Jane’s first thought was outrage.Anger burned in her chest.Determination to succeed replaced it.
The loss of two pupils was a serious blow to their fledgling school, and their creditors’ bills began piling up within a very short time.Anna offered to take a governess position, but Jane refused to let her sacrifice herself, arguing that Anna was needed to keep running the school for the few pupils they had.Lady Elizabeth still refused to give up, and she and Mrs.Courtice attended many morning teas to find more pupils.
Unfortunately, their efforts came to little, as at each turn they were challenged to defend both Jane’s educational views and her honor.Lady Elizabeth’s staunch rebuttal of any impropriety by Jane was treated with smug looks of disbelief.The source of such slander remained a mystery to the women.
Jane decided she must discover whether the Marquess of Dalton knew what was being said about them.With Lady Elizabeth’s agreement, Jane accompanied her home after her fancy work class to speak with the Marquess.
Arriving at Dalton House, Jane felt all the awe she had experienced at each previous visit as she walked under the portico and through the imposing foyer.The butler informed Lady Elizabeth that her brother had just returned and would soon be in the drawing room for tea.
They had only a few moments to wait for the Marquess.He entered the room just as Elizabeth pulled the bell rope for the tea to be brought in.On seeing Jane seated near his sister, he paused, his face briefly betraying his surprise before he greeted her with cool courtesy.Jane contained her impatience for answers and joined in the siblings’ conversation.
As soon as the teacups were empty, Elizabeth turned the conversation to the one occupying Jane’s mind.“Jonathan, some nasty rumor is circulating about Jane and you.No one knows where it started, but it is affecting enrolments at Jane’s school.I’ll leave you to discuss the matter and what can be done.”Giving Jane a reassuring smile, Elizabeth left quickly.
Dalton looked annoyed.Jane didn’t know whether it was about the rumor’s existence or her presence in his home to discuss it.Undaunted, Jane launched into her speech.“I’ve been told by a mother who withdrew her children from the school that there is speculation about an inappropriate relationship between us.Have you heard anything of this nature, my lord?”
A frown etched his forehead.“I have heard nothing myself, Miss Brody, but perhaps that is understandable as the subjects of such talk are often the last to hear it.I am very sorry that your reputation is being attacked.I have said nothing to harm it.Indeed, I would never intentionally do anything to damage your reputation.”He looked directly into her eyes, giving all the appearance of sincerity.
Jane felt close to despair.“Then how has such talk come about?”She was no nearer to knowing the cause of her current financial woes or the name of her tormentor.She could not think of one person to whom she might have caused harm that would warrant this type of revenge and nastiness.Of course, there could be many people who found her ideas and beliefs threatening.
“I will do all I can to find out who is spreading rumors, but I may be the last person to hear.”Dalton sounded concerned and earnest in his desire to help her.“May I offer some financial assistance to make up your shortfall?”he asked.
“Absolutely not!”Jane would never accept his charity.She must get away before she gave in.“I must go.There are many tasks to complete for tomorrow’s lessons.”
“Let me call the carriage for you, Miss Brody.”
“No, no.Joe is with me.I will walk.Thank you.”Embarrassed and dispirited, Jane hastened from the room, feeling no less worried and no wiser.
After several weeks of no improvement, Jane despaired of ever making a success of the school sufficiently to pay their household bills.She confided in Anna, “We will have to give up this house after all when the lease expires and sell all that we can.If not, it’s debtors’ prison for us, I fear.”
Anna looked stricken.“Yes, of course, we will do whatever must be done.”
“I had better look for another, smaller house.We will need to move before Christmas.And we must sell most of the furniture so we can fit into a smaller residence.The money we receive will pay some of the bills from the time before Papa died.”
“Will it be enough though?”Anna asked.
Jane shrugged and frowned.“If not, we may have to alternate in taking a governess position.One of us will stay at home to care for and teach Katherine and the few pupils we have and to provide a home for Kit when he has shore leave.”
The arrival of the first debt collector on their doorstep, who their housekeeper sent on his way, was the sign that their steps to reduce their costs and sell their excess furniture were not sufficient to cover the expenses without their father’s ongoing income.
Despite there being no money to pay their wages, Mrs.Creevy and Joe refused to find other employment, preferring instead to stay with the family they had served for the almost thirty years.
“How can I leave you now, Miss Brody?”Mrs.Creevy said.She had begun working for the family soon after Jane’s parents married.“After all you’ve been through?What would your mother say to me?When she took to her bed for the last time she asked me to help you, should she not live, and I won’t go back on my word.”She returned her attention to the bread dough she was pounding on the floured kitchen table.
Joe said much the same, citing Reverend Brody as his source.Jane cried softly after she returned to the sitting room.Such devotion to their parents and them was a wonderful thing, but also a grave responsibility.
Both sisters applied for governess positions and placed their names with agencies known to Mrs.Courtice.However, it was Anna who was interviewed by prospective employers, as Jane’s name as a pamphlet writer in favor of nontraditional education for girls was far too well-known.And Anna was the first to obtain a position—with a Lord Marchmere’s family in London.“At least I won’t be far from home,” she told Jane, putting a positive spin on her impending departure and new role.
With aching hearts, Jane and her sisters sold much of their furniture and transported the remainder to their new accommodation.
The change to the school’s address caused the final collapse of Jane’s enterprise, as the distance to travel for the remaining pupils outweighed the benefits of their education with Jane.According to their parents, taking their carriages out of household usage twice a day when they were needed, rather than the children walking with their nursemaids to Harley Street, was too great a burden.
Jane shed some bitter tears in the privacy of her bedroom.Where were her dreams now?Of a new way of educating girls through her school, and money enough to live a worthy life?
With the impending closure of the school, Lady Elizabeth’s last needlework lesson arrived.At the end of the day, Jane and she concluded it as they had done the first day of their new venture, with tea in the sitting room.
Lady Elizabeth was subdued and wistful as they drank their tea.“Such a shame that we cannot continue, Jane.It has been a great pleasure working with you and the children.I hope that you will be able to recover your means.”
“I can’t see how at the moment, Elizabeth.I will need to live a very quiet life with Katherine until she is old enough to take on governess work herself and then get a teaching job myself.In the meantime, I will tutor some pupils if possible.The existing creditors have all been satisfied by the money raised from the sale of our furniture, but if another comes out of the woodwork, I dread to think what may happen.”
