Page 11 of The Truth about the Marquess
Smiling briefly, Jane nodded.
“I have also been given employment, though I do not want you to speak of it to anyone, I beg of you.”
“Employment?”
Lady Guilford’s voice was so loud, it made Jane wince, though her friend quickly whispered an apology, her cheeks pinking.
“Yes, with The London Chronicle,” Jane explained, quietly. “I will have to reply to those seeking advice – and I must tell you, I am already rather overwhelmed at the thought! I do not know if I will be able to give any sort of advice and I fear that I will fail!”
Lady Guilford clicked her tongue.
“I am sure that you will not, you must have a little more confidence in yourself!”
“But might you be willing to help me, should I need it?” Jane asked, a knot of worry tying itself in her stomach as she looked at her friend. “I do feel a little overcome with all manner of thoughts about this employment, I confess it, but to know that I might have someone to turn to would make me feel a good deal better, I am sure.”
“Of course you can.” Lady Guilford smiled warmly, just as they reached a small group of ladies who were all standing together, though most turned their heads towards Jane and Lady Guilford, a flicker of interest in some of their eyes. “Now come, let me introduce you to some of my acquaintances. Youwill soon find a great many friends here in London, I am sure of it, and you shall have the most wonderful Season! Without any requirement to find yourself a husband, there is nothing to hold you back from having the very best Season thus far, is there?”
Jane smiled, a gentle swirl of happiness beginning to grow in her chest. In finding Lady Guilford, she had found herself a friend, a support, and a true companion, and that brought a fresh brightness to all she now considered.
“Yes, Louisa, I think that you are right,” she agreed, as the ladies nearby broke apart from their small circle so that they might come to join them. “A most wonderful Season indeed.”
“A letter has arrivedfor you, my Lady.”
Jane thanked the butler and took it, at once, from the tray that he held out to her. Looking at it, she expected to see her sister’s curved handwriting on the address but, to her surprise, it was not hers at all. Wondering who else would be writing to her, Jane made her way to the drawing room, only for a sudden streak of excitement to rush through her.
The London Chronicle!
Sitting down, she carefully unfolded the letter, only for something to fall out onto her lap. Picking up what appeared to be yet another letter, she set it to one side before reading the first.
‘I am delighted to welcome you to The London Chronicle. Please find enclosed the first letter seeking advice, which we hope you will soon be able to answer. As this is your first response, we would ask for it to be returned to us no later than in three days’ time.’
Jane did not even stop to look at the rest of the letter, setting it aside so that she might pick up the other. Opening it with trembling hands, she closed her eyes for just a moment as she took a long breath, not quite certain that she was prepared for all that was to come. She read it aloud.
‘I am writing in the hope that you might offer me some advice since I can get none from those around me. I have a gentleman eager to court me and both my father and mother are encouraging me to accept his courtship, though I myself am a little less than inclined. Instead, there is a second gentleman whom I wish to consider. The first gentleman is known to have an excellent character, and is morally upright and kind-hearted, though he does not have as high a title nor as great a fortune as the second gentleman. The second gentleman, on the other hand, does not have as excellent a character as the first, though I find that I am drawn to the latter rather than the former. My parents are both very good in that they permit me to make my own decisions, though I do feel the pressure of their desires. I look forward to reading what you have to say.’
Jane closed her eyes, her heart aching suddenly for this young lady, whoever she was.
“I do not need three days to respond to this,” she murmured to herself, opening her eyes and rising to her feet, suddenly eager to write her response that very moment rather than losing any time. “And I know exactly what to say.”
Chapter Five
“Have you seen The London Chronicle today? Everyone is abuzz with it!”
Oliver looked down at Miss Dutton, seeing the excitement in her expression.
“No, I have not.” He chuckled at her disappointment. “I confess that I do not often have time to read such things.”
“Oh, but you must!” Miss Dutton exclaimed, putting her arm through his. “Though I will say that there is often rumor within it, which I do not appreciate.”
Understanding this, Oliver said nothing but continued meandering through St James Park with the lady on his arm, a little surprised that the park was as quiet as it was. He would have thought that this fine afternoon would have brought many a gentleman and lady to the grounds and, truth be told, he had been rather proud that Miss Dutton had agreed to take a walk with him through the park. Having considered her enthusiasm, and decided that he was being foolish in being uncertain of it, he had told himself to pursue her and thus, he had done so. He had taken tea with her the previous day, and had then asked if she would like to join him for a walk in the park, and had been delighted when she had accepted immediately. Her mother waswalking behind them, clearly just as pleased as her daughter had been at Oliver’s attentions, and all in all, Oliver felt himself rather pleased with his new connection. Miss Dutton was pretty, enthusiastic, spoke well, and offered great warmth after only a very short acquaintance – and he could not imagine what further would be offered to him should their connection grow to something more!
“Should you like me to tell you what has made thetonso intrigued?”
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Oliver looked back at the lady.
“Yes, of course! I should not like to be the only one in society who does not know of it!”
“Very well, then I shall tell you, so that you are not in the dark,” Miss Dutton replied, beaming up at him as though he had offered her some great boon. “There is a new feature in The London Chronicle, you see. Someone writes to the newspaper with a request for advice on whatever situation they find themselves in, and both the letter and the response from the newspaper are printed together, side by side. This time, the letter seeking advice is quite astonishing, speaking of a lady torn between two gentlemen – and the response is also rather surprising! It is fair, yes, but also rather fierce, as though the writer is speaking from experience and that, I think, is what has caught the interest of so many within society.”
