Page 42 of The Favourite

Well, there could be no question where Beth’s loyalties lay, Jane thought. It was strange to think that Beth was, in all probability, a blood cousin of hers, and a first one at that for all it was the wrong side of the blanket. Not that such a thing would ever be acknowledged.

Still, if her uncle troubled himself to lift a finger for her, he must believe Beth was his natural daughter. He just was not the philanthropic kind. Jane could not help but feel it was a little ominous that he had placed his daughter in Helen’s household, but after all, was it so very odd? Men seemed to have decidedly odd views concerning the provision for their bastard, only consider the King.

“How is it that Sir Phillip did not inherit your father’s title on his death?” Alisander asked lazily as he spooned honey onto his piece of bread.

It took Jane a moment to realize he was now addressing her, not Beth. “My father?”

“Your father was an earl, was he not?”

“I—yes he was,” she agreed slowly, “but it was not a long-held family title. He was awarded the honor after the late war when he retrieved the King’s standard at the Battle of Hollingbrook. He only held it for five years before his death. He was the first Earl Cecil, and on his death, the King repealed the title.”

Beth gave a little cry, and they both turned to look at her. Her face flamed. “That—is that true, my lady?” she stammered, looking intently at Jane.

“Yes,” Jane replied, feeling rather surprised by such a strong reaction. Beth was usually so discreet and did not usually thrust herself into a conversation like that. “The King allowed that my sister and I could continue to be styled as ladies, but as my father had no son …” She shrugged. “There was no grand estate attached to the title, after all, and no lands. Uncle Phillip took no part in the war, and apparently, the King did not see why the title should fall to him.”

Beth looked stunned and stared down at her hands a moment before mumbling, “He always made out he was cheated of his birthright! Sir Philip, I mean.”

“Oh, I am sure he did,” Alisander drawled. “That will be all for now, Beth.” The girl nodded and tottered from the room, looking a shadow of her usual efficient self.

“Is it not a strange thing for my uncle to do?” Jane asked. “Setting his own illegitimate child, brought up a servant, to watch his niece’s child, also born out of wedlock, raised with every luxury?”

Alisander did not seem unduly perturbed at the notion. Maybe it was just her who thought it more than just a little cruel. “Sir Phillip does not seem to me a sensitive man,” he said mildly, placing the bread he had prepared onto her own plate. He sat back, sucking the honey from his fingertips.

“Er, no, he is not,” Jane agreed, trying not to stare. So unnerved was she, that she picked up the bread without arguing. “My mother never said anything about him resenting the fact he never inherited my father’s title, though.”

“Would you say your mother was a perceptive woman?”

Jane thought of her mother’s admittedly narrow outlook on life. “No,” she answered hollowly.

Alisander shrugged. “Well, there you are then.” Jane lowered her eyes and sat a moment in silence while her thoughts raced. “Eat your bread and honey,” he prompted.

Unsure what else to do, Jane did so. When she had finished it, he leaned forward.

“I have been thinking. We should go together to greet our daughter before we return.”

“Return?”

“To court, I mean.”

“Return to court?” Jane repeated, sitting up in her seat. “But my lord! We—we have scarce arrived!”

He looked bewildered. “Jane, surely you cannot want to remain here, languishing so far from Aphrany. “Now we have ousted your wicked uncle—”

“Ousted?”

“Oh, have you not heard? He left in the night.”

“He left?” Jane was astonished. She had expected Sir Phillip to put up more of a fight than that.

“He did. And, as I say, now he is gone, there seems precious little reason for us to tarry. I do not hunt. I do not hawk. I do not even ride, without a specific destination in mind. I have never seen the point of riding hither and thither about the place. Therefore, I can see no appeal in the country.” He rose from his seat. “Why should we not return?” he persisted, making for the fireplace and standing there with one hand against the mantel. “There is nothing left for us to do now we have set things to rights here.”

“Set things to rights?” Jane echoed incredulously, standing from her bench and regarding him with open amazement. “You have dismissed almost all the staff!”

“None that will be missed,” he claimed airily. “In any case, my dear, they were hardly old retainers. The place can run just as well without them. Now we are rid of the usurper, I say we can leave with clear consciences.” Jane hesitated and he crossed his arms across his chest. “What?” he asked mockingly. “Come, let me hear your list of objections.”

“Celestia,” she said, lifting her chin.

“What of her? By the way, I looked in on her last night at one point. I could not sleep,” he said, noticing her start of surprise. “She is a puny thing and unlikely to cause much bother. If you will not leave her, then you must simply bring her with us.” At her astonished reaction, he added, “I do not mean to tear her from your arms if that was what you were thinking. I’m not a monster. Now that you have explained your maternal feelings on the matter, I am quite willing to compromise.”