The awkwardness of this meeting was worse than Jane had imagined, but as the visit drew to a close, she didn’t want it to end.She searched his face for any sign of his emotions but could see none.He was master of the impassive.
Heremotions seesawed from blushing embarrassment to bewildered joy at seeing him again.Watching his face as he teased his sister, she remembered with surprise the way the corners of his eyes crinkled.He listened with interest as Anna spoke of the children in her class, but with Jane he was almost silent.
When the siblings departed, Jane sighed with relief and realized how tense she had been for the half hour of the visit.Would the next meeting be easier?
Chapter Nine
OVER THE NEXT MONTH, Jane and Anna worked hard, always hoping that their acquaintances would send more children.Yet no matter how many mothers were presented their syllabus, not one more child arrived on their doorstep.Jane had the dilemma of deciding whether to let the house go when the lease ended and find a smaller, probably less well-located residence, which risked losing the few pupils they had.
Their household servants were already few in number—Mrs.Creevy, their cook-cum-housekeeper, a maid, and Joe, the odd-jobs and outdoor man.All of them were long-term employees.It was already difficult to pay the creditors but they managed—just.
Meanwhile, the Marquess of Dalton had been as good as his word.His application to a friend in the Admiralty and her brothers’ influence had combined to find an opening for Kit.By the conclusion of their first month in business, Jane and Anna were tearfully sewing, mending, and packing to send him off to sea.
Kit appeared not in the least upset about leaving his family for an adventurous life in the Royal Navy.He was wildly enthusiastic to start.It was only at their final parting, as he was put on the coach for Portsmouth with an officer returning to his assigned ship, that he showed any emotion and clung to them both as they hugged him and demanded he write often.Jane and Anna waved and smiled bravely while the coach was in sight, then sobbed in each other’s embrace before walking home arm in arm.
Disaster struck soon afterward when one family withdrew their two daughters.The explanation given was the comment: “I would never have sent them here if I had truly known the manner of your behavior, Miss Brody.”
“Whatever can you mean, Lady Murdoch?”Jane asked.
“If you don’t know, nothing I can say will make any difference.Your past behavior and writings have let you down.No one will want their daughters educated by you once they realize.”Lady Murdoch looked haughty and displeased.
Jane was confused.“I have no idea what you can be talking of.There must be some mistake or some untrue story being circulated.”
“Where there is smoke, there is fire, as the saying goes,” Lady Murdoch said as though imparting a pearl of truth.
“Who can possibly be saying anything about my behavior that could be construed as unseemly?I assure you there is no truth in whatever unsavory tale you have been told.I can only think that someone has set out deliberately to disparage me, perhaps to destroy my livelihood from running this school.Lady Murdoch, your precipitate actions without evidence are damaging not only me, but also my younger sisters and brother, who are completely innocent of any wrongdoing.As am I, I might add!”
“Well, I can’t run the risk with my children’s innocence, Miss Brody.You must staunch the rumors about your liaison with the Marquess of Dalton or take the consequences.”
“Now we are getting closer to the truth of the malevolence.What exactly has been said?I can’t understand how my name has even been linked with that of the Marquess.”
“Well, it is being linked and in a most distasteful way.Your writings in favor of women’s education have thrown you into the mold of Mary Wollstonecraft, who was an immoral Jacobin.It is not a reputation you can bear if you are running a school for young ladies.Your association with Dalton has been colored by that background.”
A stab of horror hit Jane in the solar plexus.It was so much worse than she could ever have expected.How could the little time she had spent in the company of Dalton have ever been interpreted in such a way?Some evil mind and motive must be responsible.
Lady Murdoch must have seen her distress, as her softened words showed that she had some sympathy and disbelief, but she was still implacable about her children leaving.“Even though I have seen only good in what you are trying to achieve and in your behavior, Miss Brody, and though I held your parents in high regard, I cannot risk scandal attached to my husband’s name or our children’s.You must understand that I will continue to support your charity causes, of course, as they are so worthy.”Lady Murdoch patted her arm in a gesture of condescending compassion, then departed the house.
