“Tea!”said Anna.“Haven’t we something stronger?”
Jane laughed.“Only medicinal brandy.It will have to be tea and cakes today.I’ll let Mrs.Creevy and Joe know the news while I’m downstairs.”
Jane left her sisters still celebrating, to write an important letter.Seated at her escritoire with a quill poised to begin, all the weight of the financial worries and responsibility for her sisters’ futures finally crumbled from her.
She was free!
Free to live her life as she chose and able to provide for her family.The invested money would provide more than enough to live upon, and her sisters could expect some of it upon their marriages as independent income.
She pulled a page of writing paper toward her from the pigeon hole and inked her pen.She must release Lord Dalton from the contract providing income for her and dowries for her sisters.It would sever the last bond between them.
Why was she hesitating?There was no reason to delay.The daydream was over.
Her throat aching with unshed tears, she steadied her hand and wrote:You may have seen the notice in the newspaper advising that our friend Mrs.Courtice passed away on Boxing Day.Her will was read today.She has been as much a supporter of her charities in death as she was in life, endowing them generously.She has also been overwhelmingly kind in settling a home and some money on me so that I may continue my charity work.Consequently, your kindness in providing for my sisters and me into the future is no longer required.I wish to convey to you my extreme gratitude for your willingness to support us even in the event that our families did not join through marriage.Whatever else was the motive for your offer of marriage, you have been kindness itself in your treatment of me and mine.My hope remains that Lady Elizabeth will now be permitted to find happiness with Dr.Logan.
Jane signed and folded the letter ready for mailing.
All contact with Jonathan was ended.There would be no reason to see him again except by chance meetings through her connection with Elizabeth.Why did she feel so bleak when the future looked rosy in so many ways?
Chapter Twenty-one
JONATHAN HAD EXPECTEDto remain in the country until the end of January, returning to London for the commencement of parliament.
His hopes for the future turned to ashes a few days after Jane’s departure from Everslie Park,when the mail arrived, bringing two letters.The first was from his friend in the foreign office who reported that Charlotte’s husband’s regiment was indeed bound for India and would leave immediately after Christmas.If the officer was not on board, he would be court-martialed and could cause no trouble to anyone afterward.
The second letter came from Jane, confirming she was breaking their engagement and his heart along with it.He hoped Aunt Lucinda had the good sense not to congratulate him on his narrow escape from marriage with an unsuitable party.Remaining politely amused by such a performance from her would be too hard for him to achieve.
Despite Jane’s request, he decided not to put a notice in the newspaper for now.That would be too final.
Still he hoped there was some way of persuading her to reconsider.
He might have a better chance if he were in London, where they would meet occasionally, if only by accident through friends.
The next morning his carriage stood before Everslie Park ready to take the siblings back to London.The mail arrived as they stepped into the carriage ready to leave.It brought another letter from Jane.He opened it once they departed.
This one told of Mrs.Courtice’s death, her will, and Jane’s good fortune.The folded paper slid from his numb fingers.Jane’s financial salvation meant his complete excision from her life.His chest tightened with the bleakness of his dashed hopes.
