Elizabeth put down her tea cup. “I hope to approve of all my children’s future wives and husbands, but it is their feelings that are important, not mine.”
“What a very odd way of looking at the world. But I suppose, when you married Fitzwilliam Darcy, your own mother must have been delighted. She could never have expected such an advantageous match. My good friend, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, related the story of your pursuit of her nephew. I truly believe the horror of the match hastened her sad demise.”
Jane never knew what her mother would have replied because Bennetta took a fit of coughing at that precise moment, gasping that she had drunk her tea too quickly. By the time she had been exclaimed over and made comfortable once more, the subject had luckily passed. But sitting next to her on the sofa, Jane knewquite well that her little sister had finished her tea many minutes before and that her cup had been quite empty.
Archer, who had come swiftly to Bennetta’s aid, helping her to her feet and bringing her to cooler side of the room, returned now to sit down beside Anne again. In a low voice that could not be heard by the rest of the party he said, “You seem very sure of your sister’s attachment to Mr Frobisher?”
Anne smiled. “Why yes, I am. I know my sister, Sir. We are not alike, except in looks in some degree, but as her twin I know when she is happy or sad. She and Digby had a silly falling out a few months ago, which I must admit, to my sorrow, was partly my fault.
“I was desperate that she wouldn’t be hurt and so tested his feelings for her in a clumsy fashion. She was broken-hearted when they quarrelled. Her health suffered—why you must have seen that when you met her in Dorset. But since he has returned to London, she is happiness itself. I am quite sure we will be hearing of a proposal very soon. A quiet home in the beauty of the Cheshire countryside is just the style of life that Jane will enjoy. She is not a girl for cities and towns.”
“She has seen him since his return?” Archer tried to sound as if he was just making polite conversation. Was this why Jane seemed to glow? He had thought … hoped … it was her feelings for him that caused her eyes to shine so brightly, but perhaps he had been deluding himself.
Anne hesitated. She thought Digby a stupid young man, whose only aim in life was to marry a young lady with her own fortune: the very fact that he had proposed to her instead of Jane proved that he was not constant in his affections, but if he was what Jane wanted, then she would do all she could to help the relationship prosper. Once she was married to Archer and they had a suitable London establishment, it would makeno difference to her if her sister was living up north in faraway Cheshire.
“Not to my knowledge, but then Jane can be very secretive. I am sure they have been corresponding.” She smiled and touched him lightly on the arm. “I myself have no time for the games that some lovers play, but I fear Jane is of a different disposition. She reads a great many romances—why she is hardly ever out of our library at Pemberley! She may well have mentioned to Mr Frobisher that she had met you and Dr Moore in Dorset, believing that a little jealousy can galvanize a gentleman into action.”
“I see.” Archer was silent for a minute or two, then with a bow, left the room, desperate for fresh air, trying to force his thoughts into order. Anne could surely not be wrong about her twin: she must know her better than anyone. Was he preparing to jeopardize his whole future for a girl who was not whom she appeared to be?
15
Lady Goddard beckoned Jane to her side. “Your arm, if you please, Miss. I would take a walk around the room. At my age one grows stiff if you sit in one position for too long. No, do not disturb yourself, Mrs Darcy. Finish your tea. I myself do not eat a great deal, but I am sure your youngest will find those little lemon cakes enjoyable.”
She cast a sideways look at Bennetta whose innocent glance from under her eyelashes did not fool her for a moment. The minx had pretended to choke so her mother had had time to regain her composure.
Lady Goddard admired the quick thinking and decisive action. She could see that at eighteen, the chit was already astoundingly pretty and was only grateful that she was not any older. She could tell that in lots of ways she was still a child, but one day, some poor man was going to have to deal with her. Lady Goddard was only grateful it would not be Archer.
Leaning on Jane’s arm, she walked slowly to the far end of the long room where the windows looked out onto a smallwilderness. It was dark outside now and only a few solitary lanterns lit the pebble paths that wound their way through the shrubbery.
“So your future may lie in the county of Cheshire, Miss Jane?”
Jane did not know how to reply. Yes or no—both sounded wrong. “None of us can see the future, Ma’am.”
“Too true, girl, too true. Of course, we can always make an informed guess. Take my grandson, for example.” She flashed a swift glance at her companion and saw the colour wash up and then down in her cheeks. “As you know he is a very successful lawyer.”
“So I believe.”
“But politics has always been his first love. I think once he enters Parliament, his career will soar. Why, you may even be able to boast in a few years’ time that you took tea with the Prime Minister!”
“Indeed, I am sure all his many friends would be proud if that day should come.”
“Yes, but I wonder if you are aware how difficult the path is that he has chosen to walk. Powerful men can be very lonely. Archer will need a certain type of woman at his side in the future. One who is as ambitious as he is himself. A woman who can charm and influence great men.”
“I am sure that any woman your grandson chooses will be the right one.”
Lady Goddard turned from the darkness of the window and continued to walk slowly back up the length of the room the black silk of her gown swishing across the floor like the hissing of a snake. “I have devoted my life to the cause of Archer’s career. He has all the brains and ability needed to succeed, I have all the money.”
Jane felt a little quiver of disgust. Surely service to your country was what was required in a politician. Why shouldmoney be a factor? But she was not so naive as to know that without backing, a gentleman stood no chance of succeeding in politics.
“It sounds like an ideal combination, Ma’am.”
“That may well be the case, but I feel all his friends and acquaintance should know that I will only fund Archer’s career if he marries wisely, if he marries a girl whom I think will help him advance in his chosen profession. If he chooses to marry someone else—” she cast a glance sideways at her companion’s white, set face—“then I shall not give a penny piece to him from that day onwards.”
Jane made no reply, indeed she could think of nothing to say that would not show her repugnance towards the elderly lady’s attitude. She was, however, puzzled. Why was she being told this information? Could Lady Goddard possibly believe that Archer intended to marry her! How ridiculous. Everyone knew that Anne was his intended wife.
“I would like to think that anyone who considers themselves Archer’s friend, would do all in their power to smooth his path. If, for example, you were a young lady who was totally unfit for the rigours of life as a politician’s wife, then if you truly cared for my grandson you would give up all claim on him.”
“And does Mr Maitland know of your decisions in this matter?”
