Just Jane by William Lavender Read Free Book Online Page A

wrongdoing. If an apology is due, it is to her, and I offer it now.” He bowed slightly to Jane, who stared back in astonishment. “But I fail to see how my escorting Miss Jane to her cousin’s home requires an apology to you, and I must decline to give it.”
    Robert was outraged. “The devil you say!” Arthur again became the object of his anger. “Arthur, I told you years ago that bringing this man here was a grievous mistake. He’s an insolent scoundrel! He’s got to go!”
    â€œThat’ll be all, Simon,” Arthur said quietly. “Thank you for coming.”
    Simon nodded, and after a long look at Jane, went out. Arthur then turned to Robert. “I find this discussion very tiresome, so I’ll excuse myself as well.” Starting for the door, he paused in passing Jane to speak softly to her. “Don’t let him frighten you, my dear. He’s not as ferocious as he pretends to be.”
    He seems quite ferocious enough
, thought Jane. “I’m truly sorry for any distress I’ve caused you, Uncle Robert. But Mr. Cordwyn is not at fault. I persuaded him to take me to Cousin Hugh’s. Blame me, please, not him.”
    â€œI
do
blame him, for his insolence,” Robert snapped. “And Arthur, for leaving you unsupervised. And
you
, for being disobedient. That I cannot tolerate. Only the fact that you’re a highborn English lady prevents me from sending you to your room without supper, as a badly behaved child should be!”
    Now a glint of defiance came into Jane’s eyes. “In that case, sir, I suggest you disregard my highborn status. If it would please you to punish me, then do so.”
    Robert blinked, taken aback by her sudden show of spirit. When he spoke again it was in a calmer tone. “I must go now. Thanks to rebel thugs, I need to see about repairs on my house. Please pack your things tonight, because we leave for Rosewall first thing in the morning. This is no fit place for you, Jane. Perhaps out in the country, away from the undesirable influences here, you may learn to behave like the proper lady you were bom to be.”
    â€œI shall do my best, sir. And now, if I may be excused?”
    Head high, with serene dignity, she turned and went out, heading upstairs to her room. Her thoughts were in turmoil.
Learn to be a lady, must I? But how am I ever going to learn to get along with that tyrant?
    Fretfully she felt for her locket. Only this time, it wasn’t there.

Chapter 8
    Mrs. Morley looked in on Jane later, to find her slumped in her bedroom chair. “What happened, dear? Was Mr. Robert terribly angry with you?”
    â€œI fear so, yes. He told me I must learn to behave like a lady.”
    â€œHmph! You’re already the finest lady he’s ever likely to meet.”
    â€œHe was also furious with Mr. Cordwyn, which was extremely unfair. But we have to remember, it hasn’t been a good day for Uncle Robert. His house has been vandalized, and the royal governor’s return was postponed.”
    â€œAnd some even worse news just arrived,” Mrs. Morley said. “The British ships suffered so much damage in the bombardment, they’ve given up and sailed away.”
    â€œReally!” Jane had noticed that the distant cannon fire had long since stopped, a fact accounted for by this latest news. So Peter Quincy had been right—and to Jane’s surprise, she couldn’t decide whether to be sad or glad.
    â€œI have some bad news of my own, Mrs. Morley,” she said then, rising from her chair. “I hate to tell you this, but you’d notice eventually, anyway. My locket came off somewhere, and now it’s missing.”
    â€œOh, merciful heavens!” Mrs. Morley cried. “What’s to be done?”
    â€œI have to find it, that’s what’s to be done. I’m going to start immediately after supper, if Uncle Robert will allow it.”
    Â 
    But