Chapter 3

Chapter Three

The rest of Lord and Lady Latham’s ball went smoothly. Emilia carefully avoided conversations with the hosts and Jane kept to herself, carefully avoiding eye contact with anyone.

Jane was very wrong when she’d decided not to ever think about Daniel Winchester ever again. Even though she didn’t want him to, that dark eyes mystery entered her dreams that night. It wasn’t a sinful dream; on the contrary it just explored Jane’s curiosity regarding Lord Southerby. There had to be more than what met the eye regarding him. Men didn’t become rakes for no reason ... but perhaps that was just Jane’s naivety talking.

The next morning Jane was instructed by Genevieve to dress nicely as the family was going on an outing. Jane looked out the window at the dreary sky. It did not look like ‘outing’ weather but no weather in England was ‘outing’ weather.

She chose a light blue gown that had tiny white checks on it. It was a fresh, summery fabric that her mother had selected just for her. She tied a white ribbon under her bust and tied it into a bow behind her back. She stood in front of the mirror and ran her fingers through her long brown curls. Jane decided to braid it and then twist it into a bun. Once she’d pinned it in place she retrieved her matching bonnet and carried it down the stairs with her.

Once down there Jane saw how Emilia was ordering the three girls with their bonnets, helping them tie the bows under their chin.

“Good morning, Jane,” Emilia smiled as she tied the ribbon on Annie’s bonnet. Emilia too had donned a pretty yellow bonnet with white trim which matched her soft yellow dress.

“Morning,” Jane replied. “Where’s Sebastian and the boys?” she asked. She thought they were going out as a family.

“Papa has taken James and Henry for the day. Mama is taking us to High Tea!” Little J said excitedly.

“High Tea?” Jane furrowed her eyebrows as she knelt down to fix Little J’s bonnet. She straightened it on her head and tucked her loose curls into it.

“I take the girls to this lovely hotel called ‘The Palace’ for High Tea every so often. It’s a special treat for the ladies of London and we thought you might like to come with us. They serve tea of course as well as lovely sandwiches and cakes – those of which the girls especially love,” Emilia rolled her eyes as she lifted Annie into her arms.

Both Little J and Kitty took one of Jane’s hands as they all exited the house and walked down to the waiting carriage. They climbed in one by one and set off for The Palace.

As they pulled up outside the lovely white building, Emilia clicked her fingers to get the girls’ attention. “Now, if you don’t like something that you eat, you do not spit it onto your plate. You will swallow it and then not eat any more of it – do I make myself clear?” she warned the three of them.

“Yes, mama,” Kitty replied as Little J and Annie nodded.

“Good,” Emilia smiled, satisfied.

She led the girls and Jane inside The Palace. Jane was simply amazed. Everything was either glass or white. The carpet on the floor was a delicious blood red that led into what she assumed was the tea room. Opposite the entrance to the tearoom was a red carpeted staircase that no doubt led up to the staterooms in the hotel which most likely housed very wealthy guests. Several lovely circular tables with trays of intricate cakes and plates of miniature sandwiches covered every surface. Finely dressed waiters carried around steaming china teapots as they attended guests.

It wasn’t just for women, she noticed several men enjoying High Tea as well.

As Emilia was about to lead Jane and the girls into the tea room they were stopped by a man who was wearing working class tails.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but we’d rather you didn’t bring your children in here, we have a reputable establishment and children negatively affect that.” The man stood in front of the door with his hands behind his back.

Jane looked down at Kitty and Little J who were on their best behaviour, as well as a silent Annie in Emilia’s arms. The man was either completely blind or just blatantly rude.

“Bringing my daughters in here has never been an issue before,” Emilia replied politely. Jane was proud of her; if it were her that the man was talking to she would have said something very rude indeed.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he frowned at her and looked down at the girls with distain. “But we can’t make any exceptions, children are dirty and loud.”

Emilia arched one of her eyebrows, clearly taken aback. “Dirty and loud?” she scoffed. “Perhaps we should discuss this with Chef Henri, my youngest son’s godfather and namesake. He simply adores mine and Lord Ethridge’s children.”

The man looked like he’d just sucked on a sour lemon.

“So, I don’t think Lady Catherine, Lady Jane or Lady Anne being admitted will be an issue, do you?” Emilia said sweetly. Jane had to physically refrain from giggling.

“Right this way, Lady Ethridge,” he managed and led Emilia, Jane and the three girls into the tearoom. He brought them to a table next to one of the big, glass windows and then brought them a fresh teapot.

Once the waiter was out of earshot Jane burst into a fit of giggles. “That was brilliant!” she exclaimed as she pulled a warm scone onto her plate. She then poured herself and Emilia a cup of tea.

“My heart was beating so fast,” Emilia giggled. “I’ve never met Chef Henri; I just know that he runs the kitchen here. Sebastian and I just liked the name ‘Henry’ and his godfather is Peter like the other four.”

“Devious,” Jane commented.

“But the audacity that that man had when talking about the girls – of whom I am very proud of by the way,” she smiled at Kitty especially who was delicately eating a cucumber sandwich.

“I know, if the children can behave there is no reason why they should not be allowed in the tearoom,” Jane replied.

Emilia placed a little white cake on each of the girls’ plates as well as a small cucumber sandwich. “If you can eat both of those without spilling then I’ll let you choose your next cake.”

Jane was careful when spreading jam and cream on her scone. She was careful to break off bite size pieces as not to seem unladylike. “You mother so well.”

Emilia looked at Jane in disbelief. “Really? I just gave my daughters the incentive of more sweets if they keep clean for five minutes, a good mother wouldn’t have to.”

“A real mother has to,” Jane corrected. “You are probably the only lady in the ton who does not have nannies running about after her children. In my eyes that makes you a good mother.”

Emilia smiled gratefully as she selected a pretty white cake from the tray. “That’s really nice of you to say, Jane, thank you.”

For a half hour the two women and the three girls chatted away as they enjoyed their fancy cakes and sandwiches.

When they were finished Emilia made sure each other girls didn’t have any cream on their face and then helped them down from their chairs. She straightened their gowns and then lifted Annie into her arms once more.

Emilia paid for their outing and then directed Kitty and Little J to walk in front of her as they exited The Palace. Jane stole one last look over her shoulder at the beautiful room. If she could spend her summer season doing things like that then she would be very happy, but she was sure that Emilia and Sebastian would have many more parties for her to attend.

As she turned back to follow Emilia out the door her head collided into a solid figure. Instead of falling to the ground she was stabilised by a pair of strong arms. Her eyes focussed on those same brown eyes that haunted her dreams the night before.

“Sorry,” Jane mumbled and looked to her feet. It was there that she saw a letter that Daniel had dropped in order to stop her from falling. She quickly picked it up and read who it was addressed to without thinking – Lady Sabine Winchester. Jane’s heart stopped. No wonder he was considered a rake – he was married!

Jane felt completely dirty when she’d realised that she’d ever been attracted to him. An adulterous man didn’t deserve anything.

She handed him the letter and gave him a dirty look. “Think of your wife next time you try to seduce anyone,” she hissed angrily.

Daniel’s brown eyes darkened completely. He snarled at her, truly looking at her hatefully. “I do nothing but think of her,” he snapped. “And try not to be such a nosy chit. My mail is private.”

Jane huffed and pushed past him, not caring whether it made her look rude her not. Nothing infuriated her more than adultery. It disgusted her. Daniel disgusted her. She made her way out to the carriage to where Emilia was standing, waiting for her.

“Are you alright?” she asked suddenly as she saw Jane’s angry expression.

“I just ran into our friend, Lord Southerby,” Jane said sourly. “He was carrying a letter addressed to his wife. How could he be such a rake when he is married?” she exclaimed as she climbed into the carriage. She sat on one side next to Emilia while the three girls sat on the other side looking at their mother and aunt with confused expressions.

“It might surprise you, Janey, but not many men in the ton can boast faithful marriages,” Emilia sighed.

“Then why do they marry? You and Sebastian have a faithful marriage!” she pointed out.

“Sebastian and I are lucky, one in a million almost. It doesn’t happen very often. They marry for money. Seeing at Lord Southerby is so rich I’m sure he married his wife for her looks and they’ve probably dwindled over the years and he’s gotten tired of her.”

“I’m not going to get married, mama,” Little J said proudly. “I’m going to stay with you and papa forever and read every book in the library!”

Emilia smiled contently. “I hope you do, darling.”

“Don’t be stupid, Little J, of course you’re going to get married!” Kitty giggled.

“Kitty, don’t use such horrible language!” Emilia scolded.

“But mama, Little J says she’s never getting married!” Kitty pointed out.

“Little J will change her mind a thousand times about her opinion on marriage before she has her first season. It is not your job to tell her what to do.”

Kitty pouted and stared out the window in her loss. Little J smiled contently at her mother and took a hold of Annie’s hand.

Emilia looked at Jane. “Do you see? One in a million.”

Jane nodded and smiled at her three little nieces. She hoped that Sabine Winchester had children so that she was not alone in her marriage to Daniel. Her thoughts immediately went to Emilia’s first marriage. Vincent had strayed because Emilia could not give him a son. It turned out that Vincent was the one who was infertile but he had still punished Emilia for it.

Jane would never forget climbing the stairs in her Yorkshire cottage and seeing Emilia’s scars when she was undressed. Those jagged lines and burns would be forever etched into her mind. She prayed that Sabine was not like that. Hopefully betrayal would be the only thing she would endure.

Jane knew of one thing for sure. She would spend the rest of her season detesting Daniel Winchester. The man was bad, in every way imaginable.

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Sorry this one's so short - the next one will be longer, I promise :)

So please, vote and comment if you enjoyed it!!

Next chapter we'll see an apology - from who I wonder?