I’m relying on you to do so, because I’m not sure I have the strength to resist you.“Yes, of course, Lord Dalton.I’m sure I’m too old to be compromised by being in a room alone with you.Perhaps you should be more concerned about your vulnerability to a designing female?”
“I trust you implicitly, Miss Brody, not to have designs on my name, my fortune, or my reputation,” he said.The laughter lines were apparent around his eyes again.“Come, let us be seated and discuss whatever it is that you wish me to support.I will endeavor to be open-minded.”
Jane offered him a seat on the well-worn brocade sofa and moved Anna’s embroidery from it to a side table.He sat with the air of someone getting ready for a long chat.Jane turned a ladder-back chair from beneath the table toward him.
An unexpected nervousness invaded her stomach as she sat with Dalton in the cozy room.It defied all reason that she could feel this way in her own home, but reason did not enter into the attraction she felt towards this athletic, good-looking, and intelligent man.She was being ridiculous to feel this way.They were unsuited by their rank, fate, and philosophies.
The Marquess interrupted her thoughts.“Tell me more about your charitable works and how they fit in with your belief in the rights of women.”
On a safer topic now, her thoughts flowed easily into enthusiastic speech for the next five minutes until luncheon was announced by the housekeeper.
***
JONATHAN SURVEYED THEgroup that gathered in the dining room.It comprised a teenage girl and younger boy, introduced as Katherine and Christopher, Anna, the Reverend Brody, and William, just arrived after his interview, as well as Jane and himself.
With such a mixed audience, Jonathan expected the conversation over luncheon to be general, but he was surprised when almost immediately the younger members asked their father a series of questions about the Roman philosophers they were obviously studying.Some of the answers, given in Latin, forced Jonathan to stretch his mind back to his university studies.Other points of view given by Jane and Anna were received without any shock by their male family members.In fact, they supported some of their pithier comments.
Jonathan was beginning to see how Jane’s strong personality and intellect had been fostered.He compared it with his sister’s education, more in accomplishments than true learning, and for the first time, guilt that Elizabeth had been denied such an education as these young adults and their siblings received in their home invaded his conscience.He guessed that Reverend Brody and his wife had had a major role in their children’s tutoring, as school fees appeared beyond the reverend’s means.
After lunch, Jane’s younger siblings went to lessons with their father while William departed for an appointment with his tailor.
“I believe we still have a conversation to finish, Miss Brody.”Left alone with him, Jane appeared bereft of her family’s support as Jonathan fixed an intent gaze on her, watching for her response.
“I’m afraid it will have to wait, my lord.I must visit our home for women this afternoon and make arrangements for interviews.”
Disappointment clouded his mood.“I shall leave you to your duties then, Miss Brody.”
“Or you could accompany me.Then we can talk before and after I show you the effects of women not possessing equal rights.”Jane looked perplexed by her own suggestion.
“I shall be delighted to accompany you.If you can wait, I will bring my carriage to collect you within, say, an hour?”
Chapter Seven
JANE SWAYED GENTLYas Lord Dalton’s carriage rolled slowly into stench-filled east London.Up on the box with Dalton’s coachman sat Joe.He was Jane’s concession to the dangers of the locale.
Inside the carriage, Dalton again sat in close proximity opposite her, his long legs crowding hers.His attentive eyes watched her.The mingled scents of his freshly shaven face and crisply starched cravat besieged her senses.She squirmed on her seat, attempting to subdue her tremors of attraction.
