Chapter Eleven #3
Jonathan’s eyebrows formed a straight frown across his face. “No, I won’t forbid you from doing it, but I do think that you should consider the effect of your writing on my political career when you are my wife.”
“If I become your wife.” Jane felt combative.
“If you become my wife, I’m sure you will consider your actions and their effects on your family, our family.” He was all stiff and arrogant again. Gone was the passionate, persuasive lover.
Jane felt saddened by the change. She stood. “I must leave. Katherine is at home by herself. I have been away too long.”
“Let me call the carriage to take you home. Come.” He held out his arm for her.
She nodded acceptance but made no move to tuck her hand in the crook of his arm. With one last look at the room where so much intimacy had already taken place and so much more would occur if she married him, Jane left the room wondering whether she would ever see it again.
Jonathan escorted Jane to the front door.
Jones, the butler, was nowhere in sight.
He leaned in to kiss her in farewell. She turned her cheek to meet his lips.
He took her hand in his and pressed a lingering kiss on each of her fingers.
Fascinated by his worshipful manner despite herself, Jane stood entranced in a dream when he lowered her hand and opened the front door.
Lady Lucinda approached along the pavement, armed with the day’s paper. Startled, Jane wrenched her hand from Jonathan’s.
His aunt reached the front door and exclaimed, “Dalton, I was just looking for you.” Mouth set in a grim line, she looked set for battle.
After greeting her briefly, Jane whispered an apology to Jonathan and hastened down the front stairs to avoid Lady Lucinda’s wrath and condemnation. Could this engagement get worse?
***
JONATHAN’S AUNT CORNERED him in the foyer. “What is the meaning of this announcement of your engagement to that bluestocking?”
“Let us go to the library, Aunt Lucinda, where we may talk without an audience,” Dalton warned.
He offered her his arm, but she ignored it and steamed to the library unaided.
Jonathan ambled in her wake, wishing he had taken the opportunity to make things right with Jane before she had scampered off.
His aunt waited on the Indian carpet before his desk, while he closed the door precisely and took his seat. “Well, Aunt Lucinda, do you have something to say to me?” he asked.
“What is the meaning of this?” she asked as she slapped the open paper down onto his desk in front of him.
He looked at her with what he hoped was a steely set to his face.
“The announcement has the usual meaning of an engagement notice... that the two parties named will marry in the near future, their lives forever indivisible... unless separated by an act of parliament.”
“I understand that,” she said, her tone bitter. “But why that woman? Of the many young ladies from whom you could choose, you chose her? I am incredulous. She is a nobody, but worse than that, a nobody with some dangerous... no, ludicrous opinions about the rights of women.”
Amusement at his aunt’s high dudgeon evaporated, replaced by anger swelling through him. “I advise you, Aunt Lucinda, do not say anything more in criticism of my future wife.”
“I will say whatever I think fit!”
Anger bubbled through his veins, but his voice was colder than a hoar frost. “If you wish to be received in this house again, I advise you to say no more.”
Finally recognizing his look and understanding his serious intent, Lady Lucinda closed her mouth with a clack of her teeth.
He pointed to the door. “I bid you good day, Aunt.”
She flung open the library door to withdraw but could not resist a final sally. “You will regret the day you marry that bluestocking!”
Jonathan stood abruptly, and she exited the room with a loud click of the door latch behind her.
***
JONATHAN ENDURED A week of remorse for his ill-considered actions in the marchioness’s room until the day he was to meet Jane again.
They were to travel to Everslie Park in Hampshire accompanied by their respective sisters.
In the intervening days, his mind replayed their amorous encounter again and again.
He relived their passion but also his regret over and over.
What that inflamed event confirmed to him was that his passion for her was returned equally. That was a good sign. However, as Jane had pointed out, if either wished to have the ability to put an end to their engagement at any time in the next month, then they needed to be chaperoned at all times.
Not so reassuring was the continuing disparity in their beliefs about the rights of and appropriate roles for women.
How much was each willing to change? At his most optimistic, he thought they would find a middle ground, but when he considered his political role, he found he felt he had little scope to give way.
He doubted Jane would modify her stance.
This forced him to ask himself whether he would love her so ardently if she was willing to alter her beliefs.
He suspected that a fundamental part of his attraction was her resolve and determination to effect change.
When combined with her devotion to others, her intellect and spirit, he found it irresistible!
In his last week in London, Jonathan plunged into the legal details of the settlements for Jane’s sisters and herself. His solicitor promised contracts ready for signature before their departure for Everslie Park.
He saw his sister only for meals, but thought little of it, as she was busy with her charity work with Dr. Logan and Mrs. Courtice.
On his last day in town, Jonathan made the rounds of his clubs and good-naturedly took the ribbing about his engagement to a notorious bluestocking from the few hardy members who remained in London for the winter.
The most disturbing comment came from his chance encounter with Lord Marchmere at White’s.
With a knowing look on his pugnacious face, Marchmere hailed Jonathan across the reading room for all to hear.
“I see you took my advice after all, Dalton. Not quite as I envisaged, but good enough. Once you have her shackled and under your thumb, silence that woman, and it will be better for all of us.” He turned with a cheery wave. “Good work. Good work.”
Before Jonathan could answer, Marchmere exited the room with his companions amid laughter from all in the vicinity.