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They spent some time suggesting and discarding names for the project. Jane did not want the word orphanage to be used. ‘It will be a home,’ she said. ‘A home and a school.’ In the end they decided on the Hadlea Children’s Home and she would spend a little of the money having headed notepaper printed.
She was walking home, turning the phrases of her letter over in her mind, when Mark caught up with her. ‘Jane, I was on my way to visit you.’
Long practice had made her adept at calming herself when she met him. She turned and smiled, taking in his dark suit and black cravat, the bleakness of his countenance, and wished she could comfort him. There was no one to do that, except perhaps his mother, who was too immersed in her own grief to do it. Isabel seemed incapable of it.
‘My lord,’ she said.
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, Jane, let’s not have any of that “my lord” nonsense, or I shall become very cross with you.’ He fell into step beside her. ‘What were you so deep in thought about, that you did not hear me?’
She told him about her plans for the Hadlea Children’s Home. ‘Thanks to you and your father, we have enough to look for premises, but we need a few wealthy philanthropists to pledge future income,’ she said. ‘Papa cannot take me to London at present, so I must write letters. If I could mention one or two influential people, it would help.’
‘You may use my name, Jane.’
‘Oh, I didn’t mean... Oh dear, it sounded as if I was asking...’ She stopped in confusion because he was laughing.
‘Oh, yes, you were, and blatantly too.’
‘But you did ask what I was thinking about.’
‘I did, that is true, and it is also true I would have offered in any case. I will help in any way I can.’
‘But you have so much to do, sorting out the estate and getting used to your new role.’
‘It is not that difficult, Jane. My father involved me in the affairs of the estate as soon as I was old enough to understand. He groomed me well for the job and the workers are all good men who know what is expected of them. The difficulty arises because my father is no longer here to advise me and I miss that. Mother looks after the house and the indoor servants, but she has never taken an interest in what is happening on the estate. I am on my own there.’
‘You have our support for what it is worth.’
‘It is worth a great deal, Jane.’
She felt the colour flood her face. ‘You said you were on your way to call on us.’
‘Yes. I have to go to London on business and wondered if Sir Edward or Lady Cavenhurst had any little commissions I could do for them while I am there.’
‘That is kind of you.’ She paused, as an idea came to her. ‘You could do something for me, though.’
‘Gladly. What is it?’
‘Take me with you. I am sure Papa would allow me to go if you were to escort me. I could stay with Lady Cartrose, widow of my mother’s brother. She lives in Mount Street. All you need do is take me to her.’
‘I am not sure...’
‘Please, Mark. I could do my fund-raising so much easier in the capital, make appointments to meet people, have the notepaper printed, that sort of thing. Aunt Emmeline is well up in society and could perhaps introduce me to people. I am sure I could be more persuasive face to face than by correspondence.’
‘Oh, I am sure you could,’ he said. ‘And I would take you willingly if I thought it could be accomplished with propriety.’
‘And why would it not? You are to be my brother-in-law, are you not?’
‘I am not sure that guarantees anything, Jane,’ he said with a wry smile. ‘Let us see what Sir Edward thinks, shall we?’
* * *
Sir Edward, when he was approached, was dubious. ‘My daughter thinks she is mature and independent,’ he said. ‘And to some extent she is, but we cannot flout convention. It is bad enough that Teddy... No, we will not speak of him.’ Teddy had departed in a welter of tears from his mother and anger from his father, who had told him he had washed his hands of him.
‘It would be perfectly proper if Isabel were to go, too,’ Lady Cavenhurst said. ‘Then Jane would be their chaperon.’
‘Oh, yes, yes,’ Isabel said, eyes shining. ‘I should like that very much.’
‘Yes, that would serve,’ Sir Edward agreed, turning to his wife. ‘Do you think your sister-in-law will have them?’
‘I am sure she will. She is always asking when we are going to pay her a visit. I will write to her at once. My lord, will you take the letter to the mail office on your way home?’
