A Secret Passion (21 page)

“Of course. Now let me think—a plan. A simple plan always works best.”

“Middle-of-the-night escape?”

Jane laughed. “No, no. I say we plan a trip north to Lizard with the whole pack of us day after tomorrow. That way you can bring your carriage to Pembroke and no one will notice if I slip a trunk in along with a picnic and blankets and everything. That’s it. And Lord Graystock asked about going on an explore there just yesterday.”

“And we’ll just wave to the group when we all stop there and then say, ‘Tallyho, we’re off to Gretna Green’?” asked Harry, laughing.

“No, of course not, you simpleton. We can be the last to leave on the return trip, and we can say we want to have the wheel checked in town because we fear a crack or something.”

“Or something,” Harry replied, rolling his eyes.

“Do you have a better idea?”

“No. But do you really think someone like Graystock is just going to leave us stranded?”

“Don’t worry about that gentleman. He will understand.”

“He knows, doesn’t he, Jane?”

“Yes,” she said, avoiding his eye.

“Did he somehow guess, or did you tell him?”

“I’d rather not discuss this,” she replied. “We have so many more things to arrange.” Searching for another topic, she rushed on. “Have you received any news from university?”

“Yes. Mr. Melure sent me a very jovial reply. He asked who my ‘intended’ was and when he could expect us.”

“Oh, that is wonderful news. We will be rather short of funds after our journey. Cutty’s solicitor informed me in a letter that the funds he forwarded were the last of my husband’s gifts held in trust for me. We won’t be able to linger in London for more than a day or two. Only long enough to rest.”

“And enjoy our honeymoon,” added Harry, smiling.

Jane looked at him and inhaled sharply. She hadn’t thought at all about a honeymoon. “Oh, Harry, will this work? Please take me in your arms. I am nervous about all of this deception.”

Harry stood awkwardly and gathered Jane and his crutch in his arms. He kissed her on the forehead. “Duck, this is for the best. We’ll make it work.”

Jane felt little comfort. She shivered for a moment in the cool morning air. She wondered why she was not more relieved. With the problem of her aunt solved, she should feel much less guilty than ever before. Instead she felt high-strung, more nervous and unsure than at any other time in her life.

Jane returned to her family’s house and found Lord Graystock alone in the dining room. He rose from his seat and bowed as she nodded slightly. She observed he was wearing impeccable, darkly conservative riding attire, which complemented his omnipresent aura of assurance and command. She helped herself to the sideboard’s offerings of scones and sausages and accepted tea from the maid just arriving from the kitchen.

“You are late rising this morning, my lord,” Jane teased with a smile.

“Yes. You know how I detest the morning air. Bad for the lungs,” he replied.

Jane spied a bit of tracked mud on the carpet. “I guess it is not bad for the horse you rode this morning.”

“That, I suppose, is also true,” the earl responded. She bit into her scone as he continued, “I am to relay to you that your father, brother, and the rest of your family’s household in London will be returning this evening to Cornwall. Your aunt had a letter from your father this morning.”

Jane choked and tried to retain a measure of dignity.

“I also have decided to depart,” he added.

Jane’s mind raced with the news. “Oh?”

“I must settle some affairs in London,” said Lord Graystock as he put aside an old newspaper. She noticed the faint smudges under his eyes, signaling lack of sleep.

Jane was so unsure of what to say, she held her tongue. She felt Lord Graystock’s gaze move over every feature of her face, waiting for her reply. In agitation, she pushed aside her plate, and her hands arranged and rearranged the knife and fork on the white-and-blue-patterned china.

“I shall take my leave day after tomorrow. That is, if it is convenient for you. If you would prefer that I depart prior to your father’s arrival, I can of course arrange for my removal by this afternoon.”

Jane found her voice. “Oh, no, my lord! Please, do not leave so soon, I beg of you. Your original plan suits. In fact, several of the people at the manse, as well as you yourself, indicated a desire to visit Lizard Peninsula. Perhaps, if you agree, we could all go the morning of the day of your departure. After nuncheon there, you could continue northward to London.”

The earl gave Jane a measured glance. She looked away. “How delightful,” the earl answered, one eyebrow raised with hauteur. “Your plan seems most providential.” He accepted another cup of coffee from the maid. When she had departed, the earl continued. “Jane, surely you have not forgotten your dear father. How do you propose to settle our betrothal with him?”

“I do not want to quarrel with you or him again, my lord. My family really is no concern of yours, except for the large debt we owe you. My father will have to repay any and all monies you directed to him. Obviously, this may take some time. I only wish I had had the chance to stop you before you gave a farthing to him. My father has the uncanny ability of allowing our fortune to slip through his fingers at an alarming rate.”

The earl narrowed his eyes. “Have you never wondered why?”

“Of course I have. I have argued with him till I am blue in the face. Our stables are some of the finest in England, and yet…” She stopped. “If I had been left to manage our estate, it would not be in the hubble-bubble fashion it currently is. However, it is a woman’s great misfortune to have been born into her sex. I daresay servants have more control over their destiny than a mere female born of a nobleman.”

“Jane, you obviously have made a decision regarding how you will break the unfortunate news to your father concerning the ending of our betrothal. I shall not interfere.” He paused here. “You may relate to him at the same time that I will desire, or shall I say require, a meeting with him and his solicitor after he has a chance to consider the future.”

Jane nodded. The earl stood up and pushed the chair to its proper position. He placed his palms on the back of the chair and leaned forward. “May I offer you my best wishes for your future happiness, Jane? I mean that with all sincerity. I shall not see you again, I fear, after the next two days. I wish Godspeed to you and your Mr. Thompson.”

Jane could not meet his gaze. She heard his departure in the soft click of his heels on the wooden floor and the sound of the door closing. The plate in front of her swam before her eyes, and she felt ill. She had rarely felt so miserable in her life.

Her stomach churned as she wondered what was the impetus behind her father’s drive down from London? Could he have learned of her refusal? No, that was impossible. Or had the threatened letter from the reverend found him? Dare she wait to find out? Or should she flee with Harry this very morning?

With a sigh, Jane knew her anxieties would prevent the planned, needed escape to her writing this afternoon. The manuscript had reached a plateau and would need every ounce of her concentration for the completion of the next passage. And all she could think of was the two men, her father and Rolfe, who had caused her to feel such negative emotions—anger and guilt.

In those moments at the table, Rolfe had known that he loved her. It struck him with a quiet force. As he mounted the stair toward his rooms, for a second he stopped breathing and grabbed for the banister. With sudden realization, the irony of his situation hit him. For twenty-nine years he had never, ever loved another human being in the way he did Jane. And yet he must leave her. He realized that the feeling had been growing ever since he had left Hesperides for London. No, he admitted, it had begun the first day he had seen her, when he had hugged her body close to his and breathed in the lavender scent of her silky blond hair, while she had been forced to share her horse. He doubted he would ever be able to forget her expressive eyes, her delicate beauty, and most of all her proud character. He had tried to exert his will over her. Tried every method he knew. But the fact of the matter was she had no interest whatsoever in him.

The next two days passed with surprising ease. Jane’s father and brother arrived, along with the household servants who traveled between the houses. She was agitated by the idea of their first meeting, considering the unfortunate circumstances of her departure from London. But she had forgotten her father’s considerable happiness over her supposed betrothal. There were so many effusions of joy on his part that few responses were required on her side.

Upon his first sight of her, her father shook her hand and even kissed her on the cheek! He told her he was proud of her and complimented her on her great good fortune. He even laughed and accused her of being a “sly thing”!

Jane was grateful the earl was not present during her father and brother’s arrival. He had retired early and requested a light repast in his apartment. Theo teased her until she could bear it no more and excused herself. Clarissa had gone into town to take herself away from the critical eyes of her brother.

The following morning was busy with guests from the manse and plans for the trip to Lizard, which was scheduled to take place the following day. Lord Fairchild was late in rising, so Jane did not see him until luncheon. While the foursome ate, the father dominated the conversation with gossip from London.

Midway through the meal, Theodore Fairchild could not stop himself from bursting forth with Clarissa’s good fortune. “Father, what do you think of Aunt Clarissa’s excellent news?”

Clarissa put down her fork and knife. Jane hushed her brother and gave him a look. Lord Fairchild, whose spirits seemed boundless these days, smiled at his sister. “What good news, Sister?”

“I am to be married, Edward,” she responded.

“Well, who would have thought? You and Jane have been busy this summer. Who is the lucky devil? Mrs. Thompson hasn’t dropped off this mortal coil, has she? The Reverend Thompson is looking for a new wife, is he?” he asked, laughing.

“No, it is Sir Thomas Gooding.”

“Gooding? Gooding? Not poor Mr. Gooding from so long ago? The second son of a clergyman, with no prospects? I forbade you long ago to marry the pauper.”

“Why, yes, it is he. But it is Sir Thomas Gooding now.”

“I stand corrected. So Gooding improved his lot in life, did he? Do tell.”

“I shall most certainly not tell, Brother. For it does not matter to me if he were still poor ‘Mr. Gooding.’ And furthermore, I will no longer allow you to impose authority over me. I made a mistake many years ago, and I shall not make it again.” Clarissa stood up and placed her napkin on her plate.

Jane guessed it was the first time in Clarissa’s life she had stood up to her brother.

“I have some letters to write. Please excuse me.” Clarissa left the room with her back very straight.

George, the butler standing unobserved by the door, smiled at Clarissa as she left the room. He leaned forward and whispered, “My humble best wishes to you, ma’am.”

She looked at him and smiled. “Thank you.”

“Harrumph,” Lord Fairchild grumbled as he cut into his overcooked roast mutton. Jane surmised that he did not want to show it, but he was in all likelihood secretly glad to be relieved of the burden of providing for a spinster sister.

“Do tell Cook I am most displeased with the roast, George,” Edward Fairchild said without looking at him. Silence entered the room when the butler left.

Jane picked at an invisible piece of lint on her sleeve. Theodore looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh.

“And what are you laughing about?” Lord Fairchild demanded. He held his cutlery in his fists on either side of his plate.

“Ah, nothing, sir. Nothing at all.”

“Good. And where is Lord Graystock? I have not seen him a’tall, I swear. Has he gone into hiding, Jane?”

“No, Father. He is at the inn, seeing Sir Thomas off.”

Sir Thomas had refused to stay at Pembroke upon the news of Lord Fairchild’s arrival. His bags had been packed, and he had spent the night at the Tabard Inn prior to a departure for London to make several arrangements before the marriage.