Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor (31 page)

Crow conducted us through a passage so dark and narrow, it barely permitted the span of Mr. Cranley's shoulders, and as the walls were damp with mould, I feared for the barrister's good wool coat. Our guide's taper cast flickering shadows as he progressed before us, as comfortable with his lot as one of the Duchess of Wilborough's footmen. We mounted stairs, and followed still more endless corridors, and glimpsed leering faces from occasional barred doors; a fearful babble assailed our ears, part moan, part feverish talk, part muttered curse.

Our guide stopped short before a door, the taper making a grotesquerie of his bulbous nose and thatch of greasy hair. He fumbled at the waists of his many pairs of breeches, and came up with a large key; which, fitted into the lock, succeeded in turning the bolt. I peered timidly about me. Could Isobel really be lodged within?

She was.

Crow threw wide the heavy door and preceded us into the chamber, his face set in a lascivious grin; and upon following Mr. Cranley across the threshold, I quickly perceived the reason.

All manner of strumpet and pickpocket and gypsy beggar were housed within the room—women blowsy and ragged, tall and short, comely and fearsome to look upon. Some seven were confined together in a space perhaps fifteen feet square; they huddled upon the ground in attitudes of dejection, or stood brazenly in groups, conversing with as much ease as though walking the Strand of a Saturday afternoon. One of these last, a snaggle-toothed hag, sallied up to Crow and ran her fingers through his dirty locks, with a leer to match his own.

“Eh, luv,” she cackled, “whattuv you brought us tidday? Summat nice?”

“Leave off, Nance,” the gaoler said, thrusting her backwards with a cuff to the head; “I've business with the lady.”

“The
lady
, is it? Ho
ho.”
Nance ran her eyes the length of my gown, with remarkable impertinence for one of her station, and spat upon the ground.
“That's
for ladies, that is.”

Mr. Cranley offered the protection of his arm, and led me to a door in the far wall opening into another chamber. There, in a darkened, corner, I discovered the Countess. Isobel sat upon the ground, her arms hugging her breast, as though that pitiful gesture might offer some protection from the nightmare of her circumstance; she raised a face suffused with dumb suffering at our approach, and her brown eyes widened with horror.

“Jane!” she whispered hoarsely. “How come you to be here? And witnessing my shame!” She looked wildly about, and struggled to her feet, as if to fly from our sight.

“My dear girl,” I said affectionately, taking both her hands in mine, “I see no shame, only great forbearance in the midst of so much misfortune. Your courage is a credit to your name, Isobel—your friends can only honour you.”

“One friend, at least, I have,” she cried, and gripped me in a fierce embrace. Mr. Cranley shut the door of Isobel's cell upon Nance and her confederates, then hovered on the periphery, his eyes averted, until recalled to attention by the Countess's hand.

“And you, Mr. Cranley,” she said, in a softened tone; “most excellent of barristers, and a true gentleman. I am fortunate, indeed, in
your
friendship. But you seem distressed, good sir.”

“I am only outraged, my lady,” Mr. Cranley said, “in witnessing your continued degradation. I had ordered Snatch to obtain more suitable lodgings for you, and the man has expressly violated the terms of our agreement.”

Isobel looked away, and raised a hand to her eyes; then faced us with better composure. “I believe the man Crow is incapable of honour, Mr. Cranley. You are well advised to bargain with his superiors, if you wish to waste your coin. But do not concern yourself with me. I care little for
which
room in hell I may call my own; none is likely to offer comfort.”

I surveyed the Countess with profound emotion, unwilling to imagine the trials she had already undergone. Her simple dress of black wool was soiled and torn; whose hands had offended her person I could readily guess, having viewed the gauntlet of her cellmates. Her hair was tangled and dirty, and a fearful smell emanated from the folds of her clothes. She was sunk indeed from the wealth and consequence that had been hers but a few weeks before. I embraced her again, overcome with pity.

“I fear we cannot remain much longer, Miss Austen,” Mr. Cranley said gently.

“Isobel,” I said, “we will have you out of this fearsome place, with your innocence proved and your good name restored. Never doubt that all our benevolence is active on your behalf. Let hope sustain you in this, your darkest hour; we shall see you freed, and Fitzroy Payne with you.”

“Do not speak his name, Jane. I wish never to hear it again.”

I gazed at her averted face and bitter eyes, profoundly disturbed. What fury is love that believes itself betrayed!

“I shall be very much surprised, Isobel, to discover him anything but as innocent as yourself; and in time, you may find in that as much hope as for your own cause.”

She bit her lip, and turned to me with emotion. At a nod from Mr. Cranley, I reluctantly released her; but remembered to press upon my friend the book I had fetched at the very carriage door. It was my most treasured novel—
Cecilia
, by Miss Fanny Burney—as certain a mental diversion as one could find, in so terrible a place. But Isobel refused it, with an eye to the women beyond her door, and the treacherous Crow.

“Do you keep it safe, dear Jane,” she told me softly. “I shall hope to enjoy its delights in a better time.”

“
MR. CRANLEY,” I SAID THOUGHTFULLY, WHEN CROW HAD
led us to the street, “we must endeavour to find a reason for the Countess to hope.”

“I agree, Miss Austen. But whence that hope might spring, I cannot say.”

“A renewed faith in the Earl might engender it. Did the Countess think his soul less black, she might suffer less despair.”

Mr. Cranley helped me into his carriage, and stood by the door; and I understood then he would not accompany me on my return to Scargrave House.

“You must descend once more into that hell?” I enquired, in some distress.

“I must meet with the Earl, Miss Austen; and no lady may be permitted in a cell such as his,” the barrister replied grimly. “I fear I have some business with the prison's governor as well, if I can but persuade him to hear me. The Countess and the Earl must be moved to more decent rooms, though a fortune be spent to achieve it.”

“You are goodness itself.”

“I only do what is required—what any gentleman of feeling would do.”

“Most
gentlemen of feeling
would hardly think a month's ablutions enough to rid them of Newgate's stains,” I replied dryly. “I remain convinced of your worth, my dear sir.”

He inclined his head, somewhat embarrassed, and I moved on with energy to my more important purpose. “Mr. Cranley,” I said, “when you speak with Fitzroy Payne, do you enquire as to his methods of correspondence.”

“His methods?”

“Indeed—what records of letters sent and received he may retain; whether he logs his postage; and particularly enquire if he makes copies of those missives he writes.”

Comprehension dawned upon the barrister's face. “You think of the scrap found in the maid's bodice.”

I nodded. “Could we but show that paper to have been taken from some part of the Earl's correspondence, his guilt in having written it might seem less heavy. For any might have sent the note to Marguerite. It cannot be proved that the Earl did so. What indicts him is his hand; the writing is surely his. We must endeavour to show that it was intended for another, and appeared upon the maid only by misadventure.”

The light in Mr. Cranley's eyes was enough to satisfy me; that we should soon know all we must about Fitzroy Payne's business, I little doubted, and rejoiced in the excellent understanding of Isobel's defender.

Later that day

˜

I
I WAS TREATED AFTER DINNER TO AN EXTRAORDINARY IN
-terview with Miss Fanny Delahoussaye, and am so far from understanding what it may mean, that I write down the essence of it, in the hopes that by so doing, I may better comprehend it.

I had retired to the pianoforte, in an effort to improve my mastery of Mr. Haydn's airs, and reflect upon all that has occurred, when I was surprised by Miss Delahoussaye's appearance at my side. A band of jet beads was drawn across her brow, with a plume behind, and she was resplendent in a dinner gown of black sarcenet. I knew that she looked forward eagerly to her visit on the morrow to Madame Henri's, that breathlessly fashionable
modiste
of Bond Street, and assumed that she wished to bend my ear, the better to glory in her good fortune.

“Miss Austen,” said she, in a far warmer accent than has distinguished our acquaintance thus far, “may I persuade you to take a turn about the Orangerie? I do not believe you have yet viewed its delights. In such a season as this, when the streets are impassable, a greenhouse must be preferred above all other amusement. I am sure you should like it of all things.”

I saw no reason to hold myself aloof, and gladly consented. The Orangerie was a folly of the sixth Earl, the late Lord Scargrave's father, whose wife was French; he is said to have drawn the structure from the likeness of one on the grounds of Versailles, before that noble palace's destruction at the hands of the French rabble. A quantity and variety of plants are grown in its hothouse atmosphere, such as are rarely met with. The late Earl shared in his father's interest, botany being yet another of his passions; no plant was too costly or too rare for his procuring.

“Mr. Cranley seems a respectable sort of fellow, for a barrister,” Fanny began, as we strolled the moist aisles, smelling of green; “you might almost set your cap at him, had you sufficient time, Miss Austen. His profession is not abhorrent to
you
, and his prospects must be declared quite good—at least, for one of your—that is, quite good, indeed.”

“I think Mr. Cranley would prefer that
you
secure him, Miss Delahoussaye. He was all admiration while you retained the room.”

“You are a sly creature, Miss Austen! But
do
call me Fanny,” she said, slipping her arm through mine. I had not the slightest inclination to proceed to further intimacy in such a manner, and so did not offer her my Christian name. “I have been longing for the chance to walk with you alone, for I am in a sad turmoil of mind, and the wisdom of such an one as yourself—so much my senior in age and experience—must be a source of comfort.”

So
much
her senior, indeed! The eight years’ difference in our ages is hardly the stuff of a generation; but I could not expect Miss Delahoussaye to refrain from malice, when an opportunity for abuse presented itself.

“Such advice as I can give, I will gladly offer; although I must consider our acquaintance as so slight, as to recommend some other party to your interest.”

“Our acquaintance slight! I declare! It was not five minutes after your arrival at Scargrave that I felt assured you would be the salvation of my visit to that dreary place, and perhaps the means of securing that felicity—but I am too precipitate. I impose upon your kindness. I had better explain the nature of my distress.”

“To be sure,” I said, somewhat bewildered.

“You cannot have been long in the company of Lieutenant Hearst without remarking his extraordinary ability to please,” she began, with a sidelong glance. “I am sure you cannot.”

“He is a charming fellow.” And so this is how she intended to broach my indiscretion of New Year's Eve. I had almost succeeded in forgetting it.

“Charming! He is all that is attentive and engaging. And such modesty! Such diffidence! He never comprehends the effect his openness and amiability have on the ladies of his acquaintance. I know that many an one has been persuaded to think
too much
of his notice, his conversation, his little habits of attention, before this.” She stopped to caress a blooming plant with one finger. “I am very much afraid that it has caused many to regret their having hoped for so much, upon discovering he intended
too little.
La, an orchid in January! I declare, an orchid is pleasanter than anything in the world.”

And so, I thought, taking the import of her first words, I am warned off. Even a second son of a wastrel is too good for a Miss Austen, without fortune or connexion to recommend her. I could not but think a primary object of Fanny's confidence was to apprise me of my danger in encouraging Lieutenant Hearst's attentions; by suggesting his fickleness, she hoped to wound me, and thus win his attention for herself. Though she lacks the appearance of jealousy, her character suggests she cannot be immune to its bite. But how amusing that she should feel that emotion towards
me
, when I had despaired of my power before one of her beauty and fortune!

“As a woman
so much older
than yourself, I must own I have encountered men as charming as the Lieutenant elsewhere,” I said carefully. “Amiable as he may be, I have seen his equal before. Your
more sheltered life
to date must excuse you.”

At this, she coloured prettily. “I may express too great a partiality for the Lieutenant,” she said. “How else can one who is promised to him be expected to regard him, but as the epitome of all that is good and admirable in a man?” “Promised!” I cried, attempting in vain to recover my wits. “I had not an idea of it! And your mother approves?”

“Oh, Lord! Mamma knows nothing about it,” Fanny said composedly. “The match is unlikely to meet with favour from her, any more than it would have won Isobel's consent—and you know, Isobel's father was my guardian, and at his death the charge passed to her, until I should marry or reach the age of twenty-five. My Uncle John Collins had long acted in lieu of my father, and had strongly advised my mother to find me a husband befitting my fortune—I am possessed of no less than thirty thousand pounds. Me so far persuaded Mamma of the sum's significance, and warned her so repeatedly against fortune hunters, that she will not have me even
dance
with any man who can claim less than five or ten thousand a year, much less a second son.”