Anne Herries - Marianne and the Marquis

‘Perhaps he does not care much for money?’

‘He is not married,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘I asked him once why he had not taken a wife and he said that he could not afford it…’ She wrinkled her brow. ‘I have wondered if he has been blighted in love at some time…’

Marianne was about to reply when the companion walked into the room. Clearly Jane had not taken the doctor’s offer to examine her, for she had not been absent long enough. However, she was looking a little happier, and the colour had come back to her cheeks.

‘Are you feeling better?’ Marianne asked.

‘Oh…’ Jane blushed. ‘It was just a little headache and I am quite sure it will go very soon. Indeed, it has eased a little already.’

‘If you have a headache, you must go and lie down until dinner,’ Lady Edgeworthy told her. ‘No, I insist, Jane. If you are no better at dinner, I shall have Miss Rudge make up a tisane for you.’

Jane got to her feet and left the room at once.

‘She is such a foolish little thing,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘Why would she not let Dr Thompson help her?’

‘I cannot say,’ Marianne said, but she was thoughtful. ‘I think I shall go into the village in the morning, Aunt Bertha. I have written a letter for Mama and I wish to take it to the receiving office so that it may go on the mail coach.’

‘One of the servants can take it for you, my dear.’

‘I should like to go myself, if you do not need me for a few hours?’

‘I did not ask you here to dance attendance on me every moment,’ her great-aunt said. ‘Of course you may go—but take one of the maids with you if you wish. I do not think you will come to harm, but there is a market on Saturdays, and you never know who may be there.’

‘Thank you,’ Marianne said and got up to kiss her cheek. ‘I think I shall go up to change and write a short note to Jo to go with Mama’s letter—and to Lucy, of course, for she must not be left out.’ She smiled as she thought of her sisters and wondered what they were doing at home. She knew that Lucy would be missing her, for they had never before been apart, but Jo would keep her busy and not let her fall into too many daydreams.

She was thoughtful as she left her great-aunt and walked up the stairs. Jane had been very quiet, and she had gone quite pale for a while. Had she been upset because the doctor had paid some attention to Marianne?

No, surely that was wrong? Why should such a little thing upset Jane? Unless…she had a secret passion for the good doctor?

It seemed ridiculous at first, for Jane must be a few years older than Dr Thompson, who was no more than thirty or so—and yet she had seen something in Jane’s eyes. She had been much happier when she returned from escorting him to the door…

Was it possible that they had an understanding? Jane might have thought she was about to lose him to a younger woman…which was quite foolish, of course. Marianne would not have encouraged him had he shown an interest, which he had not. She had merely been interested in what he had to say about the social conditions of the area. Jane could not have known that, of course, and she might have thought Marianne was concerned to attract his attention.

If Jane cared for the doctor, why had she not mentioned her feelings to her employer? Some employers did not encourage their staff to have followers, of course. Perhaps Jane thought she might be turned off if she allowed her partiality to show? And Lady Edgeworthy had just told Marianne that the doctor could not afford to marry…

Supposing that the legacies they had been left would enable them to marry? Marianne paused on the stairs as the awful thought struck her. Would they plot together to murder Lady Edgeworthy, knowing that the money she had left to them as individuals would be quite substantial when put together?

The possibility put a different complexion on the matter and was chilling. Marianne shivered, feeling suddenly cold all over. She had not believed that Jane was capable of such a thing…but a woman might do anything for the love of a man.

Without the means to marry, Jane was condemned to a life as companion to her employer. Lady Edgeworthy was kind to her, but others might not be in the future, and the legacy might not be enough to enable her to live comfortably without seeking further employment should Lady Edgeworthy die. Besides, if she was in love[ ]Marianne did not wish to think ill of either Jane or the doctor, but it now seemed that she must consider them as possible culprits, and as yet she had not met Mr Joshua Hambleton.

Of course there was also the mysterious tenant at the house on the cliffs. She had seen him from a distance several times as she was walking about the estate, although as yet they had not come face to face. Quite often she would turn and see him staring in her direction, and she had wondered if he was following her—but why should he be? Besides, he had only recently taken up residence and had not been here when her great-aunt’s medicine had been tampered with….

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.