The Heart's Companion Read Online Free Page B

see if there may be some way of dissuading her from visiting," Lady Elsbeth said.
    Jane smiled. "I’m sorry Elsbeth. I suppose I have been frightfully bearish today. But you do not need to write to my aunt. In truth, I am beginning to anticipate her visit."
    She laughed and drew Lady Elsbeth over to a yellow damask settee, urging her to sit beside her. "It would be best, I suppose, to confess that I have met the infamous Earl of Royce, and if I have been brooding today it’s because I have been attempting to stratagem a way to throw the earl and Millicent together. "
    "Throw them together?"
    "Yes, for when I met the earl this morning I determined that he is well deserving of my cousin and she of him. They are like bookends, equally full of their own self-worth and equally ready to do anything to achieve their goals."
    "Gracious!"
    "Exactly," Jane said dryly. "I will allow that in normal society I would steer a wide path around the man for I sense a wildness in him. He’s like a storm ready to break, a storm that if it did break would leave destruction in its wake. His looks, coupled with that underlying turbulence is, I will admit, compelling. That is until one has the opportunity to take the measure of the man. Lady Tipton and Millicent will be intrigued and shall not look behind the surface image, that I can assure you. I shall be certain to include the earl on our invitation list during their visit. He shall keep them busy and so they will spare little thought for me or my marital status. Particularly if I pretend an interest in the earl myself."
    Lady Elsbeth tsk-tsked and tried to look severely at her niece, but without success. Her own lively sense of fun appreciated Jane’s plans, though her position as chaperon demanded that she protest. "I believe you are espousing Machiavellian principals, which is very unladylike. I cannot help but wonder what your mother would say. "
    Jane laughed. "Elsbeth, it is about time you learned that I do not possess a well-disciplined mind; however much I may try to conceal that deplorable circumstance. In truth, I also possess my share of pride, and that pride demands I serve Lady Tipton and Mrs. Hedgeworth some measure of a trick as they would me. "
    Lady Elsbeth pursed her lips and shook her head slowly. "I don’t understand, Jane. Won’t you please tell me what happened between you and Serena and Millicent?"
    Jane looked at her aunt with deep regret swimming in her liquid green eyes. "I’m sorry, Elsbeth, truly I am. Perhaps it is best if we drop this subject. It is too fine a day to talk of gloomy things. And it is nearly teatime. Do you know where the children are? I picked some blackberries today especially for them."
    "Blackberries? This early?"
    "First of the season, I believe, but very juicy nonetheless."
    "I don’t believe they would care to miss fresh blackberries. They’re outside, no doubt getting as filthy as pigs. Nurse Twinkleham sent them out with one of the maids, young Becky I believe, while she helped Mrs. Phibbs and me inventory the linens."
    Jane, amused, rolled her eyes. "Not, perhaps the best of choices. Bertram and Edward hardly ever mind her."
    "I know, but she would only have been underfoot here. Becky is worse than useless as a maid, though she does try hard. Sometimes I wonder how Mary can see fit to keep her on, even if she is Mrs. Phibbs’s niece."
    "I believe she hopes that Becky’s multitude of good intentions will one day help her to compensate. I’ll wager Bertram’s talked Becky into going to the Folly. I’ll go and see if I can’t urge them to return home with a bribe of blackberries."
    Jane carelessly tied on a plain straw bonnet and set out purposefully across the park toward the Folly in the distance. The day had become very warm. When she came to the man-made lake about halfway to the Folly, she stopped to loosen the buttons of her dress at her neck and wrists, pushing her sleeves up to her elbows. Screening her eyes from the late