Page 50 of The Favourite

Beth had looked startled at the mention of Celestia, but she seemed relieved to hear Ayleth’s presence would soon be removed. Happily abandoning her own packing, she assured Jane she would start on hers.

As for Jane, she squared her shoulders and continued along the narrow passage to inform Ayleth of the change in her circumstances. To her surprise, the old servant took the news without protest. “After all, what difference does it make? There is nothing here for me now,” she muttered bleakly. “How long do I have before we leave?”

“Not more than above a couple of hours,” Jane replied, thinking of how fast things were progressing.

“I will spend that time at my lady’s graveside,” Ayleth pronounced, lifting her chin.

“You may spend it however you see fit, so long as you are ready for departure by three o’clock.”

The servant nodded and stood, and Jane turned on her heel to start her own preparations for departure.

*

Jane’s head was still in a spin when she joined the others in the courtyard a couple of hours later. Their packing had been rushed and she felt rather flustered. Davis was loading her trunk into the second wagon. “Your man Davis is fully recovered, then?” she asked, turning toward Alisander.

“Oh, yes; he is a stout, dependable fellow. He will drive Anne, Ayleth, and the children to Aphrany in the second carriage.”

Jane shot a look at Ayleth, who was glowering at this news. “Perhaps—”

“I would caution you,” he said, catching her elbow and whisking her a few steps away, “to think before you give utterance to that thought, Jane.”

She looked up at him in surprise. “It is only that Ayleth will not be merry company for Anne, and she is so very excited for the journey,” she hissed.

“Well, neither would Ayleth be merry company for us,” he pronounced, “and I for one have no intention of sacrificing my own comfort for your sour-faced maid.”

Jane eyed him impatiently. He did not even trouble to lower his voice. Then again, he was at least honest about his selfishness. She glanced over at Anne, who was watching proceedings with interest, Celestia cradled in her arms, while Beth stood beside her with Bertrand. Both babies were bundled up warmly and seemed to be currently sleeping.

“Well, in that case,” she began, “perhaps—”

“If you are fondly imagining those infants will continue in such seraphic silence for the five-hour journey, you are much mistaken,” he warned her, a note of finality in his voice.

“It is just that, well, we will be passing through that wooded area again on our way back, and—”

“My dear Jane, it is broad daylight. We will hardly be set upon by villains at this hour.”

“Oh, very well!” Jane gave up. “Seeing as you are determined to think only of yourself, my lord!”

“I am,” he agreed. “It is my habit and an excellent one. You should try it.”

“Women are not raised to think thus. Such thought is discouraged in our sex as unnatural.”

He cast her a surprised look. “Yes, I suppose that is true,” he remarked, ushering her toward their own carriage. “However, as my wife, I would encourage you to break with such conventional thinking. I will certainly not encourage it in our daughter. Climb aboard, Lady Bardulf,” he recommended as Jane halted on the step, quite astonished by his words.

“You seem stunned,” he commented as she clambered into the carriage.

Jane lowered herself onto the seat. “I never supposed that you—well, that you—”

“Would have views on how my daughter should be raised?” he asked, climbing in behind her. He reached for the blankets at once. “But of course, I do,” he asserted coolly. “She will bear my name, and possibly even my title in the future. I will have the liveliest interest in her upbringing.”

Jane sat in silence as he tucked the blanket about her legs and waist. “I see,” she said, rousing herself at last.

“I am sure between us that we will do a tolerable job of raising her,” he said blandly.

“It is a shame she will have no cousins, aunts, or uncles,” Jane commented as the carriage gave a jolt and they started forward, “due to our own lack of siblings.”

“That might be a blessing in disguise,” he retorted. “At least she will not be burdened with the likes of Uncle Humphrey.”

“He was not all bad,” Jane insisted, feeling uneasy now that she had maligned her departed kinsman to him.