Chapter Twenty-Six
After breakfast, Jennywalked into her father’s library. He looked up from his desk. “You are indeed fortunate that I am prepared to forgive you for your disgraceful conduct, and welcome you back into the fold, and only because I have managed to keep your behavior a secret from York society.”
“What did you tell Mr. Judd, Papa?”
“That you were called away to care for your aunt in London, and did not feel that, in the circumstances you could marry. Judd handled it with remarkable aplomb, which shows the character of the man. And when he posed the question of marrying Bella, I thought it extremely generous of him. A man of his wealth and breeding might choose a bride from any number of good families with generous dowries. An excellent idea it is too, as Bella still pines for the young man next door who now plows the land that was once ours, and will never be more than a farmer.”
“As nothing has yet been formalized between Mr. Judd and Bella, I have decided to marry him. If he still wants me,” Jenny said. “I am closer in age to him and more experienced in managing a household than Bella. You can tell him that he will be assured of a well-run house.”
Surprised, Papa left his chair. “I am glad you’ve come to your senses, Jenny. But your objections to him were very strong why have you changed your mind?”
“I want to marry and have children, Papa. And perhaps I was wrong about Judd. I might grow to like him when I know him better.”And I will be there to protect my sisters from a brute, she wanted to scream at him.
There was no point in appealing to her father again concerning Judd’s proclivities. He had dismissed their earlier conversation out of hand, calling it a complete nonsense. He came around the desk to rest his hands on her shoulders and gaze into her eyes. “Are you sparing Bella because of this tender she has for Glyn Millichamp?” He frowned, dropped his hands, and turned back to his desk. “Be aware I shall not change my mind about him.”
“I understand that, Papa.” She swallowed on a sigh, wanting to be honest with him, but what was the point? He would refuse to see it and she had to handle him carefully. “I will marry Judd if he promises to arrange for Bella to have a London Season.”
“Seasons are an expensive business, and there is no one to chaperone her for her Come-out.”
“Judd’s mother might agree to it. Or there’s Aunt Leonora. She lives in Mayfair.”
“Your aunt is quite an age now, I doubt she’d agree.”
“No, perhaps not, but as a married lady of almost twenty-four, there’s no reason why I cannot be Bella’s chaperone.”
“I shall ask Judd to call on us, but I daresay he will dislike being dictated to by a young woman. And he may prefer a more malleable girl like Bella.”
“Society will frown on us if your first-born daughter isn’t married before the other girls.” Jenny shrugged. “But if Judd refuses me I shall go to London and take another governess position.”
He banged the desk with his fist. “I could take disciplinary action where you’re concerned, young lady. Fathers have every right to do so.”
Jenny lifted her chin. “I hope that you will see the sense of my suggestion, Papa.”
He bent his head and studied his hands. “Very well. I will attempt to convince Judd of the rightfulness of marrying you.”
“Thank you. May I tell Bella?”
“You may. I’m confident that Judd will agree. After all, nothing has been announced. He always seeks to do the correct thing. And as he requires an efficient wife to run his house, because his mother plans to go and live with her sister, you are certainly better suited for that than Bella, who moons about in the most annoying fashion.”
Jenny left the library. She was forced to lean against the wall when her knees gave way.
Bella appeared in the hall and hurried to take her arm. “Are you all right, Jenny?”
“Yes, I was a little dizzy. I must have risen too fast. Come to my bedchamber, Bella, I have something to tell you.”
Bella listened quietly as Jenny explained what she had decided to do. “You would marry Mr. Judd? Is it to spare me?”
“There’s another reason.”
A frown marred Bella’s smooth forehead. “Won’t you tell me what it is?”
“Not yet, Bella. Please, don’t ask me.”
Bella studied her anxiously. “I can see your mind is made up. And once that happens it would be useless for me to try to change it. But I fear for you, dearest. You are sacrificing yourself for all of us.”
“No. I am twenty-three and too old to consider myself on the marriage mart. If a well-born gentleman of such excellent prospects wants me, I really should be grateful. And I will be living here in York close to the family. It is certainly preferable to working as a governess.”
“There is that certainly.” Bella gazed at her doubtfully. “But I wish I could believe you. If that was the case you would have married Judd when he first asked you. Isn’t that so?”
