Chapter Twelve #2
“My dear, you cannot wear any of the drab gowns you brought with you from London, nor one of Hope or Faith’s hand-me-downs. Now, there’s not enough time for a custom piece, but Madame Miel is always so keen to take my requests.” She winked. “The woman thinks I only bring her challenges.”
“Do you?”
Her eyes twinkled.
“Yes, but only because I know she can manage.”
“Still, there really isn’t a need to bother yourself. Three dresses to alter in only seven days—”
“Not three,” Arabella spoke up. “Just the two. For you and Cora.”
The obvious charity that was being afforded to Jane and Cora was overwhelming and somewhat embarrassing.
Jane dropped her gaze. It made her deeply uncomfortable, considering that she and Cora had all but had to beg their brother for new gowns after her father passed away.
Since then, Jane had reevaluated the differences between need and want, and she had come to realize that she needed extraordinarily little in this life.
“That’s very kind of you, Lady Belle, but unfortunately I cannot—”
“Here it is,” Mrs. Malcom said as she returned, carrying one of Jane’s gowns. “This one fits her best.”
“Oh, that’s really not necessary,” Jane said as Arabella quickly gathered up the gown from the maid.
“I’m afraid it is,” Lady Belle countered. “Well, thank you, Jane and Mrs. Milton. We’ll be on our way.”
Cora gave Jane another squeeze before she let go.
“Don’t worry, Jane. I’ll make sure to pick out a gown to complement you. Goodbye!”
“Bye…” Jane said as she watched them leave the room.
“Don’t worry yourself about Lady Belle,” Mrs. Milton said from behind. Jane turned to face her. “She’ll do what she wants. She always has.”
“I appreciate her concern and charity, but really, Cora and I cannot afford to be in anyone’s debt.”
She waved her hand.
“My dear, Lady Belle is likely one of the wealthiest women in the entire country. Two altered dresses will not cause her a single ounce of grief, but how you’re presented at the ball will certainly be impactful, good or bad.
” She returned to her work. “It’s a shame you didn’t ask her about Mr. Liddell. ”
Jane frowned as she glanced at the doorway through which they had just exited.
“Why is that?”
“Supposedly she was quite well acquainted with his father, years ago.” Jane didn’t need to be told twice. She instantly headed toward the door. “Jane?”
But she didn’t answer. She hurried down the hallway toward the front door where Cora and Arabella flanked the elder woman.
“Lady Belle?” Jane called out, causing the three of them to turn. “May I ask you a few questions before you leave?”
“If you’re trying to dissuade me, Miss Atherton, it will not work. You need a proper gown—”
“No, no, it’s not that, although I am entirely in your debt.”
“Posh. What is it you wish to ask?”
“Mr. Liddell, er, rather his father, the earl. Mrs. Milton said you were acquainted with him.”
Her brows lifted as her eyes closed and a small smile crawled across her face.
“Bertram. What a dear. Kindest, gentlest soul to ever hold a title.” Her eyes opened. “What do you wish to know?”
Jane’s gaze flickered to Arabella and Cora, who blessedly understood that what was to be said required privacy.
“Come, Cora, let’s not dawdle in the rain,” Arabella said as they left arm in arm, followed by two butlers with umbrellas.
They waited until Arabella and Cora had returned to the carriage. Belle turned to face Jane fully.
“Go on, dear.”
Jane took a deep breath.
“Mrs. Milton has put the entire ball into my hands, but I’m afraid I don’t know very much about Mr. Liddell. I mean, I know he’s the third son of an earl—”
“Bertram.”
“Er, yes, but besides a fondness for spring and possibly the color blue, I’m without details.”
“Hm… I see. And the entire reason for the ball is to impress him, for Milton’s sake. Well, let’s see… Bertram was a very dear friend, we were often in each other’s company when I was an actress on Drury Lane.”
Jane’s brows lifted.
“You were an actress?”
“Among other things,” she said with a wink. “But Bertram was my constant confidant in those early days. I should have married him when he asked. Lord knows my life would have been easier. As would his.”
“He proposed to you?” Jane asked, surprised.
Belle waved her free hand.
“Who didn’t? I mean, really, all you had to do as an actress in those days was smile and bat your eyelashes, sing one song, and everyone fell madly in love with you.” She sighed. “I won’t lie, I do miss it, but c’est la vie.”
Jane shook her head, pushing all this information to the back of her mind so that she might be able to consider it later. But at the moment, she had a job to do.
“But what do you know about his son?”
“Hm. Well, let’s see… I know he had three boys, the elder two were remarkably close and I suspect are to this day.
However, his Daisy passed away after her second child was born.
Then he married Catherine, with whom he had Mr. Liddell.
Now, Catherine was the daughter of the Baron Sweeney, a cruel man, if I recall, who created cruel children.
But I remember Bertram wasn’t concerned.
He was sure he and his boys would be a good influence and, always the hero, he married her out of pity.
But he was successful. I’ve never heard anything untoward about Mr. Liddell, and I’ve been sure to keep track of him in both the political papers as well as the gossip pages. ”
“Has he appeared in the gossip pages a lot?”
“No. But I know he’s a conventionalist. He doesn’t champion any bills, but he’s always voting with the Whigs.
He’s traditional, more so than his father ever was, more so than his brothers, but I think it’s because he fears his position in life.
Why else would a man willingly go into politics?
” She shook her head. “The majority of our government consists of men who yearn for legacy and by being protectors of the lines drawn in our society.”
“In other words, he’s the opposite of Mr. Milton, in nearly every sense.”
Lady Belle smirked.
“Exactly.”
She let out a puff of breath.
“Well, that doesn’t help us much, does it?” she said more to herself than to Lady Belle, but then the old woman leaned forward.
“That man is without taste, my dear, but not without influence. Keep it as traditional as possible. Avoid pork and fish dishes, make sure the flowers are plentiful, as well as the champagne, and make sure the fireworks are massive. Simple creatures like familiarity.” She gave her a final nod. “Now, help me to my carriage.”
Jane promptly gave the old woman her arm as she escorted her out of the house beneath the umbrellas the footmen were holding.
“Thank you, Lady Belle. You’ve been most helpful.”
“Always,” she said with a wink as Cora waved from the carriage window.
The horses took off in the next instant, and Jane watched them ride away as she considered all that she had to do.