of disguising it with ribbon. I am unpicking the skirt now.’
‘It was very naughty of her to blame you. I am sure she will apologise when she wakes up.’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘Jane, are you very unhappy?’
‘Unhappy, Mama, what makes you think that?’
‘I thought perhaps the arrival of Mr Ashton might have cast you in the suds.’
Jane managed to laugh. ‘After ten years, Mama? Certainly not.’
‘I am glad. I know he is now wealthy and sure of himself, but his wealth has come from trade; he is still not a gentleman, nor ever can be.’
‘Not in the sense you mean it, Mama, but gentlemanly behaviour and good manners can be learned and I doubt Mr Ashton’s antecedents, or lack of them, will make him any less popular in the ton.’
‘So, you do still have feelings for him?’
‘No, Mama, I do not. I was simply trying to be fair to him.’ She realised suddenly that what she had said was true. It was not Andrew Ashton who disturbed her heart, but someone much closer to home.
‘It is so like you to see the good in everyone, Jane. But if it is not Mr Ashton, what is troubling you?’
‘It is Isabel. She seems not to be able to look beyond the wedding day itself and I am afraid she is in for a rude awakening.’
‘I cannot think why. Mark is the best of men, he can be relied upon to do his best to make her happy. You must not begrudge her her day, just because...’ Her ladyship stopped in mid-sentence.
‘Because I will never have one of my own, is that what you were going to say, Mama? Do not think it. I do not. I am content with my life as it is.’
‘But every young lady dreams of being married.’
‘Not every young lady, Mama.’ She was firm on that score, as much to convince herself as her mother.
‘You are a good daughter and a good sister, Jane. I would not change you for the world. Teddy tells me you are going to help him out of the coil he is in, since his papa will not, in spite of my pleading.’
‘I didn’t exactly say I would, I said I would think about it. It will take all of Aunt Matilda’s bequest and I so wanted to use it for my orphanage.’
‘Papa will make it up to you, when he has calmed down, I am sure.’ She watched as Jane detached the stained skirt panel and set it aside. ‘Now, put that away and come downstairs for nuncheon. I have no doubt the gentlemen will be back later this afternoon and we must offer our excuses for Isabel and make little of this morning’s episode.’
* * *
Jane had done as she was bid and was back at her sewing in the parlour while her mother finished off the invitations when Mark and Drew returned.
‘Forgive me for returning so soon,’ Mark said, bowing to her ladyship. ‘But I was concerned for Isabel. She was so distraught, I feared she was going to make herself ill.’
‘It was the shock of seeing the ink on her lovely wedding gown,’ her ladyship told him, beckoning the young men to be seated and instructing the maid to bring refreshments. ‘She is calm again now that she knows Jane can put it right.’
‘I am working on it now,’ Jane said. ‘I am hopeful that no one will ever know it has been altered.’
‘Dear Jane,’ Mark said. ‘So dependable, so calm in a crisis. We are indebted to you.’
Jane felt the colour flood her face. ‘You are a flatterer, sir. I beg you to desist. I only do what any sister would do.’
‘That is for others to judge.’ To have calmly said she would rescue the gown after Isabel herself had spoiled it and blamed her for it was unselfish to a degree. Isabel had not bothered to lower her voice and it had carried clearly as they were leaving. Delightful Isabel might be, delightful and beautiful, but she also had a fiery temperament, which took no account of other people’s feelings. Yet Jane was always thinking of other people before herself. Why was he comparing them? He had been doing too much of that lately and it did not bode well.
‘I had better put this away.’ She folded the gown in its tissue and laid it to one side. ‘Now we can have tea without fear of another spillage.’
‘How did it happen?’ Drew spoke for the first time.
‘Isabel is convinced that it is unlucky for the bridegroom to see the wedding dress before the bride joins him at the altar. She was in haste to have it out of sight before you were shown in and so managed to overturn the ink bottle.’
‘I thought it might be that,’ he said. ‘I am glad the gown is not ruined, but I brought this for your sister in the hope it might make up a little for her loss.’ He picked up the brown paper parcel he had been holding on his knee and handed it to Lady Cavenhurst. ‘If you would be so kind as to allow her to accept it?’
‘What is it?’ her ladyship asked, a little doubtfully.
‘It is nothing very much, my lady. A length of silk for a sari. Miss Isabel expressed an interest last evening. If she does not wish to use it as a sari, I believe there is enough material to make a gown. Call it a wedding present.’
‘How very kind of you.’ Her ladyship unwrapped the parcel to find a length of silk in a deep pink that was very similar to that of the wedding gown. There was yards and yards of it but, because it was so fine, it could be folded into a very small parcel.
‘It is beautiful,’ Jane said, reaching forward to touch it. ‘Isabel will be thrilled with it. Mark, what do you say?’
‘Oh, undoubtedly,’ he answered.
‘I brought it from India,’ Drew said. ‘Not only that one, but several others. When I knew I was coming here, I put them in my baggage as gifts for the ladies.’ He grinned suddenly. ‘It is good business, you know. The ladies wear gowns made of the silk and when they are asked where they came by them, they refer to me. I chose that one for Miss Isabel because I noticed the colour of the one that had been spoiled.’
‘How thoughtful of you,’ murmured Lady Cavenhurst. ‘And if Mark has no objection, I will make sure she has it.’
‘I have no objection, why should I?’ Mark said. ‘Drew has already presented my mother with one.’
‘Would you care for one, Lady Cavenhurst?’ Drew asked.
‘That is very kind of you, sir, but I think not. I do not have the figure for such a thing.’
‘As you wish.’ He turned to Jane. ‘What about you, Miss Cavenhurst? Would you like one?’
‘As Mama said, it is very kind of you, but I could not possibly accept such a gift. It is enough that you have promised to donate to my orphan charity.’ It was the answer expected of an unmarried lady, but she could not help feeling a pang of disappointment. She had never seen or touched so fine a fabric.
Isabel,
