Chapter Ten #2
“It’s a bill currently being drafted that would expand the electorate by granting working-class men the right to vote.
Particularly city dwellers. He’s hellbent on getting the Act to pass through Parliament.
The more voting power allotted to the men of Glasgow, the easier he thinks it will be to build his hospital. ”
The demand for newer, more efficient hospitals was being heard all over the United Kingdom.
With the population boom of the industrial age, more people meant more working people, meant more injured people, as well as illnesses were easily spread between the tight living spaces that so many people had to contend with.
Reform to keep work standards up had failed time and time again, and with the country’s shift toward healthy living, any new hospital would surely be welcomed.
“I’ve heard about his desire to build a hospital,” Jane said. “But surely, he could build one now?”
“If it were purely the money issue, he would, but that’s never the case.
It’s been a dream of his to do so for years.
Even with how well Milton Enterprises has done so far, the amount of litigation that needs to happen, plus a dozen other things, well…
This is why Mr. Liddell’s visit is terribly important. ”
“Yes, of course, I can imagine.”
She turned to Jane.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something, Jane, only I hope you will not misconstrue it. It seems that Mr. Liddell is rather fond of you. He mentioned it to my husband the other evening while in the billiards room.”
“Did he?” Jane asked, startled by the admission.
Though she had enjoyed her time with Mr. Liddell thus far, Jane was surprised that the gentleman would confess something so bold. Mrs. Milton instantly tried to soothe her.
“I do not believe he meant it in any sort of way, only that he was glad to have your company. Mr. Milton said that he went on to sing your praises for a short while after dinner.”
“Oh,” Jane replied, still uneasy. “Well, that’s rather flattering, I suppose.”
“Yes, it is,” she replied, though the expression on her face made Jane wary. “He said that it was refreshing to meet someone who was so refined.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “Which gave me an idea.”
“What sort of idea?”
“Well, I was wondering if you might pay him a bit more attention than you normally would tonight during the opera.”
Jane shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
“How so?”
“Oh, you know, compliment him during dinner, possibly sit next to him at the theater. I suppose just continue what you’re already doing, as it seems to be working.
He appears to be delighted by your presence.
Mr. Liddell is the son of a peer, and according to this letter,” Mrs. Milton said, scanning it with her eyes, “he prefers the company of his own to others. Now, he’s obviously not too grandiose, as he had already committed to staying here, but being a member of the peerage yourself, I think you might just be our lucky charm, as it were. ”
Jane nodded slowly, trying to take everything she was saying with a grain of salt.
“Oh, I don’t know, Mrs. Milton.”
“Well, I don’t mean that you would be doing anything untoward. I just mean, well, smile and laugh at his jokes and that sort of thing. His good humor could decide his position on the bill after all. But if it makes you uncomfortable,” she said, lifting both hands, “forget I said anything.”
“No, no, it doesn’t make me uncomfortable,” Jane lied. “I’m sure I can manage that. Particularly if it will help Mr. Milton build his hospital.”
Mrs. Milton smiled.
“I knew you were of good stock, Jane. I could tell the moment I met you that you were going to be helpful, and I was right.”
Jane couldn’t help but blush at the woman’s kind words. She had never once, in her entire life, considered the plight of others and yet here she was, agreeing to charm a member of Parliament in hopes that Samuel Milton could build his hospital.
It was an odd feeling, one she had never experienced before.
For the longest time, Jane had only ever been concerned with herself and her sister.
To be in service of others had always been a passing thought, something nuns did, but Jane suddenly felt purposeful.
She had a mission to complete now, and though it wasn’t in service to her own dreams or desires, she was determined to be as perfect and as charming as she could be for Mr. Liddell that night.
After all, if she succeeded, he’d put his support behind the reform bill, which would help Samuel accomplish his hospital, and what was more honorable than that? Helping the sick heal?
Yes. That’s why she was going to do it. To help the sick.
It certainly didn’t have anything to do with the fact that she might inadvertently help Samuel reach his goal, though it did warm her heart imagining how happy he would be to learn that Mr. Liddell would vote for the Reform Act because she was so charming.
An absolutely ridiculous reverie, and yet she couldn’t stop herself from smiling as she daydreamed.
Yes, this was exactly the sort of thing that she could do.
Having been brought up in polite society, Jane had been trained by her mother since youth to flatter men, sway opinions, and charm others.
And now, she had a chance to use her untapped talents for a noble cause.
Perhaps she was more like Samuel than she realized.
For the rest of the afternoon, Jane helped with Mrs. Milton’s correspondence before finally returning to her room to change for dinner.
She chose a violet-colored gown with cream lace overlay.
Shoulders exposed, as was the latest fashion, she was grateful to the redheaded housemaid, Mary, who had handled her hairstyle with exquisite detail.
“Oh, Mary, it’s lovely,” she said when the maid finished placing the last of the pearl hairpins in her hair, on loan from Mrs. Milton. “How did you ever become so talented?”
“Aye, I have four younger sisters, ma’am. Me ma put me in charge of their grooming. I loved it. If it weren’t for me, they’d all look like Boudicca,” she chuckled. “There we are. Pretty as a painting.”
“All thanks to you,” Jane said as she stood up.
Tonight, they were going to the theater to see Jenny Lind, famed Swedish opera singer who had come to Glasgow to conclude her United Kingdom tour, and Jane was sure of her mission. She would be attentive and serene, the perfect hostess to Mr. Liddell.
Donning a heavy winter cloak, Jane joined the rest of their party in the foyer. Mr. and Mrs. Milton were discussing something between themselves, while Mr. Liddell was speaking to…Lady Belle?
That was surprising. Jane didn’t know the lady was attending. And what’s more, she saw Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon talking to Samuel.
“Ah, the last but certainly not least of our party,” Mrs. Milton said as she broke away from her husband and the McKinnons. She reached out with both hands, taking Jane’s, as she maneuvered her through the small group to stand before Mr. Liddell, whose eyes seemed to light up at the sight of Jane.
“Miss Atherton,” he said with a bow. “You are a vision.”
“And you are too kind,” she said with a curtsy. “Tell me, do you enjoy the theater, Mr. Liddell?”
“I’ve always been a patron of the arts, but I’ve never been to a Scottish theater before.”
“Nor have I.”
“Well then, perhaps we should stay close to one another, so that we might have a discussion later on the similarities and differences from the plays in London.”
“I concur,” she said, taking his arm as they filed out of the house into the waiting carriages.
Though she hadn’t meant to look, Jane glanced over her shoulder to see Mrs. Milton beaming at her, while her son, who was standing a full head and shoulders over his petite mother, was watching her. No, he was glaring at her with a mixture of confusion and annoyance.
What did he have to be annoyed for, Jane wondered as she followed Mr. Liddell and Lady Belle into the waiting carriage, only to be followed herself by Samuel. The Miltons and the McKinnons rode in a separate carriage.
“I do love the theater,” Lady Belle mused immediately once the carriages took off. “I remember the first time I went to the theater. I had just had my coming out and my parents took me to Drury Lane, although this was many, many years ago.”
“I’m afraid Drury Lane isn’t what it once was, Lady Belle,” Mr. Liddell said, his eyes on Jane. “The Royal Theatre is the social standing for theaters nowadays.”
“Oh, is it?” Lady Belle said, though Jane sensed that her inquiry wasn’t genuine. In fact, she sounded perturbed. “Well, I suppose everything must change eventually. Don’t you agree, Mr. Milton?”
“I do,” he said without glancing at Lady Belle. “In fact, I think the Reform Bill is exactly the sort of thing that could be used to change things for the better.”
“Come now, Milton. Let’s not talk business in front of the ladies,” Liddell said, his complete focus on Jane. “Tell me, Miss Atherton, how does a gentle born lady from London end up working for a Scottish millionaire?”
Jane hadn’t anticipated being the topic of conversation when she agreed to Mrs. Milton’s plan. But she took a deep breath and plastered her most bored expression, aware that any show of emotion would undermine the unsung rule of upper society. Do not appear afflicted by anything.
“My sister and I came north to meet our extended family members after my mother passed away. My sister was so enamored with the area that we decided to stay, particularly since life in London had become so blasé.”
“I can understand that,” Mr. Liddell stated with a firm nod. “Although, springtime in London cannot be surpassed. Don’t you miss being in the epicenter of the world?”
“Is London the epicenter? Not Paris or Vienna?”
“Come now, of course it is.”
Jane sighed and tilted her head.