Chapter 13
M
atthew rapped his knuckles on the closed wooden door standing between a bakery and a haberdashery in the very center of Bath. The gold plaque in the center of the door read B
OARD OF
G
UARDIANS
â
SEEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
.
He and Jane had no appointment, but someone would see them. Today.
She stood silently behind him.
Her request that he return to Biddestone and sort out his affairs with Elizabeth might have been spoken in a kindly wayâJane's eyes soft and full of pleadingâbut she forgot just how well he knew her. The ferocity behind her words had told him that she held passion for him, and that was all he needed to know to push him forward into finding a way for them to be together.
Of course, she was equally as passionate about securing a position at the boardinghouse. Ensuring that wish for her was first and foremost on the agenda. He would not leave Bath without her having the option to work in the house where she had seemingly become instantly besotted with a young boy and his fellow boarders.
The sound of footsteps behind the door straightened Matthew's spine.
The door opened, and a man with graying hair and heavy side-whiskers stood before him. “Good morning, sir. Can I help you?”
Matthew dipped his head. “Good morning. My name is Matthew Cleaves, Squire of Biddestone, I would like to speak with someone in charge of employment at the children's boardinghouses.”
The man cleared his throat and stood a little straighter. “Mr. Howard, at your service, sir.”
Matthew shook Mr. Howard's offered hand.
“Might I ask what your interest is, Squire? Bath's boardinghouses hardly seem the concern of a village squire.”
The assumption pulled on Matthew's nerves. He held the man's curious gaze. “That might well be so, sir, but this”âhe stepped back and held out his hand toward Janeâ“is Miss Danes, a neighbor and friend of mine who is very interested in offering her help at one of your houses.”
The man studied her, the furrow at his brow deepening. “Miss Danes . . .” He smiled. “After our brief exchange yesterday, I thought you understood this type of work wouldn't be to your suiting. Have you not considered a position as a goverâ”
“I fail to see how you can be so certain of Miss Danes's suitability when you have yet to even listen to what she has to say.” Matthew pulled back his shoulders. The man's condescension toward Jane was palpable. “Might we come inside in order to discuss the matter further?”
Howard's gaze darkened. “I have been in this work for many years, sir. The boardinghouses are much more suited to women of a”âhe glanced toward Jane once moreâ“a less privileged station.”
Matthew arched his eyebrow. “How can you possibly make such a judgmentâ”
“Matthew, if I might speak for myself?”
He turned and met Jane's wide, irritated gaze. He exhaled and waved her forward as anticipation rippled through him for the dressing-down she would surely deliver to Howard. The man deserved everything Jane gave him. “As you wish.”
She moved to stand beside him, her chin high and her hazel eyes dark with determination, despite her sweet smile. She held her gloved hand toward Howard. “Mr. Howard, I really would appreciate just a few moments of your time so you can listen to why I wish to go to a particular boardinghouse and how I think I might help the children there.”
He didn't move to take her hand and instead took a step back, his hand gripping the door as if he might close it. Matthew clenched his jaw. If the idiot dismissed Jane out of hand, the following moments would not be pretty.
“Miss Danes . . .” Howard lifted his lips in a patronizing sneer. “Time and again, I have women pass by this office looking to do good . . .” He shook his head. “Until they realize what such a position entails and then rapidly change their minds.”
“Then I look forward to you changing mine.” Jane stepped toward the threshold. “Shall we?”
Matthew bit back a smile as Jane stepped into the hallway of the office building, leaving Howard no choice but to step back or shove her outside. Fortunately, the man chose the former. Removing his hat, Matthew stepped inside and gave Howard the same sneer the man had given Jane moments before.
The door closed behind them and Matthew winked at Jane. A smile played at her lips and her eyes danced. Every ounce of him wanted to step closer and sample her sweet-tasting mouth again. He dragged his gaze from hers to glance around him, remembering her clear statement that nothing would occur between them until he was certain his marriage to Elizabeth was over.
Paneled in dark wood, the hallway's low-burning gas lanterns offered a meager light that flickered shadows on the walls. Matthew looked at Jane as she mimicked his study. The intelligence in her eyes, underlined with staunch determination, only further fueled his admiration of her.
Howard gestured toward the narrow staircase ahead of them. “Our offices are on the second floor. If you'd like to follow me?”
He strode ahead, indignation evident in the stiff set of his shoulders and his juddering whiskers. Matthew looked at Jane once more. With Howard's back turned, she flashed him a grin before heading up the stairs.
They entered the office and were greeted by the curious faces of two other gentlemen possessing the same uncanny stature and whiskers as Howard. A much younger clerk sat at a desk in a far corner of the room. None of them spoke, only stared at Jane with mixed expressions of admiration and clear disgruntlement that a woman should grace their presence uninvited.
Protectiveness rose inside Matthew, stiffening his shoulders. When Howard moved behind an empty desk and stood in front of his chair, Matthew moved to Jane's side and pulled out one of the two chairs in front of the desk.
She sat gracefully, pulling her reticule into her lap and folding her hands neatly on top. Again, Matthew held back his smile. The poise was practiced, ladylike perfection, but the faint flush at her cheeks and the rigidness of her spine told Matthew she was prepared to fight for what she wanted.
Howard sat. “Please, Squire Cleaves, if you'd like to sit.”
Matthew sat and leaned back. Unless Jane gave a sign that she wanted his input, he would be an observer only. He was all too aware of her strength of character in situations such as this. He had worked with her time and again during debates in the village and pulling the villagers together through the storms and droughts that had occasionally threatened to ruin Biddestone.
Chances were high she wouldn't need him while dealing with Howard. That didn't prevent Matthew from silently hoping for a time when she looked to him for support over and over again.
He wanted to do somethingâanythingâto prove his intent to be with her wasn't a whim but had been simmering beneath the surface of his consciousness for many years. If he could only turn back time . . .
He clenched his jaw. Proving his love for her wasn't grounded on a whim would be a challenge, but one for which he would do whatever it took for her to accept him.
“So, Miss Danes . . .” Howard leaned his elbows and forearms on the desk and wove his fingers together. “I am prepared to listen to your proposal, but I cannot make any decisions without discussion and consideration with my colleagues as well as other members of the board.”
Jane nodded. “Of course. I profoundly hope you understand how serious I am in my wish to work at the house I visited a few days ago. I have no intention of leaving Bath for the foreseeable future. I am a respected, capable, and intelligent woman who recently left Biddestone to live with my companion at my own residence at the Circus. Being far from idle, I came to the city to seek employment helping those less fortunate.”
Matthew resisted the urge to ask her what she meant by “no intention of leaving Bath for the foreseeable future.” Did that mean weeks, months, or years? The pressure of his ties and duty to Biddestone pressed down on him. How was he ever to be with her if she never wanted to return to the village his family considered his rightful place?
Howard's thick eyebrows rose. “I'm sorry. Did you say you have already visited one of our houses?”
Jane lifted her chin. “Indeed, sir. I spoke to Mrs. Cage and one of the children there.”
“Mrs. Cage? But she is the matron of a house far across town. What reason could you have for being there?”
Jane's beautiful face broke with an apologetic smile, her eyes ever so slightly lowered. Matthew fought shaking his head as pride filled his chest. He didn't know a man on the planet who could resist that expression. It had defused many an irate evening of debate among the villagers, as well as calming her father, the rather domineering Noel Danes. He admired her use of feminine wiles if the situation dictated it . . . even though if she ever deemed to turn the tactic on him, he strongly suspected he'd be putty in her hands.
She delicately coughed. “Someone told me of that particular house, and as I am so eager to work with children, I went there assuming the lady or gentleman running the establishment would be able to make the decision of whether or not to offer me a position. It wasn't until later that I came to understand that such power lies in the Board's hands.”
“I see.” Howard cast a glance toward the two gentlemen across the office.
Matthew followed his stare and caught one of the gentlemen curtly shake his head; the other appeared to be doing his upmost not to laugh out loud. Matthew glared. There was little chance this trio of upstarts would take Jane's passion to work seriously.
He turned to Howard. “So, you now know of Miss Danes's interest. You have heard she has already visited the house where she would like to work and spoken with the matron. I presume you are in need of all the help possible, considering the number of children living hand to mouth on Bath's streets.”
Howard bristled and pushed to his feet. He came around the desk and paced beside Jane. “Tell me, Miss Danes, what did you say to Mrs. Cage exactly?”
“I told her I had come there to work.”
“And her response?”
Jane glanced at Matthew. He held her worried gaze for a moment before nodding his encouragement. “Tell him.”
She inhaled, her breasts rising as the worry in her eyes evolved into determination. A determination he hoped was helped by his belief in and support of her. She faced Howard, her chin high. “She sent me away. Told me she didn't need my help.”
The Guardian's eyes lit with triumph, and he puffed out his chest. “As I thought. Mrs. Cage, like most of the house matrons, is very particular about how she runs her establishment. These women are hardworking. Mothers themselves, more often than not. They do not need a woman such as yourself comingâ”
“Such as myself, Mr. Howard? And what am I exactly?” Jane pulled back her shoulders.
“Well, you're . . .” He snapped his gaze to Matthew.
Matthew raised his eyebrows. “Yes?”
Howard looked back to Jane and, seeming to gather courage, blurted, “You're a fine-looking lady who would not fit well within one of our houses, Miss Danes. The children are often malnourished, some with fleas and other such nastiness. I would not sleep at night knowing it was on my say-so that you were exposed to that day after day.”
“Then let the say-so be mine.” Jane shifted forward in her seat, her posture almost pleading. “Mr. Howard . . .” She glanced at the other gentlemen in turn. “Sirs . . . please. With all my heart, I truly wish to work with these children. Yes, I have grown up with money and comfort, but that does not mean I have been privileged. I know suffering. I know how it feels to have no arms to comfort you or never to hear soothing words that ease your worries and fears.” She turned to Matthew, her eyes bright with fervor. “I know how it feels to live in a house as big as a castle but as empty, cold, and lonely as it would be to live in a shack.” She faced Howard. “Let me go to that house, Mr. Howard. Tell Mrs. Cage you want me there, and I promise I will win her over, the children too.”
Discomfort knotted Matthew's stomach. The vehemence in her words drilled through his flesh and bone to squirm like snakes deep in his heart. What suffering did she speak of? What hurt and loneliness? God, he had been a blind fool. First Monica had fled Marksville, and now Jane. Hadn't the sisters grown up with any sense of happiness and love?
“I will think about it, Miss Danes.” Howard's voice broke the momentary silence. “I will discuss it with my colleagues and speak with you again.”
Jane stood and held out her hand. Matthew clenched his jaw to see her shoulders ever so slightly trembling. For all her bravado, she clearly felt nowhere near as confident in herself as she strove to appear. “Thank you, Mr. Howard.” She turned to the other gentlemen again. “I thank all of you. When should I return for your answer?”
Howard glanced at his colleagues. “Two days, Miss Danes. We will need two days to consider what you are proposing and to speak with Mrs. Cage also. Come back on Thursday and I will have an answer for you.”
“Thank you.”
Matthew stood and cupped his hand to Jane's elbow. “We'll find our way out. Anything you need from me to aid Miss Danes's chances, you only need to ask. I hope you don't think my help necessary, considering Miss Danes's enthusiasm, but if I am wrong, you only need write to me in Biddestone.”
Howard nodded. “Understood, sir.”
With a parting glance around the office, Matthew steered Jane toward the door.
Once out on the street with the Board's office several yards behind them, Jane stopped and grasped his forearm, her eyes clouded with concern. “Well? Do you think they will give me a chance?”