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Mark heard them arrive and came out to meet them. He was dressed for riding, though hatless. ‘Good morning, my lady,’ he said cheerfully. ‘I did not think to have the pleasure of seeing you again so soon.’ He handed her down, then turned to help Jane down. ‘How are you, Jane?’ he asked, searching her face.
His tender look of concern disconcerted her. ‘I am well, thank you,’ she said, standing on one leg while she fumbled for her crutch. He picked it up and handed it to her with a smile. It was all she could do to return his smile and thank him.
‘Is Lady Wyndham at home?’ Grace asked.
‘Yes, I will take you to her.’
‘I will wait here,’ Jane said. She did not want to witness what she knew her mother thought of as humiliation, nor did she think her mother would want Mark to be present. ‘I need to speak to you, Mark, if you can spare the time.’
‘Of course. Can you manage as far as the walled garden? There is a seat in an arbour there.’
‘Yes. I am becoming quite adept at using this.’ She lifted the crutch.
He ushered Lady Cavenhurst into the house and Jane made her way slowly to the arbour garden and sat down heavily. Walking with a crutch was not as easy as it looked and made her shoulder ache, but that was the least of her problems. There was a honeysuckle climbing the frame of the arbour filling her nostrils with its scent and she breathed deeply, more to calm herself than to smell the flower. How much to tell him, how much to leave out?
She could see him as he came down the path towards her, and could admire his splendidly muscular figure; the way he walked, not stiffly, but upright with an easy grace; the superb cut of his clothes; the way he smiled. Would Isabel marry him? Her sister would not think twice about changing her mind again, if it meant she did not have to go to Scotland. It pained Jane to think that he would be hurt either way. The gossip would be dreadful if she did not. It might be said that he reneged when it was so obvious there would be no dowry and the family were spendthrifts. On the other hand, if she did marry him, could they be happy?
‘Now, Jane,’ he said, sitting down beside her. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘My mama is going to tell your mother a piece of news which will have consequences for all of us,’ she began. ‘And I have been given the task of telling you because Isabel flatly refuses to do so.’
‘That sounds ominous.’
‘I am afraid it is.’
‘Go on.’
‘Oh, dear, this is difficult.’
‘My dear Jane,’ he said, putting his hand over hers and adding to her nerves. ‘Nothing can be so bad that you cannot confide in me, surely? What has your sister done now?’
‘Oh, Isabel has done nothing. It is my father. He is in financial straits and must sell Greystone Manor. My parents are going to say they no longer need to live in such a big house and are going to Scotland for Mama’s health.’
‘Good God!’ he said. ‘I knew Sir Edward was struggling, but I had no idea it was as bad as that. How did it come about?’
She told him what her father had said the previous day, keeping nothing back; she felt he deserved to know the whole. ‘Isabel does not want to go to Scotland and neither do I. I shall go to live at Witherington House. Isabel, of course, will keep her promise to marry you. That is, if you will still have her.’
‘Leaving you behind?’ She noticed he made no comment on her statement that Isabel would still marry him.
‘It is my choice.’
‘But Witherington House is not habitable.’
‘I am hoping it will be, or at least part of it will, by the time the Manor is sold. The home will need a housekeeper, so why not me?’
‘Jane, I do not like that idea at all.’
‘You do not have to like it. But I would appreciate your help in getting things moving.’
‘That goes without saying. I have already written to Cecil Halliday.’
‘No doubt he will know our situation. Do you think it will make any difference?’
‘I don’t see why it should. Your father’s affairs are no business of the trust, whose funds are secure.’
‘And do you think we could perhaps take on some of the Manor servants if they fail to find positions for themselves?’
‘Dear Jane,’ he said gently. ‘Always thinking of other people and not yourself. This must have been a terrible blow to you.’
She trembled at the endearment. She must not let him see how affected she was by it, she really must not. She forced a smile. ‘My path is clear, Mark. I will tread it firmly.’
