Page 59 of A Pure Lady for the Broken Duke
“Of course, dear Sister,” Jenny replied, but had to admit to herself that she did feel some resentment.
“Might I ask all of you to leave, please?” the Doctor asked. “I need to set her leg now and I think it is best if we are alone.”
The family filed out and walked to the sitting room.
“There must be something we can do?” Mama pleaded with Papa. “This is the opportunity Jenny has dreamed of all her life. Papa, what can be done? You make the meat pies… how difficult can it be if you make the fruit pies as well?”
Geoffrey put his hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Mama, it is not just the pies, it is the cakes, the tarts, the biscuits. I could never manage that much volume in one morning. Our customers rely on us to be timely, and you know how much we sell each day. It is just not possible.”
Jenny went over to them, facing them and put a hand on each of their shoulders. “I will stay. It is what must be done.”
Mama began to cry, covering her face with her apron and turning away.
“Do you want me to go to Pemberton to inform the Duke?” her father asked.
“No, Papa. I must do this myself. I will need to meet with the head cook and go over the details of what needs to be done. At least there, they have enough staff to take over my responsibilities.”
Mother turned and threw her arms around Jenny who was feeling numb by now.
“Oh, my baby, I am so very sorry. Maybe his Grace will find a use for you another time.”
“I doubt it, Mama. I have betrayed his trust and I doubt he will be able to forgive me for that.”
* * *
It was already dark when Jenny and her father left Chatsworth and headed toward Pemberton. Geoffrey had an arrangement with a neighbor to use his horse and wagon when necessary, and he had offered to take Jenny to see the Duke, as it was late, and he did not want her walking all the way to Pemberton and back by herself.
Geoffrey halted the wagon at the entrance and Jenny jumped down.
“Do you want me to wait for you here?”
“No, Papa, it is too cold, and I have no idea how long I shall be. Come with me. I am certain they will have a comfortable place for you to wait by a fire.”
They headed to the great door and knocked. Presently, Willoughby answered.
“Oh, Miss Barnett, is his Grace expecting you?”
“No. I am afraid it is an unexpected, but very important visit. Might he be available to see me?” Willoughby gave a glance to Geoffrey. “This is my father, he drove me over.”
“Please come inside,” Willoughby said, standing aside and allowing them to enter. “You may wait there,” he indicated a table with several chairs in the entryway.
It took at least ten minutes before they heard returning footsteps.
“Miss Jenny…” his Grace said as he came toward them.
Jenny and her father stood. “I am so sorry to disturb you, Your Grace, but there has been an urgent development.”
Thomas looked startled. “Come. Let us speak somewhere more comfortable.”
He led the way to a sitting room with a lively fire and they sat opposite each other as the fire snapped nearby. Jenny needed to keep her errand in mind because she could not help but notice how appealing his Grace looked with the firelight flickering on his handsome face.
“Please,” Thomas urged, “What is the issue?”
Jenny snapped out of her admiration for Thomas and explained about the accident. “And I am so very sorry, but I shall be unable to make your pastries for the ball. I cannot tell you how distraught I am about that, but I have no choice. My family’s business cannot survive without my presence.”
Thomas was silent as he absorbed the new information.
Then Jenny offered, “I shall be more than happy to meet with your cook and explain what must be done to whoever is to replace me. But it will have to be after work tomorrow afternoon.”
