Chapter Four #2
“Only if we return to the ballroom. The air is quite chilly out here.” Jane made her tone as frosty as the air.
She would not be drawn into a dalliance with Lord Dalton.
She was not an insipid husband hunter or a sexually emancipated bluestocking.
She was an educated woman who demanded to be treated with respect, as an equal, by men.
Dalton silently led her into the ballroom. They resumed their waltz. This time, Dalton kept the required distance as he led her in floating circles around the ballroom floor. This time, Jane didn’t close her eyes.
The warmth of his hand on her waist, the scent of his cologne, and the blurred montage of colors in the ballroom filled Jane’s senses, and she shivered with awareness of him.
At this close range she could admire his long-lashed eyes, his straight nose, and his determined mouth with its upturned corners.
His hair curled across his temples in unruly deep brown waves, and his dark eyebrows seemed to arch in a query to her thoughts.
Too soon, the final bars of the tune were played.
Dalton released her waist and bowed to her, but kept hold of her hand. He tucked it into the crook of his arm and led her to the adjacent supper room. “Now, Miss Brody, let me fill a plate for you, then we can have a comfortable chat.”
He seated her at a small table in a corner of the room and strode to the buffet table.
Jane scanned the room for Lady Elizabeth and wasn’t surprised to find her seated with Dr. Logan a little distance away.
She looked flushed with happiness as she listened to Dr. Logan explain something using expansive hand gestures.
Dalton returned and placed a full plate of pastries on the table.
Once he was seated, Jane leaned forward to say “I am so keen to continue our discussion of the issue and how you may be able to further our cause.”
Dalton settled back into his seat. “I would prefer you told me how you became involved in all your causes.”
That was a personal story, which she did not feel comfortable relating to him yet. Especially when he had revealed nothing of himself to her. “First tell me about your family, Lord Dalton,” she replied.
He looked intently at her, hesitated, then began, “I have an indomitable aunt. She is determined that both Elizabeth and I make the greatest dynastic matches of the coming Season, to those not only with vast wealth but address and looks to match.”
Jane smiled in amusement at his aunt’s ambition. “And will she succeed?”
“She may try! But for myself, I believe I can find my future wife without her assistance. Nevertheless, she is like a terrier hunting a rat when it comes to the urgency of a marriage for the sake of an heir.”
“No doubt that is of great importance for your family?”
“It is.” His voice was grave. “I have many dependent female relatives. They fear for their future should the line of succession not be secured with an heir apparent.”
He intended to do his duty but was determined to not do so at the cost of his personal happiness.
She silently wished him luck in finding a suitable candidate.
But what about his sister? Would she have a similar say in choosing her husband?
“I hope Lady Elizabeth’s choice of husband is given as much due for her own future happiness as yours shall be. ”
Dalton considered her comment. “We shall see how well she chooses first.”
Jane persisted in her questioning. “And if her suitor lacks presence, power, and wealth, will she be granted her heart’s desire?”
His brows snapped together into a frown of annoyance. “I can’t promise that.”
“What of her rights... to make decisions about her life and her happiness?”
“Sometimes that is best determined for young women by their families, in particular the head of that family.”
“You keep a lot of power over her for yourself, in other words.”
“Indeed, and that is how it ought to be. Young women, especially those underage, need guidance. They don’t always make good decisions, because of their youth. If your young sister was to choose an inappropriate husband, would you not try to intervene or at least counsel caution?”
That barb hit home. That was exactly what she had done with Charlotte. “Yes, of course I would, but I wouldn’t have the power to stop her.”
He sat back in his chair, and his mouth curled into a smirk. “Therein lies the difference.”
Annoyance at his arrogance flushed her cheek and made her forget her purpose in talking with Dalton tonight. “But should there be a difference?”
His face became an unreadable mask. “Of course. Men make decisions in this world. It is a woman’s role to obey.”
Outrage burned in her stomach. “Enough! You put me out of countenance. I am angry just to hear this talk.” Jane flourished her cake fork.
He stared at her for a moment, then leaned forward and disarmed her, gently prizing the cutlery from her fingers.
“Let us change the subject, Miss Brody, before we come to blows. I can see that you are fuming.” He positioned the fork on the plate in front of them, ending the altercation.
“By the way, where is your sister at present?”
“She is seated with Lady Elizabeth and Dr. Logan and has been since shortly after you brought supper. I am keeping my eye on her without keeping her by my side.”
He looked over his shoulder and acknowledged the table of four comprising Mrs. Courtice, Anna, his sister, and Dr. Logan. “Of course, I see her now.” He turned back to his conversation. “Now, tell me about your philanthropic causes.”
Inhaling slowly, Jane took control of her anger and focused on the question.
“My causes, as you call them, are a number of charities in which my father was involved until my mother’s death.
Through them I met Mrs. Courtice, who, as you probably know, is a driving force in most of those organizations.
Her energy is infectious. We wouldn’t achieve half that we do without her as the commanding officer. ”
“What are those charities?” His warm brown eyes focused attentively on her.
Such an attractive man. A great pity about his politics.
Jane continued her explanation. “An orphanage, a home that takes in unmarried expectant women, and a mission for young women who come to London from the country alone and who are therefore vulnerable to every pimp and madam in the metropolis.”
He still looked interested. Jane was used to seeing a glaze of boredom invade potential donors’ faces as she endeavored to convince them to contribute. “How do you fund these charities? Just from donations?” he asked.
“We do rely on donations, of course, but we try to be self-sufficient through taking in work with which to train the young women while they wait for their babies’ births, so they can support themselves afterwards.
We teach them to read and write. Then we try to establish them in the community, often together so they can share accommodation costs and work from home doing needlework, laundry, and so forth.
Any that already have an education, we try to assist into governess or teaching positions, although that means they need to leave their offspring at the orphanage, which is heartrending for them.
Several have recently established a day school for infant children in their neighborhood.
They have done quite well. We are very proud of their success and so glad that we were able to help them become self-sufficient.
” Jane watched him closely for signs of waning interest but detected none.
“How did you contribute to that?”
Jane was surprised by his question. It showed that he was considering what she was saying. “By arranging and signing the lease on the house they use as the school and their home. A small capital injection is all that is usually needed.”
He smiled. It made him look open and admiring. “Indeed, Miss Brody, you are doing very good works.”
“Well, yes, but there is so much more to be done, so much poverty and distress in the world. If only women had the ability to earn a living as men do; but instead most employment opportunities are cut off from them. For a middle-class woman to take on work, unless it is as a companion or governess or schoolmistress, is to lose her right to be called or treated as a lady. Is that fair or correct?”
He glanced away. “Perhaps not, but that is the way of the world.”
You know I’m right, but you won’t admit it. “That is exactly what needs to be changed,” Jane insisted. “And you can help us to do that, Lord Dalton. You have the influence and power to do something about the inequalities that women face in this world.”
Still he wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Women are the responsibility of their fathers and brothers.”
“They don’t all have fathers and brothers, and some have fathers and brothers who don’t care for them. Others have fathers and brothers you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, they are so violent and abusive. That is why they need equal rights to employment and education.”
“Of course, you’re right. But we can’t overturn the order of society for this minority of bad cases.”
Jane shifted forward in her seat to emphasize her point. “But is it a minority, or is it the silent majority who clamor for opportunities?”
He glanced at her face. “Either way, it is the responsibility of each woman’s male family members to protect and support her.”
He had just dismissed her view. Jane was reminded that Dalton was an honorable but somewhat na?ve man, believing that his sense of duty to women was replicated in all men.
“Surely you can see that it just doesn’t happen that way for very many women.
Can’t you use your position in society to support our cause to improve the quality of women’s lives through asserting their equality to men? ”