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As for Jane, she discarded the use of the crutch and took the trap over to Witherington House to inspect it more closely and talk to Mr and Mrs Godfrey about the future, telling them what she intended and to ask them to stay on. ‘We’ll be right pleased to, miss,’ Silas said.
‘It will be nice to have children about the place again,’ Mrs Godfrey added. ‘There were always children about in the old days, laughin’ and getting’ into mischief. Sir Jasper let them have the run o’ the place and Lady Paget always indulged them with treats.’
‘Paget?’ Jane queried. ‘Did you say Paget?’
‘Yes, that wor their name. Didn’ yew know that?’
‘No, when you spoke of Sir Jasper, you did not mention his family name.’
‘I thought ever’one knew it.’
‘You said there were children. I understood Sir Jasper had no close kin and that was why the lawyers had such a problem finding his heirs.’
‘They were the children of cousins. They grew up and moved away. Stopped comin’.’
‘Why?’
‘I don’ know, do I? Not my business and it were a long time ago.’
‘Have you heard the name Bolsover in connection with the family?’
‘Can’t say I hev. Why?’
‘Oh, no reason.’ She strolled away from them, intending to take the measurements of the first-floor rooms and make a note of how many beds each could accommodate, but she could not keep her mind on what she was doing. She gave up and went out to inspect the outbuildings she had not seen before. Silas was giving Bonny some oats. ‘He’s a sturdy little fellow,’ he said.
‘Yes, and very easy to drive.’
‘We used to hev half-a-dozen hosses here, one time,’ he went on. ‘And carriages and the like. I useta help look after them. Sir Jasper got rid o’ most on ’em, when her ladyship died, but he kept a couple of mares to hitch to an old chaise, but when he took to his bed, they were got rid of, too.’
Jane was beginning to feel sorry for old Sir Jasper, alone and unhappy in his declining years, but did he have a connection with Lord Bolsover? Would it make a difference to her plans? She could not wait to tell Mark, forgetting her decision not to call on him any more than she could help.
* * *
Mark was sitting in the library with his head in his hands. On the desk in front of him were several old books he had taken from the shelves which he had been perusing when a footman had come to tell him Miss Cavenhurst had arrived and asked for him. She was waiting in the drawing room. Thinking it was Jane, he had hurried to go to her, a smile on his face. She would be interested in what he had discovered.
But it wasn’t Jane, it was Isabel. He kept the smile, though it was a little fixed as he bowed to her. ‘Isabel, do sit down. I wasn’t expecting you. How did you arrive? Have you seen my mother? Have refreshments been ordered?’
‘Good morning, Mark.’ She sat on one of the sofas and smoothed the skirt of her green-silk dress with gloved hands. ‘I walked and, no, I have not seen your mother and I do not need refreshments. We have done nothing but drink tea at home all morning. One would think it was the cure for all ills.’
‘I am deeply sorry for what has happened, Isabel. If I can help in any way, you know I will.’
‘Thank you.’ She turned an appealing smile on him. ‘I have been very silly, for which I beg your pardon.’
‘I am sure there is no need for that.’
‘But there is. You see, I told you that I no longer wished to marry you and you were so gallant as to tell me you would not hold me to it.’
‘Yes, I did.’
‘But as I said, I was foolish, blinded by false sentiment, and on reflection I wish to retract—’
‘You mean you no longer wish to break off our engagement?’ His gut was churning with a mixture of disappointment, fury and helplessness. If he could have told her that he would not accept her change of mind and that as far as he was concerned the engagement was off and had been off ever since she had first mentioned it, he would have. But such a course was not acceptable. A lady might, with small loss to her reputation, break off a betrothal, but a gentleman could never do so. It would lay him open to the condemnation and disgust of everyone in the haut monde and he would be shunned. He was as bound to honour his proposal as if he had said his wedding vows.
‘Yes. I am sorry. I should have thought about it more carefully before speaking.’
