“And this is my grandmother’s companion, Miss Purkiss, who seems to have been given a most impossible task to finish by dinner time.”
“Miss Darcy, I am delighted to make your acquaintance. So glad you have arrived safely, these narrow lanes, so difficult for horses…Please excuse me for not rising…these silks…such a muddle…but Mr Maitland, Sir, you are quite wrong. I shall easily sort these threads and if I do not finish, then I am sure I can eat later when I have done so.”
“Stop chuntering, Purkiss! Of course you will eat with us. The silks can wait. Indeed, they seem to be in more of a tangle than when you started!”
Lady Goddard raised her lorgnette and gazed at Jane. “Yes, I can see the likeness to your sister. Archer told me you were twins but that it was not difficult to see the differences. Miss Anne has more vibrancy in her manner and dress, but I am sure you are only too aware of that yourself. Welcome to Robyns. And Signorina Fiorette?” She raised her lorgnette again and gazed at the girl. “I do not know anyone of Italian descent.”
Jane flinched inwardly at the scarcely hidden barb but luckily Celeste’s English, although extremely good, was not yet up to hearing sarcasm and she said enthusiastically, “It is so good of you to invite us here, Lady Goddard. The Colonel sends hisutmost regrets but is incapacitated this evening and so has had to withdraw from the party.”
“That is uncommon sad.” Dr Moore strode forward, looking concerned. “Nothing too major, I hope. He seemed well this morning when I called.”
“Indeed not, Sir,” Jane replied. “Just a flare up of an old war wound but the change of circumstances caused us to be a little late. I do hope we have not delayed dinner too badly.”
“In my day, young ladies would not have been told about war wounds,” Lady Goddard said, holding out her hand for Archer to help her from her chair. “It smacks of indelicacy.”
“I cannot see that a wound gained in the defence of your King and Country is anything to be ashamed of, Ma’am.” Jane hadn’t meant to speak out so indignantly, but she hated the thought of her dear godfather’s pain being dismissed so easily.
Lady Goddard stared at her and Archer grinned to himself. His grandmother looked as if a mouse had turned in mid escape and snarled at it’s pursuer.
“Well, let us hope for a quick recovery,” he said smoothly. “Now, I can see our housekeeper speaking in the hallway to a footman so I imagine that dinner is served. May I take your arm, Miss Jane, and escort you to the table?” He took her arm, she could feel the warmth of his fingers on her skin and was horrified to find she was shaking.
Jane was aware of Lady Goddard’s look of displeasure as she sailed past them and walked to her seat at the top of the table in the long, beautiful but severely decorated dining room. Candles had been lit but the room was still quite dark, the drapes tightly pulled against the evening sky.
“You really must not annoy my grandmama, Miss Jane,” Archer murmured as they followed Lady Goddard. “It is very bad for her digestion and we all suffer here at Robyns if that delicate system is disturbed!”
Jane bit her lip; had she been annoying? She knew her mama would be very displeased if she had. “I can assure you I have no intention of upsetting anyone, Mr Maitland.”
Archer sighed theatrically. “And there lies your whole problem. Look at Celeste there, irritating Grandmama by flirting with Andrew, whom she looks upon as her special pet, because he is such a pleasant fellow, a far nicer person than I am, as I am sure you would agree. But I can already see that Grandmama admires her spirit.”
Jane glanced up and found his face was solemn and stern, but the look in his eyes told of humour and mischief. What a contradiction Archer Maitland presented.
She refused to take the bait and resolutely turned her attention back to the dinner table. She had a strong suspicion that he was teasing her and she didn’t like the feelings it gave her. None of the young men she had encountered in life so far had teased her. Digby—oh Digby!—had always treated her with great politeness and consideration, as if she were a piece of precious porcelain that could break at a touch.
She could see that indeed Celeste was flirting with Andrew and was very tempted to tell Archer that his friend was in no danger, that Celeste and the Colonel had formed an attachment, but of course she could not break her word.
Course followed course, large portions admittedly but all of it bland, with no seasoning. Colourless and, in Jane’s opinion, unappetizing. Across the table, in the flickering candle light, she could clearly see Celeste’s expression of distaste and disappointment. She had obviously been expecting a fine meal, not this poor fare.
Then, even as Jane watched, her cousin pushed her portions uneaten around her plate and then, to her horror, slipped a large piece of chicken into her napkin. A squeak from Miss Purkiss told that she had spied what was happening but before LadyGoddard could notice, Andrew whipped it up and tucked it away in his coat pocket!
“Another jacket ruined,” Archer murmured in Jane’s ear. “Muddy ditches, greasy chicken, steep cliffs, really Miss Jane, since meeting you and Celeste, my friend and I seem destined for all sorts of disasters. Do you always have this effect on gentlemen? I wonder what is in store for me next? Your sister never mentioned that flaw in your character, never disclosed that you had revolutionary blood in your veins.”
Jane felt a flare of unusual anger. This was unfair and unkind. She was well aware that her twin, however much she loved her, thought her a timid person with a nervous disposition. She was not the type of girl who caused problems.
“I am no revolutionary, Sir,” she snapped. “I prefer a peaceful life. I am afraid I am not the courageous type.” She looked up into his dark eyes and realised he was teasing again.
She took a deep breath; she was allowing him to annoy her, which was, of course, just what he wanted. “Perhaps one day you will meet Bennetta. If we have a firebrand in the family, it is my little sister. Nothing frightens her, I have never known her to be anything but brave.”
Archer twirled the wine in his glass and lifted it in a mock toast. “I shall await that pleasure with interest, but in my opinion, courage is easy if you are brave but far more praiseworthy if you are not.”
Lady Goddard looked up sharply, frowned at something she apparently didn’t like in her grandson’s tone, then tapped her fork against her plate. “Miss Jane Darcy, I had the pleasure of knowing your Great Aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
“How interesting, Ma’am. I am afraid we were not close. I only met her a few times before she died. I believe her daughter, Lady Anne, visited Pemberley before her marriage to Viscount Burgoyne but that was before I was born. I am afraid thatfollowing their sad demise, we no longer see their daughter, Lady Merryn. Her grandfather, Lord Bowyer, wishes her to live a quiet life at home in Devon. I believe my parents have offered hospitality to her on several occasions but it has always been declined. It is rumoured that she suffers from poor health.”
“Yes, I know Lord Bowyer—a difficult man—not one who has much knowledge of young women! Catherine de Bourgh was a friend of my older sister, so there were quite a few years between us, but I admired her greatly and we became quite close as the years passed. Indeed, I still have the letter she wrote to me on your father’s odd marriage to your mother. Which was, of course, a most remarkable and lamentable affair.”
Jane realised her fists were clenched in her lap, her nails biting into her palms. Abominable old woman! How dare she be so rude about her darling mama. Before she could find the words to reply politely, Celeste broke into the conversation, her dark eyes gleaming with curiosity.
“Why was it lamentable? My distant cousins, the Darcys of Pemberley, are much admired by everyone, so I have heard. I am longing to meet them.”
