Chapter Two
SHE WAS THE ONE.HEwanted her.Only her.
Jonathan shook his head.Am I mad?Where did that idea come from?
The room came into focus, and her words swirled around him.The drawing room of the modest townhouse leased by the Reverend William Brody was awash with late summer light streaming through its tall arched windows.An assortment of well-loved chaise longue and chairs were grouped around the simply dressed young woman who was expounding, in her low-pitched voice, on a better way to educate young women to take their place as men’s equals in society.
Miss Brody had drawn quite a crowd for this unfashionable time of year.But then, there wasn’t a fashionable person in the room.Instead, when he looked around, those he recognized were doctors and the committed few society people who devoted themselves to philanthropic causes.To his left was Mrs.Courtice, an eccentric and elderly widow who supported every charitable cause in the city.Her birdlike form was clothed in an outmoded dress.That was deceptive.She was neither timid nor wanting for money.In fact, he knew that her husband had left her extremely wealthy, as there was no entailment on his property and no children to support.
What am I doing here?Jonathan glanced at his sister seated beside him.Her pale skin contrasted with the dark circles beneath her eyes.She had urged him to accompany her to this important talk for women.
Oh, he had resisted of course.What man in his right mind wouldn’t, especially a peer of the realm?To entertain such notions was to upset the established balance of the known world.His role was to keep things stable.Bad enough that the working classes were threatening to rise up against their masters.
Nevertheless, he couldn’t resist a plea from his sister Elizabeth for long.Her sweet disposition had always meant that he gave in to her requests—the precious few she made.Involving herself in charity work from the time she had left the schoolroom, she had pulled him into supporting her causes with generous donations.Occasionally he accompanied her when she needed a chaperone other than their aunt, but he had not escorted her to this residence before.He suspected their aunt hadn’t either.A huff of amusement escaped him.Lady Lucinda would not countenance the idea of educating women to be men’s equals.
Jonathan focused on the speaker.Miss Brody was petite, confident, and articulate.She had the most beautiful open and earnest face, with clear blue eyes.Her golden-brown hair was formed into a severe knot at the back of her head, emphasizing her high cheekbones but not improving her attractiveness at all.He began imagining how her loosened hair would curl around her slender shoulders.How far would it drape down her naked back?The audience listened in silence, intent on her message, unaware of his lascivious thoughts.
Soon the talk ended.For a moment there was stillness, then polite applause began.As hostess, the speaker invited all to join her for tea, which two servants brought in on cue.A hubbub of conversation followed as a number of guests surged toward her.Elizabeth took Jonathan’s arm and urged him forward into the throng around the woman now presiding behind the large teapot.
Apparently, his sister knew the speaker.Elizabeth skirted the furniture, guiding him toward the young woman.Jane Brody, in her daffodil yellow summer dress and matching bead necklace, looked like a beam of sunshine.
He was drawn to her like a cat to cream.The thick carpet hushed his highly polished Hessian boots but the tassels swished against them as he strode forward—catching her attention, he noticed.At their approach, her gaze traveled from his boots up his body, transforming into a look of admiration, before she focused on his sister.
Elizabeth introduced them in her breathy voice.“Jonathan, may I introduce Miss Brody?”
“Charmed to meet you, Miss Brody.My sister insisted that I accompany her to hear your views.”And I will certainly do so again after seeing how very much more attractive you are close up.
“I’m delighted to meet you, Lord Dalton.I trust I have convinced you that women have voices that ought to be heard.This fraternity needs people in high places, such as you, to spread the word and convince men that women are entitled to equal rights.”
Surprised by her confident expectation that he was a supporter of her cause, Jonathan felt compelled to disabuse her.“I’m afraid that I do not yet believe there is reason or need for women to demand an equal place in our society.Nor to be educated for such a place.They are intended to marry and raise their husbands’ children.”
“If they do not need equality of rights, of education, then why do women die every day from too many confinements weakening their health?”she demanded quietly.
He struggled to keep his face impassive, but couldn’t stop a flicker of his left eyebrow.“Unfortunately, they do die,” he replied.“But the number of confinements a woman bears is an issue for man and wife to debate and settle—not society as a whole.And surely not a subject for an unmarried woman to concern herself with?”
“And how do you expect women to control their reproduction if they are not informed about or permitted to discuss the question and the means before they are wed?Afterward, their fate becomes afait accompli, does it not?”she queried, her smile still in place and her voice calm, but with a look of fierce determination on her face.
He made no reply.
“Can I count on your maiden speech in parliament being on the topic of women’s rights, my lord?”she added, a look of innocent inquiry on her face.
Good God!Has she left hold of her sanity like old King George?“I’m afraid not, Miss Brody.I will not be lecturing my peers on such a personal topic.”He hoped the conversation was at an end, but he saw a battle light in her eyes and suspected she would not let him off the hook.She might be a formidable opponent if not a woman.
She spoke quietly.“I took you for a man of greater moral fiber, my lord.I see I was mistaken.”She turned to his sister and then Mrs.Courtice on her right, offering them tea and cake.
