Page 3 of The Truth about the Marquess (Whispers of the Ton #3)

Chapter Two

“ J ane?”

“Yes?” Smiling, Jane set her basket full of flowers on her arm and came towards her sister. “My goodness, you look quite wonderful, Emma!”

Her sister blushed and looked down at her new gown.

“I thank you. I do not often purchase new gowns when we are not going to London, but I thought that I would like to now. Do you think that he will like it?”

Jane smiled softly.

“I think that your husband will think you look quite beautiful,” she said, seeing how her sister’s blush grew. “I have seen how much he cares for you, my dear. I think that you will delight him all the more in this gown!”

Emma smoothed out an invisible crease, her lips curving gently.

“I thank you, Jane. I do wish that you would join us this evening.”

“I was not included in the invitation,” Jane reminded her, quietly. “That is not to say that I am in the least bit upset by it or that I think that Lord and Lady Franks ought to have done so, but to remind you that my presence is not expected.”

“Oh, but there was that note which came thereafter, do you not remember?” Sounding eager, Emma put a hand on Jane’s arm. “They wished you to know that you would be welcome to join them also, though they knew that your preparations for London were of great importance.”

Nodding, Jane smiled at her sister but then gestured to the flowers.

“I am quite contented doing this, I assure you. Collecting spring flowers and then putting them into arrangements will offer me a great deal of pleasure, I assure you. I do not need to go to any soiree. Besides which,” she continued, a little softer now, “I am soon to go to London. It is not as though I shall be present here any longer.”

“But that does not mean–”

“Please, Emma, do not worry!” Taking her sister’s hand, she pressed it gently. “You need not be upset. I am more than contented, I assure you. Besides, who will look after your two children this evening if I do not stay?”

“The maids? The governess? The nursemaid?” Emma rolled her eyes, though she did smile when Jane laughed quietly. “You know that I am concerned for you, my dear sister.”

“You need not be. Besides, you will not be able to see all that I do once I am in London!”

Her sister’s smile grew a little sad.

“I will miss you.”

“As I will you.”

Emma sniffed, took in a deep breath and then lifted her chin, looking at Jane straight in the eye.

“I must tell you that I have made some arrangements for you, once you are in London.”

Jane’s smile shattered.

“Arrangements?”

With a nod, Jane gestured to the bench a short distance away and together, the two sisters walked to it and sat down together. A little nervous, Jane looked at her sister steadily, her stomach lurching as Emma smiled. She caught the slight glint in Emma’s eye, wondering just what it was that her sister had planned. She hoped that it was not some new scheme to keep her here rather than permitting her to go to London!

“I know that you have spoken of finding yourself financial security,” Emma began, as Jane set her basket of flowers to one side. “I also know that you believe you will have to marry to find such a thing.”

“It is the only thing that a young lady can do, is it not?” Jane replied, a slight frown brushing across her forehead. “I do not have the opportunity to pursue else, anything other than perhaps becoming a governess, which is not something I wish to do. The thought of becoming a spinster and fearing for my future every day of my life, even whilst caring for someone else’s children, is not a pleasing one, though you know very well that I care deeply for your children.”

Emma laughed softly and put her hand on Jane’s for a moment.

“Of course I do. They dote upon you! Though I quite understand what it is you mean when you speak of being fearful of your future – and it is that fear that I wish to address.”

“What do you mean?”

Emma took a deep breath and then set her shoulders.

“My husband and I are to give you the townhouse.”

It felt as though something had wrapped around Jane’s chest, constricting her breathing. She stared at her sister, a slight hissing in her ears as Emma searched her face in return, clearly looking for Jane’s response.

“You… you are giving me the townhouse?”

“Yes.” Emma beamed though Jane could feel nothing but astonishment. “We want you never to be concerned about where you shall live and, truth be told, my husband has been seeking a new townhouse in London. He does not much like the present townhouse, stating that it is too small for our requirements, though I disagree with him! However, he has suggested – and it was he who suggested it – that we give you the townhouse as your permanent abode and, therefore, you will have no concerns over where you shall live.”

“I... I do not know what to say.” Jane put one hand to her throat, rubbing there gently in an attempt to encourage herself to breathe a little more easily. “I do not think that you need to do such a thing for me, Emma, though I am overwhelmed with gratitude. You must tell Lord Armitage the same.”

Emma shook her head.

“It is not because I need to, but because I want to, Jane. I have found what you have not; a kind, compassionate, considerate gentleman for a husband and, though I want you to find the very same thing, I am aware – as is Armitage – that there is an uncertainty within you when it comes to even considering that possibility. Therefore, we wanted to do what we could to support you, seeing your selflessness when you consider returning to London to return the estate to our family entirely. Though I still do not think there is a need for you to do so.”

Jane laughed, though it came out as a broken sound, shaking her head.

“Even if I could simply reside there until such a time as my circumstances change, then I would be content with that. You do not need to make it my property.”

Her sister shrugged.

“I shall leave that up to Armitage and his solicitors. But you will accept?”

A part of Jane wanted to thank her sister, but refuse to accept it, as a sense of determination to live alone and care for herself as best she could rose to the fore. But after a moment, she smiled, pressed her sister’s hand, and nodded. There was no need for pride here, not at this moment.

“Thank you, I shall.” Taking in a deep breath, she let it out slowly, relief beginning to fill her. “I will be able to have a good deal more security now, though I shall still have to be careful with my finances.” Seeing the way that Emma opened her mouth, Jane shook her head quickly. “No, Emma, you and Armitage have done enough. I shall not take more from you.”

Her sister chuckled.

“I told my dear husband that you would say that! But be assured, I have no intention of offering you coin, for I knew that you would not accept. However, I have found you some employment.”

Another ripple of shock ran through Jane’s frame.

“Employment?”

Emma nodded, her face wreathed with smiles though Jane herself did not smile, wondering what it was that Emma had come up with.

“It is an excellent position, one which will support you with a little more coin but, at the same time, private enough that the ton will not know of it!”

All the more confused, Jane frowned heavily.

“I do not understand.”

“It is an anonymous position!” Emma exclaimed, as though this explained everything. “There will be letters sent to you seeking advice on various situations and all you have to do is reply!”

Rubbing one hand lightly over her forehead, Jane took a few moments of quiet to calm her confusion and growing frustration.

“Emma, you are not making any sense to me. Please, explain what you mean. What employment is this?”

Her sister bit her lip, then looked away.

“My apologies. I am, mayhap, being a little overexcited.” The smile quickly returned, however, her eyes bright. “There is a newspaper in London, do you recall it? ‘The London Chronicle’?”

Jane nodded slowly, still struggling to understand what her sister was talking about.

“Yes, I know the paper. I do not often read it.”

“It has become rather popular, I believe, and I am well acquainted with the lady who, at the first, began it all. Knowing your dilemma and how well the paper served her , I wrote to ask if there was any way she might be able to consider supporting you in the same way. She replied to me and told me that there was a requirement for someone to take up a position with The London Chronicle.”

Something that felt like excitement caught Jane’s heart, though she quietened it quickly, still not fully understanding what it was that Emma had found for her.

“I would be writing for a paper?”

“For ‘The London Chronicle’, yes.” Emma spoke a little more slowly now, as though she were explaining something to a small child. “They have started a section within the newspaper where those in the ton can write anonymously to the editor, seeking advice on some situation or the next. It has proven very popular indeed and now, they seek someone to employ to respond to those letters regularly. I have looked into the pay offered and I think it would suit you very well!”

Jane considered this, tilting her head just a little.

“I am not certain that I would always know what to say.”

“I think that you would – and if you did not, then I am sure that there would be others you could speak to, before you responded publicly,” came the reply, Emma’s enthusiasm undampened by Jane’s hesitation. “Think of it, Jane! It means that you would be able to reside in London, be a part of society, enjoy the company of the ton but have no requirement to marry – while, at the same time, making certain that your finances were well supported with this little employment! It would not take up a good deal of your time, I am sure, and you would also be able to remain entirely anonymous if you wished.”

“So my reputation would not be spoken of,” Jane murmured, “though I do not think that there can be any great criticism of someone who writes for a newspaper!” Her sister smiled but said nothing, her eyes still filled with a brightness that Jane could not help but respond to. “You are very kind to have done so much for me, Emma,” she said, leaning forward so that she could embrace her sister. “To have you so considered and concerned has touched my heart.”

“But of course.” Leaning back, Emma’s smile remained, though Jane caught the flicker of tears in her eyes. “I want to see you happy again, Jane. I thought at first that it might be in finding another gentleman to marry, one who might leave you feeling happy and contented, but I see now that such a thing is not the only way for you to be so.”

Jane nodded, her throat tight again though, this time, it came from tears of gratitude over her sister’s thoughtfulness.

“Might I ask if you will consider it?” Emma asked, quietly. “Will you think of it for a time, at the very least?”

Pressing her lips together, Jane lifted her chin and, despite the quailing of her heart, spread out her hands.

“I do not need to think about it. It is, as you have said, a way to support myself but without the need for matrimony. So yes, Emma, I shall accept the employment and write for ‘The London Chronicle’.”