Everyone then looked to Bennet, who shook his head as he chuckled ruefully. “I have no announcement—yet.”
Mary realised her crush on Jamey needed to be put out of her mind and wished both couples happy, sincerely, along with everyone else.
Chapter 19
“Sarah, this is an unmitigated disaster!” Lord Jersey complained. “The Rhys-Davies are considering a divorce, claiming we misled them regarding the royals’ support for us cutting our daughter.”
“It seems your supposition was incorrect,” Lady Jersey stated the obvious. “The other patronesses have requested I withdraw as a patroness of Almack’s. How has it come to this?”
“We made a critical error; we cut Priscilla before asking for or receiving direction from the Crown,” Lord Jersey said resignedly. “That miscalculation has turned us into social pariahs. The Prince’s displeasure was not just simply directed toward us, it was publicly displayed!”
Lady Sarah was well aware it was her husband’s decision and directive to cut her daughter, something she did not want to do. There was not much use arguing the point with him as he would dismiss what he found to be inconvenient. “If only Marie had not thought she had glimpsed Priscilla and made those remarks in his Royal Highness’s hearing.” Lady Jersey was sure her husband was upset at their behaviour being discovered rather than the pain his decision caused to their oldest daughter.
“Look at all it has cost us! A possible divorce for Marie, and Wes was refused when he requested a courtship with Huntington’s daughter. Before this, Lord Huntington would have salivated at a connection to our family," Lord Jersey lamented.
“The only solution is to reach out to Priscilla.” Lady Sarah knew her husband would read what she wrote so she would not be able to tell Priscilla she was sorry and never wanted to cut her. “We will have to appear to show deep contrition if there is to be any hope she will help smooth our way back into the good graces of the Royals and society at large,” Lady Jersey stated in the vain hope her husband would allow her to write what she actually wanted to.
“Yes, Sarah; post her a letter. I must read it before you do so. I am sure she will be gratified for our condescension,” Lord Jersey calculated.
Lady Sarah De Melville hated having to give her husband the letter before it was posted, but the situation they now found themselves in required it. He was too controlling to allow her to send a letter he did not approve of, so she sat down at her desk in the mistress’s study and wrote her daughter a letter in a manner to ensure his approval.
The sad fact was Lord Jersey was only interested in what would look good to society, forgetting how he had cast out their daughter like yesterday’s broadsheets. There were few nights Lady Sarah did not lament her separation from Priscilla. At least she did not cry every night anymore.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“You desired to talk to us, Jane?” Fanny asked as her eldest sat down in her father’s study at Netherfield Park.
After her coming out, Jane had accompanied the Carringtons and Fitzwilliams to London for part of the little season. Unlike the coming out ball, none of her siblings—who were not yet out—had any expectation of accompanying her to Town.
During her two months in London, Jane and Andrew became very close. The attraction on both sides had grown to the point that both were sure the other’s feelings were engaged as much as their own.
Before Jane left London, Andrew requested a courtship. Jane agreed—conditionally—she knew she could not tell him what the condition was, but she asked him to give her a few days at home before he presented himself.
As planned, Jane returned home in mid-November. Once she answered her siblings’ questions about her time in Town—her sisters, as Tommy had no interest in who she danced with and at what ball—Jane asked for a private meeting with her parents.
“Andrew requested a courtship, and I want to give him an unconditional yes, but I am not sure I will be able to,” Jane told her parents.
“Andrew is one of the best young men we know; why would you hesitate if your inclination is to accept his suit?” Bennet asked.
“I do not want to begin our courtship with a lie, even if it is one of omission,” Jane revealed sadly. “I swore to keep the secret about Lizzy, and so I will, but that places me in a quandary.”
“Jane, my darling sweet and thoughtful Jane.” Fanny enfolded her daughter in a hug. “Richard was able to piece the facts together based on a small error by Uncle Freddy, so he told him the truth. He has not mentioned a word in three years, not even to his parents who know the truth. In fact, he requested that Richard join us in her protection and he has not yet wavered, and likely never will even after the world at large knows. I trust Andrew no less.”
“Why was Andrew not informed when Richard was?” Jane asked pensively.
“Until now, there was no need. If Uncle Freddy had not had the slip of his tongue and Richard had not divined the truth, he would not have been told,” Bennet informed Jane. “Now that Andrew is about to become your official suitor, he needs to know. Neither your mother nor I would expect you to be other than completely truthful with Andrew.”
“Then when he arrives on the morrow, I am allowed to tell him the whole truth?” Jane verified.
“Yes, Janie. The whole truth,” Fanny assured her in confirmation.
“Thank you, Mama and Papa.” Jane was finally able to relax. Receiving her parents’ permission to share everything with Andrew had been a boon and she felt extreme excitement at the idea of his impending arrival.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Come in, Anne dear,” her uncle Reggie welcomed her to his study.
“Is there a problem, Uncle Reggie?” Anne asked nervously. After her aunt’s death, she was wary of being summoned for serious meetings.
