‘Saris, Miss Isabel. They are more intricate than they look, but they are very cool in the heat and the fabrics are superb. I have known European women take to them when the heat has become too much.’
‘Oh, I should dearly like to try one.’
‘I am sure you would look charming,’ he said.
‘And what about the language? Is it difficult to learn?’
‘There are several languages in India, but you would not need to learn any of them. The native servants speak a kind of pidgin English and, apart from visits to the bazaar, you would not need to communicate with other natives. And you would never go to the bazaar unless accompanied by someone familiar with the language and customs.’
Jane watched this exchange with some misgiving. It was not polite of her sister to monopolise the gentleman, certainly not at the expense of Mark, who was standing by the window watching them. On the pretence of looking out at the terrace and formal gardens beyond it, she went over to stand beside him.
‘She means no harm, Mark,’ she whispered. ‘She is simply interested because you said you would take her to India.’
‘I know.’
A footman came to tell them supper was served and they made their way into the dining room. They were silent while the servants waited on them, but the conversation began again when they stood aside, this time led by Lord Wyndham and Sir Edward, who began a discussion about the dire state of the nation’s economy. The year before had been miserable, with no summer to speak of, the crops failing and labourers and returning soldiers out of work. There was unrest among them everywhere. At the end of the year there had been a mass meeting at Spa Fields, addressed by Henry Hunt, who had a gift for rabble-rousing, and the whole thing had got out of hand and had to be quelled by the militia. Revolutionary plots were being uncovered everywhere, which had led the Government to suspend habeas corpus and outlaw seditious meetings.
‘It is a mercy we have escaped here in Hadlea,’ his lordship said. ‘I have managed to keep all my men employed and even take on one or two more. No doubt it is the same with you, Cavenhurst?’
‘Indeed,’ Sir Edward said, though he did not elaborate. Jane knew he had not taken on any men for some time, not even when old Crabtree retired at the age of eighty and one of the younger men went off to pastures new.
‘At least there is some good news,’ Lady Wyndham put in. ‘Princess Charlotte is with child again and there are high hopes that she will carry this one to full term.’
‘Let us hope so,’ Lord Wyndham said. ‘A new heir to the throne will divert people from their dislike of the Regent.’ An attempt on the Prince Regent’s life had been made in January when an unknown assailant fired at his carriage on the way back from opening Parliament, but fortunately he had been unhurt.
‘I am concerned for the soldiers’ orphans,’ Jane said. ‘They are living on the streets, learning nothing but to be beggars and thieves. They need homes and a little education to fit them for work when they are old enough.’
‘Yes, it is sad,’ her mother said. ‘But, Jane, I am sure Lord and Lady Wyndham do not want to hear of your project.’
‘On the contrary,’ Lord Wyndham said. ‘I, for one, am interested and should like to hear about it.’ He was a very big man, both in height and breadth, with a round red face, but he smiled a lot and was easy to talk to.
Given a ready listener, Jane launched into an explanation of what she hoped to do, while his lordship and the rest of the company listened intently. She was glad of the audience, it gave her the opportunity to test her persuasive skills. ‘I intend to start with something small, taking local children,’ she said. ‘But even a small home will be costly to run properly. We have to find sponsors.’
‘Jane!’ Her mother was shocked by this talk of money over the supper table.
Lord Wyndham laughed. ‘You daughter is undoubtedly passionate about the subject. I like that and you may count on me for a donation, Miss Cavenhurst.’
‘Thank you, my lord, I am indeed grateful.’
‘I, too, will add to your funds,’ Drew said. ‘What about you, Mark?’
‘Miss Cavendish explained her plans to me some time ago,’ Mark said. ‘I have already promised my contribution.’
‘Everyone is being very free with their blunt,’ Teddy murmured to Jane.
‘Yes, isn’t it wonderful?’ she whispered back. ‘It’s better than gambling it away.’
Annoyed by this barb, he turned away and concentrated on eating.
‘Now let us talk of more pleasant matters,’ Lady Wyndham said. She was an excellent hostess and had seen, if not heard, the exchange between Jane and her brother. ‘How are the wedding plans coming along, Grace?’
Lady Cavenhurst was glad to answer and the meal ended pleasantly and was followed in the drawing room with the girls taking it in turns to play the pianoforte and sing, while a card table was set up for those who wished to play. It was late when the party broke up and Sir Edward’s carriage was brought to the door to take them home.
Chapter Three
‘Mr Ashton is a fascinating man, don’t you think?’ Isabel asked Jane. ‘He has been everywhere and done everything and is so interesting to talk to.’
It was the day after the supper party and the girls and their mother were sitting in the small parlour. Jane was sewing tiny beads on to the skirt of the wedding gown, while Lady Cavenhurst and Isabel sat at the table, writing the invitations on cards.
‘So he may be,’ Jane said, ‘but I think it ill of you to monopolise him in conversation and ignore poor Mark.’
‘Oh, Mark did not mind it. He knows how much I want to travel.’ She picked up one of the invitations. ‘There, I have made a blot on that one. Pass me another, Mama, please.’
‘How many have you crossed off the list?’ Jane queried.
‘About a quarter. We could not take any more off without giving offence and we don’t want Papa to look a pinchcommons, do we?’
‘I do not think catering for fifty is mean, Issie. Papa is worried about the cost. You know what he said this morning.’
Earlier that day Sir Edward had come in from going round the estate with his steward and found his wife and daughters in the morning room, talking about the wedding. Seizing the opportunity of finding them all together, he had delivered a homily on the need to economise. It was a word unknown to Lady Cavenhurst and Isabel. Jane had produced the list she had made, beginning with the notion that they could all spend less on clothes, bonnets and shoes, which had raised a cry of protest from Isabel and Sophie. A second suggestion was that they often wasted food and that Cook should be instructed not to buy exotic produce like lemons and pineapples and only to use fruit and vegetables grown in their own kitchen gardens and to cook no more than was needed for the numbers sitting down to eat. Her ladyship had said that Cook would not like that at all and the provisions for the wedding feast had already been ordered.
‘Unfortunately, even that will not be enough,’ Sir Edward had said. ‘I am afraid there will have to be serious retrenchment.’
Jane had consulted her list again. ‘Then we could cut down on the number of servants. We do not really need three chambermaids and three parlourmaids, and if we helped in the garden ourselves we would not need so many gardeners. I, for one, would not mind doing that. And we could do without the carriage if we had to.’
‘Do without the carriage!’ her mother protested. ‘How are we to go about without