A Secret Passion Read Free

“I would have a private word with his lordship, please, George.” The silence was oppressive as the butler left the room. Finally she looked up. “I see,” she said very quietly, and then continued, “Father, this is impossible. I will not marry him.”
    “You will marry him, Jane,” he said equally quietly. “You will obey me, as every good daughter would a father. I have given you a season in town with every chance to choose a husband. But you have failed, and now you must abide by my choice. I have found a man of good family and good fortune.”
    “Hmmm. Billingsley,” she said. “Good family and good fortune. We shall forget for the moment his revolting personality, puffed-up consequence, and hideous person, shall we? For what can they signify in the face of ten—or is it fifteen—thousand a year?” A hot flush moved down her body, leaving her trembling with suppressed emotion.
    “Do not overstep yourself, Daughter.”
    “By having the audacity to comment on the man to whom I have been sold?” She lifted the teacup from the saucer, but put it back when she could not control her shaking hand. “Really, you have treated me like nothing better than cattle, selling me off to the highest bidder. Again .” Now that her anger had risen, she couldn’t stop. “It is too bad you didn’t have more daughters. Just imagine the profits had there been two of us!”
    Jane could see the telltale sign of anger on her father’s face. A large vein near the center of his pale forehead stood out, like a streak of lightning foretelling doom. His dark, watery eyes bulged. But still his calm tone remained.
    “You will marry again, or you will leave this house,” he said. “If it is the latter, I will not know you anymore. Nor will your brother, or your friends. However, I concede you do have a choice. What is it to be?”
    Jane felt the cold tendrils of angry pride stiffen her spine. Rising from the table, she dropped her napkin over her untouched breakfast. “How much time am I to be granted before I take my leave?”
    Her father narrowed his murky eyes. “None,” he said as he left the room.
    The kind old butler kept his gaze on the tips of his boots when he reentered the dining room. His heightened color proved eavesdropping was his forte. “Shall I go after your maid? She has just stepped out to run your errands this morning.”
    “No, thank you, George,” she said, recovering herself. “I would only ask your help in sending a note to Mrs. Dougherty to beg off her invitation for tomorrow evening. It appears I will not be staying in London after all.”
    “Yes, miss,” he responded.
    “No, George, it is ma’am. You must remember I have been married.”
    “Yes, miss,” he responded with a slow smile. Despite her unfortunate situation, she could not resist smiling back at the family butler who had always been so kind to her, especially during the five years since her mother had died. He had spent hours talking to her, walking with her in the pastures of Pembroke, and offering comfort when no one else had, all at a respectful distance, of course. She rose from the table and shook his hand before she reached up and kissed his wrinkled old face good-bye. She looked at the tears in his eyes, and brushed at them with her fingertips.
    “George, this is for the best. I knew I should never have returned here after Mr. Lovering died. You were the only enticement.” She smiled at his long face. “But how can I stay here when you refuse to maintain the family’s appearances?” She laughed before adding to the bald and well-attired man, “Your hair needs cutting again, and those shabby clothes…” It was their favorite joke, and it would be their last.
    “Yes, miss. As you say, miss.”
    “Now, George…”
     

     
    Jane was awakened from her reverie by the soothing touch of her aunt. Clarissa pressed a cool, damp compress on Jane’s forehead, easing the aching pain she felt. “And now, here I am, my