“I have mentioned your predicament to my brother, Jane, and he has promised to try to find a solution.”
Jane’s heart sank.The thought of the Marquess of Dalton knowing that she had failed in all she had attempted was depressing.“That is very kind of you, Lady Elizabeth, but I would rather he was not bothered by my problems.”
“He was most concerned to hear of your financial troubles and most solicitous of your resolving the issue.”Lady Elizabeth looked at her with compassion.
“I fear there is nothing that he can do to assist me.”
“Well, we shall see.He is generally most resourceful.”
A noise in the hall was followed by the appearance of Dalton himself behind Mrs.Creevy as she opened the sitting room door.
“And here he is,” Lady Elizabeth said.“Jonathan, I was just telling Miss Brody that you have promised to try to find an answer to her current financial problems.”
Dalton bowed slightly to Miss Brody in response, his face serious and his dark eyes boring into hers.“Indeed, if you have time tomorrow morning, Miss Brody, I would like to call upon you to discuss the matter.I may be able to assist.I have options you may wish to contemplate.”
Jane swallowed her pride.“Thank you, Lord Dalton.Would ten o’clock suit you?”
He nodded.“I shall be honored.”Turning to his sister, he asked, “Are you ready to depart, Elizabeth?”
She agreed and gathered her reticule and shawl.
Dalton took his leave of Jane in his restrained way.His eyes searched her face keenly.Trying to read her state of mind and emotions?Jane very carefully kept her face blank of all but polite courtesy as she bid him farewell until the next day.In contrast, she hugged Elizabeth tightly and thanked her for her assistance with the school and said how much she would miss her daily visits.
About to exit the front door, Dalton stopped and turned back to Jane to say quietly, his eyes upon hers, “Until tomorrow, Miss Brody.We have much to discuss.”
She stuttered a reply to his portentous words. What did he have in mind?
Chapter Ten
JANE WOKE WITH A STARTnext morning while it was still dark.The air in her room was chilly, as her meager fire had died long ago.Chaotic images tumbled around in her mind—of Anna off teaching, Kit somewhere on the wide Atlantic Ocean bound for who knew where, Lady Elizabeth and Dr.Logan glancing longingly at each other when they thought others weren’t looking, Dalton’s solemn face with intent brown eyes boring into hers.
No wonder she couldn’t sleep.She was wasting time attempting to second-guess the future and imagining dangers for her family and friends.One day at a time, Jane, she directed herself.
Wearily she threw back the covers and plunged her toes into the thick rag rug beside her bed.Avoiding the vast timber floor that surrounded it, Jane stepped to the basin near her bed and began washing with the icy water in the urn.By the time she had finished, her teeth were clacking together from the cold.
She dressed quickly and pulled her long hair into her usual plain arrangement, then instead of setting a flame to the kindling in her fireplace she rushed downstairs to the warmth of the kitchen where she had taken to eating breakfast.It saved them money if they heated as few rooms as possible.
