Page 12 of A Lady's Key to Passion

Chapter 7

Jane sat down at the dining table, placing her napkin upon her lap. It was time for luncheon. Papa’s seat at the head of the table was empty as he was at a horse auction. It was just Jane, Marianne, and Lucy.

Lucy was sitting opposite Jane. She didn’t look happy at all. She kept shooting fierce glances in Jane’s direction.

Jane gave a painful sigh, staring straight at her cousin.

“Why do you not just spit it out, Lucy?” she said, rolling her eyes. “You clearly are unhappy with me for some reason.”

Lucy glared at her. “You know perfectly well why I am unhappy with you, Cousin!” Her chest rose and fell in a dramatic way. “You know that I had set my sights upon Lord Carlisle. You did not tell me you were interested in him as well or that there was a possibility he might call uponyou, as opposed to me.”

A surge of intense irritation rose in Jane’s breast. How tired she was of dealing with Lucy’s histrionics. Her cousin was like a child if everything didn’t go exactly her own way all of the time. And she had another four weeks at least of dealing with her.

“I had no prior knowledge that Lord Carlisle was planning to call on me,” she replied in a crisp voice. “Nor have I encouraged his interest in the slightest. For the love of our Lord, Lucy, I only met the man yesterday. You may think that sufficient time to fall head over heels in love with someone, but I am afraid I do not.”

Lucy leaned across the table towards her. “Why on earth would he prefer you to me? I cannot fathom it at all. You are a wallflower and proud of it. It is inexplicable.”

“Lucy, that is not kind,” said Marianne sharply, frowning.

Jane scowled at her cousin. Yes, shewasa wallflower and proud of it, but that didn’t mean Lucy had to be so snide. Why couldn’t a gentleman prefer her? Jane realised it was just wounded pride, but suddenly the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

“He proposed to me, you know,” she said in a loud, defiant voice. “Yes, to a wallflower likeme, Lucy, as opposed to you.”

There was a stunned silence. Marianne’s hand, holding her soup spoon, was suspended in the air above her bowl. Lucy’s blue eyes goggled with disbelief.

“You are lying,” said Lucy eventually, in a flat voice. “It is not possible.”

Jane cursed herself. She hadn’t been intending to tell anyone about Lord Carlisle’s extraordinary proposal, but now both her sister and her cousin were aware of it.

“Jane, why did you not tell me before now?” asked Marianne, looking mystified. “Heproposedto you? That is rather hasty!”

“Yes, I thought so,” said Jane.

Marianne shook her head incredulously. “He told Henry and I that he was looking for a wife, that it was time, but I never thought he would be so precipitous about it. What did you say to him?”

“I told him no, of course,” said Jane, her heart thumping hard. “What did you think I would say? He mentioned it as casually if he wanted to secure a horse at auction!” She realised she was trembling. “The audacity of him. I despise men like that. Apart from the fact I have no intention of marrying anyone, as you very well know.”

“Oh, dear,” said Marianne, biting her lip. “I am afraid Percy has gone about it back to front. I do not know what he was thinking at all.” She hesitated. “He truly is a kind and sensitive person when you get to know him, Jane. And he is very intelligent, with a wide knowledge of many subjects. Please, do not think too badly of him.”

But before Jane could reply, Lucy jumped to her feet, throwing her napkin down on the table. Her blue eyes were shining with tears, and her breath was coming in short, sharp gasps.

“Oh, this is dreadful!” she cried. “I would have accepted him in a heartbeat, and yet he asked you! I shall never forgive you for this, Jane. Never!”

And with that last word still ringing in the air, she stormed out of the room, banging the door behind her.

“Take no notice of her, dearest,” said Marianne.

“As if I ever do,” said Jane, pursing her lips. “Lucy’s moods are mercurial and like the weather. They come and go very quickly.” She paused, staring at her sister. “I shouldn’t have mentioned that he proposed to me. At least not in front of her.”

Marianne sighed. “It is done now. Let her have her cry and be done with it.” Her voice grew solemn. “Percy really just blurted he wanted to marry you, with no preamble?”

Jane nodded. “Very little. He just said something along the lines that it was time to take a wife, and he thought I might suit.” She rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t very romantic. Even Lucy might have felt a bit let down by a proposal like that, even if she has set her cap at him.”

Marianne shook her head again. “Might you have been more amenable to the idea if it had been after a slow and steady courtship, Jane? For he truly would make a wonderful husband.”

Jane sighed. “Marianne, why are you even asking the question? It makes no sense. You know my view on the matter.” She took a deep breath. “Your friend might be an exemplary fellow underneath it all, but I do not intend to marry. Ever.”

Marianne looked sad. “Jane, I have supported you in this choice through the years, even agreeing that you may live in my home forever when Papa leaves us. But I have never fully understood your fervour on the matter. Why do you insist that marriage can never be an option for you? How can you just discount the possibility of ever falling in love and wanting to?”

---