Chapter Five
“There we are,” Lady Belle said as she watched her nephew-in-law and Mr. Milton depart the parlor. “Now we can get down to business.”
“Business?” Jane repeated, confused.
“Yes. Mrs. Milton, may I introduce you to Miss Jane Atherton? Miss Atherton, this is Mrs. Milton.”
“How do you do?” Jane said with a slight curtsy.
“Very well, my dear,” she said before turning her head slightly to Belle, though she kept her warm brown eyes on Jane. “Oh, Belle, she’s perfect.”
“I am?”
“Isn’t she though?” Belle replied, not acknowledging Jane’s question. “She grew up in London, from a fine family. It is well read, and rather cautious, which I think would be a benefit to Milton Enterprises. You know how headstrong your son can be.”
“I do, and an added pair of cautious eyes will help exponentially.”
“Indeed.”
“I’m sorry,” Jane spoke up once more as the two older women stared at her. “But how do you know I’m well read? And how am I to be a benefit to, er, Milton Enterprises?”
Lady Belle cocked her head.
“My dear, you said yourself that you wouldn’t wish to be a burden to the Harrises, and while I doubt very much that they would see you as such, I’m not the sort to tell a woman what to do. And quiet girls are usually well read, but if you insist on having me ask, are you indeed, well read?”
Jane felt her cheeks warm.
“Yes,” she replied as a smug expression crossed Belle’s face. “But I’m not sure I understand the rest of what you’re discussing…”
Mrs. Milton reached for her hand and spoke.
“You see, my dear, I’ve expressed to Lady Belle for some time now my need for a companion.
Although, it would be more of a secretarial position.
My older years have found me a touch tired, and unfortunately, business has no place for the weary.
Which is why I asked Lady Belle to make a list of potential suitors who might be able to contend with the work. ”
“But Lady Belle barely knows who I am,” she said before adding, “No offense to you, my lady.”
“Offense from what? Your accurate assessment?” Lady Belle chuckled. “How can I know what sort of person you are, having only just met you a few days ago?”
“Exactly.”
Jane felt relieved, but Lady Belle was smirking.
“Why, the only information I have about you, Miss Atherton, is that you are from London.” Jane nodded. “And that you have a sister. And a brother. Well, actually, you have two brothers and two sisters.”
Jane tried to smile, but she couldn’t. It was still mortifying information.
“Yes.”
“And that you are well read.”
“Er, yes.”
Belle squinted.
“You know, I knew your father and his father in my younger years, when I used to live in London.”
“You did?”
“I did. Interesting men, the Athertons. Always such sycophants for pretty ladies. But then, your mother always said as much.”
“My… mother?” Jane blinked, before remembering. “Oh, yes. Arabella mentioned that you befriended my mother during her time here.”
“I did. And I maintained that friendship for an exceptionally long time afterwards,” Belle said softly, so that their voices might not be overheard. She bent forward. “And this, I pray you will not repeat, because it is not known by even my nieces.”
The cogs of Jane’s mind were slow to move as the pieces fell together. She frowned and spoke in her own whispered voice, still aware of Mrs. Milton’s presence, who had a stunned expression.
“Are you saying you kept correspondences with my mother? Even after she fled the Highlands?”
“I am. But it is not shared information. Your mother begged me to keep our letters secret, and I have not betrayed her. Not until this very moment.” She glanced at Mrs. Milton.
“Now, there is a reason I’ve revealed it to not only you, but Mrs. Milton here as well.
But my reasoning is not open for discussion. ”
Jane frowned.
“Why are you telling me this then?”
“Because I want you to know that I do not suggest you take this secretary position on a whim. I know you, Jane. More than you would like to believe, I’m sure.
I know you’re a voracious reader, calm and observant, even in precarious situations.
I know that while most people in your life have unflatteringly compared you to an ice queen because of your unwavering nerve, it’s because you can’t help but take in every bit of information before you make any sort of claim or comment.
If anything, you are the opposite of heartless, as some, like your brother Lord Atherton, have described you.
You feel and observe far more than the average lady and simply must take time to process everything.
And it is that reason, that peculiar personality trait, that makes you a perfect candidate for a position at Milton Enterprises. ”
Jane’s mouth had fallen open as she absorbed everything she had just heard. To learn that her mother had kept correspondence with a person from her former life was one thing, but to hear almost verbatim what her mother had told her growing up was altogether terrifying.
All of it was true. Her brother had commented on her chilly demeanor all her life.
Jane had always found that listening was far more informative than speaking.
It had been a trait her mother had nurtured.
She always said that there was far more to learn than just hearing people speak.
Helen had tried to teach both of her daughters how to read faces.
Sweat at the temple, red cheeks, large pupils, fidgeting hands.
All of this meant something and depending on the topic of conversation, Jane could deduce, simply by watching, if someone were lying, excited, nervous, angry, or secretive.
Jane had taken her mother’s teachings to heart, more so than Cora had, but then that was likely why she was having this conversation with Lady Belle and Mrs. Milton.
“I’ve stunned you,” Belle said after a moment. “That’s all right. I’m used to stunning people.” She chuckled. “Now, as a clever woman, I’m sure you are aware of your current position. As a lady of society, your entire life has been in preparation for marriage. Is that correct?”
“Well, yes.”
“And do you have any prospects?”
“N-no.” She shook her head. “None at all.”
“That can be rectified, if you wish,” Belle said cautiously. “There are plenty of good-natured gentlemen in these parts and even a number of titled sirs in Glasgow. You could be living with a rich, kind husband sooner than you’d believe. Why, I could have you married off in a month.”
“Oh, but I don’t—”
“You don’t want to be married. I know that too.”
Jane shook her head and let out an uncomfortable laugh.
“But how can you possibly know any of this? All of this?”
“Because I am old and wise,” she replied, her tone arrogant but true.
“You are not the first woman to be turned out by a man, blood relative or not, and you won’t be the last. However, I’ve dealt with ladies my entire life, and having been one for just as long, there are certain facts that the world would have us believe aren’t true.
But I know that there are a respectable number of women who would rather work than marry, and you are one of those women.
Having said all that, now, Jane. What would you like to do? ”
Jane swallowed. If she had been at home, she might have taken a month to consider this offer from all sides, but it seemed Belle wouldn’t give her an extra moment to decide.
Telling, as she obviously knew how Jane worked.
Yet Belle’s unwavering stare made Jane feel like she needed to answer immediately.
“I… I don’t know.”
“You will be well compensated,” Mrs. Milton said quickly. “Our clerks make a thousand pounds annually to start.”
Belle glanced at her, surprised.
“I thought it was nine hundred and fifty?”
“Samuel increased it a few months ago.”
“Hmm. I didn’t know that,” Belle said to herself, seemingly annoyed that she didn’t know something. Then she shook her head. “Regardless, Jane, this is not an opportunity to be ignored. Nor will it wait for you. I’m afraid Mrs. Milton needs a decision now.”
“Or at least, by the end of the evening,” Mrs. Milton said hurriedly, but Belle waved her hand and struck her cane on the ground once.
Others in the room glanced over, but Belle would not acknowledge them. She only kept her steely gaze on Jane.
“Now.”
“Now? As in, this very minute?”
“Here are your options, Jane. First, you reject this offer. You will remain in Harris House then, and where your sister has found some comfort in meeting her extended family, you have not. I suspect you will remain there for a month or so, until the shame of your mother’s abandonment consumes you.
Then, you will come to me and ask to speak with Mrs. Milton to see if she will reconsider, but by then someone else will have been hired and you will have missed a perfectly good opportunity to have an independent life.
” Then, the old woman put her hand on Jane’s shoulder.
“I know this is a lot to take in, my dear. And if we had time, I’d be gentler with pushing you in this direction, but unfortunately time is not on our side.
So, I’m asking you to ignore every instinct you’re having right now and do me this exceedingly small favor and accept my dear friend Mrs. Milton’s offer.
Accept this job and in a year from now, if you despise it, you can take your thousand pounds, and I’ll match it and you can go on your way. ”
Jane’s mind was reeling.
“You’d give me an extra thousand pounds if I don’t like the position?”
“I would.”
Jane looked at Mrs. Milton, who shrugged.