Page 28 of The Truth about the Marquess
“Tell me, Miss Leverton, do you enjoy dancing?” Letting a light lilt lift her voice, Jane kept her expression warm in the hope of encouraging the young lady. “Have you danced many dances?”
Before Miss Leverton could speak, however, Lady Keswick set her cup down, cleared her throat, and then pinned Jane with a sharp gaze – sharper than Jane had expected.
“I shall get directly to the point.” She shot a hard look towards Lady Martins and her daughter. “I know that you will not speak of this to anyone, Lady Martins, for if there is any sort of gossip about my daughter and what I am about to say now, then I will know who to blame.”
Jane blinked in surprise, seeing now just how forthright and intimidating Lady Keswick could be. Lady Martins seemed to shrink back in her chair, her words mumbled as she promised not to say anything to anyone about what was to be spoken.
“Good.” Lady Keswick returned her gaze to Jane and Jane shuddered lightly. “You appear to be well acquainted with Lord Edenbridge. He has come to speak with my daughter on a few occasions and has danced with her twice, though I was not particularly pleased with her response.” Sniffing, she sent a hard look towards Miss Leverton, who did not respond. “It was not as encouraging as it might have been.”
Still a little taken aback by how quickly the subject had changed – and to the subject it had changedto, Jane spread out her hands.
“What is it that I can do in this, Lady Martins? It seems to me as though this is a matter between your daughter and Lord Edenbridge.”
“Except that, as I have said,youare well acquainted with Lord Edenbridge, I think. I have seen you walking with him, laughing with him, and dancing with him. Tell me, are you interested in a connection with him? Or is there a connection already there?”
Heat poured into Jane’s chest, racing upwards into her cheeks, even her hands growing hot and clammy as she understood the lady’s meaning.
“That is a somewhat inappropriate question, Lady Keswick.”
The lady only shrugged.
“I care not. What I do care about is my daughter. I should like to know whether or not there is a closeness between yourself and Lord Edenbridge that might otherwise prevent him from pulling himself wholeheartedly towards my daughter, should he desire to do so.”
Jane, wishing that there were no other guests present, lifted her chin.
“I think it is disappointing to know that a widow, such as myself, cannot even walk with a gentleman and dance with him without there coming some suggestion of impropriety. In answer to your question, no, I am only friends with Lord Edenbridge, and am glad to be so.”
Lady Keswick said nothing for a few moments, searching Jane’s face as though she thought her to be telling untruths. Jane remained exactly where she was, her hands now clasped in her lap as she waited for Lady Keswick’s response. She had to pray that Lady Martins and her daughter would do exactly whatthey had promised, and not breathe a word of this conversation to anyone, for what rumors would be spread through London otherwise! That was not at all what she wanted – and it was the very last thing that Lord Edenbridge needed!
“If that is so, then I am glad to hear it. Though I must ask, Lady Harsham, what is the state of his fortune? I have heard that his father was practically impoverished before he died and that the new Lord Edenbridge was left with barely two coins to rub together!”
“I cannot speak to that,” Jane answered, calmly, “for I do not have such a long acquaintance with Lord Edenbridge to say what it is that might or might not have been, as regarded his father. However, I do know that he is certainly not impoverished! He has spoken of it to me, about the difficulties that he faced and the trials which have come with it for, even though his fortune has greatly improved since he took on the title, thetonappears to refuse to believe it. That is a great shame, I must say, for he is a gentleman of excellent character and standing.”
A light came into Lady Keswick’s eyes and, for some inexplicable reason, Jane found her spirits sinking very low indeed. Surely it could not be because she was defending Lord Edenbridge to Lady Keswick, she considered, for she was glad to do so. She did not want thetonto think him poor and lacking when he was not, and she was quite certain that he deserved a good deal more than he was given by way of respect and consideration – so why, now, did she find herself feeling dispirited by the conversation?
“That is good to know. I would, of course, require proof of such a thing if his attentions towards my daughter increase.” She smiled and settled back in her chair a little, as though all that Jane had said had satisfied her completely. “Did you know that he has asked to take tea with her? Does that not speak well ofthings? I know that she is very quiet and somewhat shy, but that does not seem to trouble Lord Edenbridge!”
“No, I am sure it would not,” Jane murmured, noticing the flush that came into Miss Leverton’s cheeks. She felt a little sorrowful for the young lady, for her mother was speaking of her as though she was not even present, and that could not bring her any sort of happiness. “I am sure that – oh.”
Hearing a tap at the door again and silently hoping that this was another guest so that she might alter the conversation entirely, Jane called.
The door opened and with seeming reluctance, the butler came in rather slowly. About to berate him, Jane’s eyes widened in astonishment as she took in what he held in his hand – a silver tray with a good many letters spread out neatly upon it.
The London Chronicle!
Her anxiety began to swirl and quickly, Jane rose to her feet and came towards him quickly, gathering up the letters in her hands.
“Forgive me, my Lady, but you did ask for these to be brought to you as soon as possible,” the butler murmured, so that only she could hear. “I was not certain whether I should do so given that you have company but–”
“It is quite all right.” With a nod, Jane dismissed him and then turned back to her guests, all of whom were now staring at the great many letters that she had in her hands. “You must forgive the interruption, I beg of you,” she said, a sudden fright running through her as she saw the questions burning in every expression. “I expect to receive a good deal of correspondence this week and the butler knows how eager I am to receive the letters.”
“That is certainly a good deal of correspondence, I must say.” Lady Keswick tilted her head and looked steadily at the letters, as if she were trying to count them to ascertain just how manyJane held. “Goodness, I am surprised that you have received so many in one afternoon! You must be very popular indeed.”
Jane swallowed and then set the stacked letters on a small table at the side of the room which gave her just a few minutes to compose herself. Pasting a light smile on her face, she let out a bright laugh as she turned back to her guests, spreading out her hands.
“I do not think that it is because I am popular, Lady Keswick, but more than I have a good many acquaintances who wish to hear all about the delights of London. I write as much as I can, and as often as I can but sometimes, I do feel as though even that is not enough!”
“Yes, I can imagine.” Lady Martins rose to her feet, her daughter beside her. “To those who have never been to London, your letters must be quite thrilling!”
