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“I,” Mister Foote began, but then he didn’t go anywhere with it.
“And so, as we’ve seen from Lady Jardine’s behaviour, she already has a son, and that son will inherit if I do not bear a son for the Baron, or at least, that is what she believes. She has tagged many items throughout the estate on behalf of her son. My greatest fear is not for my own future. I can return to my family home with Mama, with the expectation that I would be looked after here. Alas, we cannot take any of the Baron’s staff with us. All I could possibly offer is a letter of recommendation, which I fear would not carry much weight.”
“You are apologising in advance for things that are beyond your control.” Mister Foote said. “I have had no complaints from my time serving Baron E, he is a good employer. Was.”
“All this could be avoided,” Jane said, seeking eye contact with him, “If I were with child.”
Mister Foote made a hard swallow. “You might be?”
“That is why I must ask you this most indecent of things. If I could get with child before anybody outside our immediate circle discovers the Baron’s true condition, then it would be so very easy to pass the child off as his.”
He still didn’t seem to understand what she was suggesting, as he then said, “Ah, so we find a child from the village the parents are willing to give up?”
“That could be possible, but the child would be already too old, and from my understanding, the process takes many months. I have also given thought to taking in a woman who may have fallen on hard times, but that’s another person who must keep the secret, and who’s to say she would carry the babe to fullness?”
“This sounds terribly complicated,” Mister Foote said. “I have an idea. Why don’t we run up the yellow flag to declare we are plague ridden, and then nobody will come for a good while?”
“That’s... quite brilliant.” Jane gasped, as she took it in. Alas, it didn’t solve their issues. “Drat, it would require that the Jardines stay with us, and that would make things all the more desperate. Although the moment they depart, I want the plague flag raised for good measure. It will keep people away and give us time.”
“I’m glad I could help.” Mister Foote said.
Jane pressed home her case.
“And there is one other small thing you can do, you can get me with child.”
His mouth dropped open in shock, then he clamped it closed again. A second later, he opened it, muttered something garbled and closed his mouth.
Jane pleaded to those remarkably comforting brown eyes.
“We have run out of stratagems. It is the only chance we have to protect everyone at the estate. There is no guarantee it will be a boy, but it will secure us several more months before the Jardines can cast us out.”
Mister Foote was utterly unable to make eye contact. He cleared his throat a few times and looked away. “I am shocked and honoured, in equal measure. I must tell you that I do not have any great knowledge of the act myself, and am not sure if it will achieve the desired result.”
“I’m sure I know even less than you, Mister Foote.”
“Halloo!” Came a call from the back steps.
There was Mama, standing where a man dressed in clerical robes stood next to Epiphany Jardine and her baby boy.
The rain fell more steadily, making a return journey in the wheeled chair treacherous.
“Our options are severely limited indeed,” Mister Foote said quietly. “I shall do it. But please do not be vexed if I should fall in love with you in the process.”
“That’s terribly flattering, but there is no need for that. I was apparently a difficult woman, according to my late Papa, and if you ask Mama, she fretted that I should never marry as I was such an unlikable debutante.”
They had no more time to entertain coyness or avoid eye contact, as Mama called out again, in both an act of greeting and warning that the pastor was approaching. Heart already hammering from her confessions and request, Jane held firmly to the wall of the folly to hold herself upright as the trio of visitors marched across the distance.
As the Pastor reached the steps, Jane stepped forward and welcomed him to Ealing House.
“Lady Jardine has already performed that role, but I accept your welcome, doubly so.”
He nodded towards Epiphany who simpered and smiled as if she were the lady of the manor.
“Dear Epiphany, it seems as if motherhood has drained her of all good sense,” Jane said, speaking to the man of God whilst slighting her stepdaughter. I do apologise for her overstepping the bounds of propriety and inviting you to pay your respects to the Baron and myself in such inclement weather.”
The Pastor looked taken aback. Epiphany made a harrumphing sound.
“Do please come out of the rain,” she said, extending the invitation to the Pastor and Mama. “Oh goodness, it does appear to be rather crowded under here,” Jane said, backing up and blocking any view of her husband, seated in his chair, and covered in blankets. “What a shame there is no room for you, Lady Jardine.”
