“IfI agree,” Jane paused, more to gain her cousin’s full attention than to collect her thoughts, “you must promise never to insult me again. No more comments about Eli being engaged to you first, or my taking too long to find a husband, or any of that. And no flirting with him either.”
If the deal held, it was worth a lifetime membership to her club. Cecily would only be losing her own money, after all.
To her credit, Cecily didn’t pretend not to know what Jane was talking about. She held her gaze, finally answering. “Very well.”
“Thank you.”
It felt like something they should shake on, but Jane worried it would look silly, so instead she smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirts.
“You are the closest thing I have to a sibling, you know,” Cecily said abruptly. “Edmund doesn’t count. He never talks to me.”
“He’s like that with everyone,” Jane assured her.
Twenty-Nine
Eli made haste to Jane’s house from the inquiry. He’d expected to be greeted by her uncle, by this hour of the day, but the butler showed him into a drawing room where Jane and Lady Kerr awaited him.
“Good day.” He bowed to each of them in greeting and took a seat near the window, trying to hide his surprise at his present company.
“How did everything turn out?” Jane wore a worried line upon her brow that he longed to smooth away, but he glanced to her cousin before he replied. How much did she already know?
“Don’t mind me, darling,” she volunteered, seeing his hesitation. “Anything you can tell Jane, you can tell me, surely. Congratulations on your engagement, by the way.”
“Thank you, dear cousin.” The degree of fatigue in Jane’s voice told Eli that they’d been waiting together for a considerable time before he arrived. “Perhaps you might spare us a moment in private. I assure you we’ll manage without a chaperone.”
Lady Kerr looked for a moment as though she might protest, butin the end she merely favored Jane with an indulgent look and withdrew from the room.
“The judges aren’t recommending any charges,” Eli reported, the moment they were alone. “And I’m to be granted my discharge.”
“Thank goodness you’ve been cleared.” He’d expected Jane’s face to flood with relief at the news, but it barely seemed to lighten her burden.
This was everything they’d wanted, wasn’t it?
“What’s the matter?”
“Your discharge, is it already final?”
“The judges will write a recommendation on my case to the naval lords, and I need to await their decision, but it’s just a formality.” Was she worried that his request could still be denied? “I’ve no reason to think they’ll refuse.”
“Oh goodness. I hardly know how to tell you this.” Jane looked so bleak, it must be serious. Eli rose from his spot to join her on the divan and take her hands in his. “Edmund has taken it into his head to purchase a commission in the army,” she continued, her voice thick with emotion. “He plans to use all our funds for it. My uncle went to the bank to stop him, but he should have returned by now if he’d found him easily. I fear it may be too late, and there’ll be nothing left to start the club.”
Eli’s stomach sank as the implications hit him. Without Jane’s investment or his salary, they couldn’t afford a house in town. They would be stranded in Devon, far removed from their friends. Worst of all, he would be taking Jane from her dream.
He’d wanted to offer her the freedom to pursue her own goals in their marriage. Something he might even help her to build, for she and Miss Danby were sure to need trustworthy supporters in the initial stages of their endeavor. After the grief he’d put her through, he wanted to give her that.
“Could you go back to the navy and tell them you’ve changed your mind?” Jane asked, her voice tinged with reluctance. “Before the naval lords make their final decision?”
“No.” Eli spoke gently, conscious of her distress. “The judges were dissatisfied with my refusal to provide any details of my absence. The discharge is a courtesy to me, to preserve my reputation as they’ve no evidence of any wrongdoing, but they won’t let me stay unless I answer their questions, which would put both Geórgios and myself in danger.”
“I’m so sorry. I never should have encouraged you to risk everything on my club. It was so selfish of me!”
“This isn’t your fault. Edmund is the one being selfish. And as to my naval career, there was no way to avoid it, once I accepted the help of a pirate and delayed my time in France. It wasn’t because of you.” He’d lowered his voice at this last part, with a glance at the door to make sure it was still firmly shut against Lady Kerr’s curiosity, but they seemed to be safe.
Jane looked utterly defeated, her shoulders slumped low.
“This doesn’t have to be the end,” he tried, desperate to lift her spirits. They were supposed to be celebrating their plans for the future, not mourning their loss. “Did Miss Danby agree to partner with you?”
“Yes, but I can’t expect to take half the profits if she’s the only one contributing an investment. It’s worked so well until now because we’ve always been equally devoted in our efforts.”
