanks to the recent pamphleteer, women might be more able to take control of this aspect of their lives.

  The busy sounds beyond the office door districted her momentarily. The most damning of Jonathan’s faults, which could not be overlooked, was his duplicity. Jane had twisted her brain into knots trying to decide how she could possibly determine whether Lord Marchmere’s assertion was true. Short of asking him, what could she do? Even if she asked him, there was no guarantee he would tell the truth. Nor was it possible to know whether what he assumed was the truth was in fact that. Maybe he had just made an assumption about Jonathan’s motives. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking on his part. These thoughts swirled around and around in Jane’s mind, but she came no closer to knowing. She pulled the account book closer and began totalling a column.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Jonathan was tired of his own company. He had spent the previous week trying to write his maiden speech for parliament, which sat for the first time this year at the end of January. It was weighing on his mind. Could he write the thing? No, he could not. Frustrated with himself, he decided that a change of scene with a visit to White’s might give him the fresh perspective he needed on the project.

  Jonathan saw a number of acquaintances as he walked along St James’s Street, but as he neared his destination, he recognised Jane’s brother William from his strong resemblance to his father, which he had noticed when they first met. Jonathan hailed him in the hope of getting news of Jane.

  “Hello Brody, how are things? Back from Derbyshire? Where are you staying? We missed you at Christmas.” Once the pleasantries of meeting were over he asked, “How are you finding employment with Lord Stacy?”

  William eyed him speculatively, knowing that Jane’s engagement was dissolved, but not wanting to alienate such a powerful member of the aristocracy, especially when he didn’t know what had caused the rift. Jane refused to tell him, waving the question away with ‘we didn’t suit’. His sisters had hinted that Lord Dalton had not been at fault and that it was a lover’s-tiff, which they hoped would be resolved. They cited as proof the fact that no retraction had been printed in the newspaper as yet.

  Consequently William answered in a friendly way. “Thank you for the invitation to Everslie, but it was impossible for me to travel from the north to Hampshire in that weather. I have left Stacy’s employment now – it was only temporary - while his lordship’s secretary took leave to be with his dying mother and put all in order once she passed away. He has returned to his post now and once again I’m in London looking for work. I have a good reference from Stacy, should you know of anyone wanting a secretary.”

  Jonathan thought for a moment then answered. “I certainly do know someone who needs a political secretary, able to assist with speech writing for the House. Would that be you?”

  “I think I could help, if you wouldn’t mind giving me an introduction to him.”

  “That won’t be necessary. Come to me in Grosvenor Square tomorrow at nine o’clock and be ready to start your duties.”

  William was taken aback. “It is you needing the secretary, Lord Dalton?”

  “Yes, my man of business, who usually performs all my secretarial work, has enough to do without the additional tasks for my parliamentary work. I need a speech for the House of Lords by the end of the month and I’m struggling with it by myself. We’ll discuss the terms when I see you.” They shook hands and Jonathan resumed his journey to White’s.

  He hoped to find Lord Marchmere in the hallowed club. He should have returned from the country, if he had followed the family’s plans which Anna had related at Christmas time.

  And there he was, seated in the bow window looking out upon the passing populace.

  Jonathan made a bee-line for his quarry.

  “Ah, Marchmere, good day.” Jonathan forced himself to appear affable and thoroughly pleased to see him.

  Marchmere looked up from his reading. “Dalton, what brings you back to town? I thought you were in the country until the end of January, cuddling up to Miss Brody?” His heavy jowl swayed as he spoke.

  Jonathan fist clenched involuntarily but he consciously relaxed it. “I wouldn’t put it like that, but yes, I was at Everslie with my sister and Miss Brody and her family, but we returned to London after Christmas.”

  Marchmere grunted a response that showed his lack of interest in the particulars. “What can I do for you?”

  “Thought you might be able to assist me by giving me a bit of your time tomorrow morning to discuss an appropriate topic for my maiden speech to parliament. Something that the party would like me to talk on. You know the sort of thing - you better than anyone.”

  Clearly flattered, Marchmere appeared to inflate and readily agreed to meet next morning at Dalton House. Jonathan thanked him and went off to re-acquaint himself with other members whom he hadn’t seen for several weeks.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  William Brody arrived at Dalton House on time next morning. Within minutes he was in his lordship’s library, seated at a writing desk in an alcove set at the far end of the large room. He was occupied reading over Jonathan’s attempt at his speech, while Dalton completed his morning tasks with Stevens, his elderly man of business. Jonathan had explained to William that he would be under the instruction of Stevens, but that his work would be to support Jonathan’s political duties, largely separate from the running of the estate and his social calendar.

  As the ebony bracket clock on the mantelpiece struck the hour, Jones the butler showed Lord Marchmere into the library. Jonathan greeted him warmly and dismissed Stevens for the morning. William, reading at the other end of the room, was unnoticed by Marchmere. Hale and hearty as always, Marchmere greeted Jonathan and took the proffered seat near the fireplace.

  They discussed forthcoming debates in the House and the Tory stance. In his booming voice, Marchmere outlined a few topics which Dalton could talk on which would “be for the good of the nation”, he believed, and do Dalton’s credit no harm. After half an hour of such discussion, Jonathan blandly enquired where Marchmere had got the idea that his forthcoming marriage to Miss Brody was a ruse to silence her politically.

  He blustered. “Why, from y
ou my man, from you.”

  Jonathan’s voice was even and firm. “If I allowed you to have that impression then I am very sorry to hear it. At no time have I set out to gag or discredit the views held by Miss Brody. While I may not agree with all that she lectures and writes about, I have no intention of ever stifling her views - for you or anybody else’s purpose.”

  “What was your purpose then?” He answered his own question. “Travener was onto you – told me about your monopoly of her at Mrs Cortice’s ball. You must have got compromised to have offered marriage. I spread that about when I heard about her school – that woman shouldn’t be educating anyone’s children.” He appeared triumphant about his deceit.

  Jonathan felt anger roil in him. “My intentions towards Miss Brody have always been honourable.”

  “More fool you!”

  White hot with anger, Jonathan looked contemptuously at Marchmere. “So we know where we stand from now on - I am not your man. I hope I make myself clear.” There was no sound from the far end of the library. Jonathan hoped William continued to keep quiet so his presence was unknown to their visitor.

  Marchmere’s face was turning scarlet with fury and his voice became louder. “Then you’re a fool Dalton and you deserve the mayhem such ideas as hers, that bluestocking you have affianced yourself to, will rain down upon you.”

  “I’ll take that risk,” was Jonathan’s quiet reply. He could barely contain his contempt.

  Marchmere looked at him with disgust. Without another word he left the library with a resounding bang of the heavy door and Jonathan could hear his butler’s quiet voice as he politely but firmly showed him out of Dalton House.

  “William, might I speak with you.”

  William walked the length of the room to stand before his employer. He looked courteous but curious after the interview he had overheard.