the event, it was Jessie herself who raised the matter. ‘I suppose you must be wondering why I fled the breakfast-table this morning,’ she said.
‘It seemed to me that you left just after my godmother spoke about Lord Ashbourne,’ Eustacia replied. They were walking down the drive, making the most of the sunny day. Eustacia,dressed as usual by Trixie, was in a dark pink gown, set off handsomely by dove grey gloves and kid boots, and a charming bonnet with pink flowers and pink and grey striped ribbons. Jessie, in a mustard-coloured gown with a plain bonnet, managed to look several years older than she really was.
‘You must think me such a fool,’ Jessie said, after they had walked along in silence for a short time.
‘Of course I don’t,’ replied Eustacia without hesitation. The other woman’s gentle kindness had won her heart almost from the very first. It made a welcome change to Lady Hope’s imperious conviction that she must know best for everyone, and Lady Agatha’s inclination to make use of other people quite shamelessly in order to further her schemes, and to discount any concerns that did not affect herself.
‘Well I do,’ Jessie replied frankly. ‘I have told myself time out of mind what a fool I am, but it does not seem to make any difference , I’m afraid.’
‘Have you known the family for long?’ Eustacia asked her.
Jessie nodded. ‘Mama and Lady Agatha were friends for years. My father was a squire with a small income, but he wasn’t very wise with his money, I fear. After he died, Mama and I were left without a home, so Lady Agatha persuaded Lord Ashbourne – the present Lord Ashbourne’s father – to provide us with a cottage on his estate and somehow we managed. Mama was ill for some years before she died, and I looked after her. Then after her death eight years ago, Lady Agatha invited me to come and live with her.’
‘Is Lord Ashbourne like his sister?’ Eustacia asked.
‘A little,’ replied Jessie.
‘Is he handsome?’
‘Yes, he’s very handsome,’ answered Jessie wearily. ‘Handsome and wicked and careless, and he’s never cast so much as a glance my way. Perhaps if I met him every day, I would get used to him. If I never saw him at all, that would be even better; but I see him just enough to keep him in my mind.’
‘Forgive me for asking,’ said Eustacia tentatively, ‘but surely Lord Ashbourne must be a married man.’
‘He is a widower,’ answered Jessie. ‘His wife died giving birth to his only son. Ilam was brought up chiefly by a local farmer’s family. Ashbourne has been kicking over the traces ever since. Mercifully his fortune is immense, or he would have run through it years ago.’
‘Have you never thought of anyone else?’ Eustacia asked curiously .
‘Not really,’ replied Jessie simply. ‘However, it may be that that situation could be on the point of changing.’
Eustacia remembered her godmother speaking about the curate, Henry Lusty. Could it be that Jessie was considering encouraging his suit?
By now, they were walking along the main street. Eustacia and Trixie had travelled the other way down it when they had first arrived in the village. Now, the two ladies strolled up the gentle incline. As they reached the gates of Illingham Hall, Jessie said impulsively, ‘Would you like to see Ashbourne’s portrait? There is one inside.’
‘Would it be allowed?’ Eustacia asked.
‘The housekeeper likes showing people around,’ Jessie told her.
‘What about Lord Ilam?’
‘He would not mind. In any case, he is from home.’
‘Is he gambling in Italy with his father?’ Eustacia asked, remembering her mother saying that he might be a rake as well.
‘Oh no,’ replied Jessie positively. ‘He and his father are not upon good terms. Shall we go in?’
Eustacia allowed herself to be persuaded. In truth, she was feeling rather curious about Lord Ashbourne. Her mother had warned her about this notorious rake before she had
‘It seemed to me that you left just after my godmother spoke about Lord Ashbourne,’ Eustacia replied. They were walking down the drive, making the most of the sunny day. Eustacia,dressed as usual by Trixie, was in a dark pink gown, set off handsomely by dove grey gloves and kid boots, and a charming bonnet with pink flowers and pink and grey striped ribbons. Jessie, in a mustard-coloured gown with a plain bonnet, managed to look several years older than she really was.
‘You must think me such a fool,’ Jessie said, after they had walked along in silence for a short time.
‘Of course I don’t,’ replied Eustacia without hesitation. The other woman’s gentle kindness had won her heart almost from the very first. It made a welcome change to Lady Hope’s imperious conviction that she must know best for everyone, and Lady Agatha’s inclination to make use of other people quite shamelessly in order to further her schemes, and to discount any concerns that did not affect herself.
‘Well I do,’ Jessie replied frankly. ‘I have told myself time out of mind what a fool I am, but it does not seem to make any difference , I’m afraid.’
‘Have you known the family for long?’ Eustacia asked her.
Jessie nodded. ‘Mama and Lady Agatha were friends for years. My father was a squire with a small income, but he wasn’t very wise with his money, I fear. After he died, Mama and I were left without a home, so Lady Agatha persuaded Lord Ashbourne – the present Lord Ashbourne’s father – to provide us with a cottage on his estate and somehow we managed. Mama was ill for some years before she died, and I looked after her. Then after her death eight years ago, Lady Agatha invited me to come and live with her.’
‘Is Lord Ashbourne like his sister?’ Eustacia asked.
‘A little,’ replied Jessie.
‘Is he handsome?’
‘Yes, he’s very handsome,’ answered Jessie wearily. ‘Handsome and wicked and careless, and he’s never cast so much as a glance my way. Perhaps if I met him every day, I would get used to him. If I never saw him at all, that would be even better; but I see him just enough to keep him in my mind.’
‘Forgive me for asking,’ said Eustacia tentatively, ‘but surely Lord Ashbourne must be a married man.’
‘He is a widower,’ answered Jessie. ‘His wife died giving birth to his only son. Ilam was brought up chiefly by a local farmer’s family. Ashbourne has been kicking over the traces ever since. Mercifully his fortune is immense, or he would have run through it years ago.’
‘Have you never thought of anyone else?’ Eustacia asked curiously .
‘Not really,’ replied Jessie simply. ‘However, it may be that that situation could be on the point of changing.’
Eustacia remembered her godmother speaking about the curate, Henry Lusty. Could it be that Jessie was considering encouraging his suit?
By now, they were walking along the main street. Eustacia and Trixie had travelled the other way down it when they had first arrived in the village. Now, the two ladies strolled up the gentle incline. As they reached the gates of Illingham Hall, Jessie said impulsively, ‘Would you like to see Ashbourne’s portrait? There is one inside.’
‘Would it be allowed?’ Eustacia asked.
‘The housekeeper likes showing people around,’ Jessie told her.
‘What about Lord Ilam?’
‘He would not mind. In any case, he is from home.’
‘Is he gambling in Italy with his father?’ Eustacia asked, remembering her mother saying that he might be a rake as well.
‘Oh no,’ replied Jessie positively. ‘He and his father are not upon good terms. Shall we go in?’
Eustacia allowed herself to be persuaded. In truth, she was feeling rather curious about Lord Ashbourne. Her mother had warned her about this notorious rake before she had
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