Read Just Jane for Free Online Page B

injured and went to the hospital to be treated by Sir Richard Pearson.”
    “Mary’s father?” our father asks.
    “The very same.”
    I try to arrange the facts without interrupting. Mother was talking about the father of our Henry’s fiancée, Mary Pearson?
    Mother continues. “The soldier heard Mary’s father say that his daughter was no longer engaged to our Henry.”
    “What?”
    Mother raises a hand, stopping our questions. “In fact, Henry has married someone else.”
    This time, she pauses and allows our questions.
    “Who, Mother, who?” asks Cassandra.
    She shakes her head. “You will never believe it.”
    “Mother!”
    Father takes a step toward her. “Yes, my dear. Enough playing with our emotions.”
    “Eliza!” she says. “Henry has married our Eliza!”
    The next few moments hang in silence but are soon filled with questions.
    “But Eliza spurned Henry years ago, and then she spurned James, and—”
    “Yes, yes, but now they are married! At Marylebone Church on December thirty-first.”
    Cassandra takes a seat on the settee and I join her. “Oh, poor Mary. She must be crushed.”
    Mother shrugs. “I made the same comment to Mrs. Newcombe, but apparently, Sir Richard implied that it was accomplished with fairly little distress.”
    “And Eliza does have her own income,” says Father. “I used to be trustee of her wealth, but just six months ago she had her assets put directly into her control.”
    “Was she planning this even then?” I ask.
    “I would not doubt it,” says Mother. “Although we love Eliza, we are all aware of her penchant for taking control.”
    I think of my brother, think of his having such a wife. “How will she adjust to having Henry control—?”
    Mother laughs. “Our Henry does not control his own life well, much less the life of a wife with a son. I believe he may do best with a wife who takes control.”
    Eliza, our independent, headstrong cousin . . . used to getting her own way. How did she manage this? “But Henry is stationed in Yarmouth, and Eliza lives in London. How did they—?”
    “Apparently Eliza took little Hastings to Lowestoft for his health.”
    I must laugh. “And for her own purposes.”
    Another shrug from Mother. And truth tell, perhaps she is right. Does it matter if Eliza set her store on Henry and pursued him? Perhaps she heard about his engagement to Mary and the thought of losing him to another . . . Yes, yes, that would motivate Eliza to action. Plus the fact that Henry has given up all thoughts of joining the church and is now earning a good income as a Captain Paymaster. His income combined with hers . . . and Eliza still holds hope that she will someday receive her proper inheritance from France should that country ever return to normalcy. Yes, indeed, together they can lead the high life which is their preference.
    “But why didn’t he tell us?” asks Cassandra.
    I also admit my hurt, for Henry is my favourite brother, and the bond we have . . . I thought he would have told me.
    “They are probably on a wedding trip,” says Mother. “He will tell us. I know he will.”
    “And we will be happy,” Father says. It is not a question.
    With the slightest hesitation, we all nod. Yes, we will be happy. We are happy. And though surprised, not shocked. Of all the people in our lives, such actions might be expected of Eliza and Henry.
    Now . . . if only my Tom would be so bold . . . .
    *****
    I must thank Eliza and Henry for their help. Although they don’t realize they have helped me by simply being themselves, they have.
    I am working on Elinor and Marianne and have been inspired by the real-life intrigue of Eliza’s courtship of Henry, then James, then Henry again. In my story I have a character named Lucy Steele. What if she were engaged to one man—to Edward Ferras—yet ended up marrying his brother?
    I dip my quill in the ink. Yes indeed. Thank you, Eliza and Henry.

Five
    Off to Godmersham to witness my