The Spurned Sister: A Regency Romance Novella

by Gloria Masters

  “I do not believe you! I cannot, when you blush in such a way. Who is this young man? What is his name?” Jane asked, teasing her sister.

  “Very well! His name is Mr. Henry Walter,” Letitia said, resigned to her sister’s teasing.

  “Walter? That is a rather familiar surname. Is not one of our pupil’s called Mary Walter?”

  “Yes, she is his sister. It was through her that we first heard of his academic achievements and talents.”

  “Indeed! He is clever and talented, is he? Why, he sounds eminently suitable for my wonderful sister,” Jane said affectionately.

  “Do stop this, Jane. I do not feel any preference for Mr. Henry Walter. And I can certainly tell you that he has none for me.”

  “Well, I cannot speak for him as I have not seen him, but I simply cannot believe that you do not like him when you blush in such a way!” Jane responded, folding her arms and drawing herself up playfully. “I shall see him soon, though, and I will see you together. Then I will be able to give you my opinion on the matter!” Jane said.

  18

  Mrs. Hayward excused Letitia from her teaching duties during most of Jane’s stay. She wanted to ensure that the sisters had plenty of time to enjoy one another’s company. The two young ladies spent a great deal of time sitting together in Letitia’s chamber, going for meandering walks in the garden and to the nearby village, where they purchased some new bonnets and gloves, and poetry to share.

  Letitia had always loved poetry, but her new acquaintance with Henry Walter seemed to render it even more fascinating. As she quietly read and when she read aloud to Jane, she secretly wondered what Henry’s verse was like and somehow felt sure that she would like it. One day as Jane was reading aloud a love poem to her, Letitia’s eyes began to wander away as if in a dream.

  “What is it, Letitia?” Jane asked.

  “I am listening to a beautiful poem, that is all. You read so well, in such dulcet tones,” Letitia responded, trying to seem composed.

  “Do I? I do not believe anyone has ever told me that before, not even a gentleman admirer!”

  “I do not believe you!” Letitia said, smiling and tossing her head. “You are simply so modest that you do not remember or will not admit it.”

  “Ah!” Jane exclaimed.

  Letitia looked at her sister, blushing.

  “Were you thinking of the poetic Mr. Henry Walter?” Jane asked, whispering lest anyone could possibly overhear.

  “Certainly not! What a silly question, Jane. I was only daydreaming,” Letitia responded. This was not very convincing to her sister.

  “I see. Well, let us spend more time downstairs and in the gardens today. Perhaps we will run into your young gentleman,” Jane said, mischievously.

  “Jane! Stop this! He is not my young gentleman, as you well know!”

  “Perhaps not yet, but he will be. Or he wants to be. And I believe that you want him to be, too,” Jane said, looking into her sister’s face.

  “I hardly know him,” Letitia responded, apparently resigned to her sister’s full understanding of her emotions.

  “He has been here quite a while, and our mother certainly trusts his honor and knowledge. She would not allow him to tutor our pupils if she did not. And remember that she has known his mother for many years, too. His sister Mary, our pupil, is also very pleasant. Such a well-behaved and amiable girl,” Jane replied, reassuringly.

  “All of this is true. But he has paid me so little attention, Jane. On what basis could I possibly allow myself to raise my hopes? Would that not be foolish? We are told that a young lady should not allow her feelings to run away with her until she has received ample indication of a young gentleman’s love and honorable intentions.”

  “I by no means encourage you to let your feelings run away with you. I know how sensible you are and that would not be sensible. I only want you to confide in me, and I will help you,” Jane said lovingly to her sister.

  “Help me? How, dear Jane? I know you would if you possibly could, but you cannot compel the young man to make his true feelings known!” Letitia exclaimed in a questioning way.

  “It is not a question of forcing him to reveal anything. It is one of observation. I will observe his behavior. And in casual, everyday conversation, I will attempt to get a better sense of his disposition,” Jane declared.

  “Oh, Jane! Please take care not to expose me to ridicule!” Letitia begged.

  “Letitia, you know me. I will be very discreet, and he will never know my thoughts or motivations.”

  Later that day, Jane found herself with the opportunity to put her plan into practice. Letitia excused herself with a headache from the drawing room that evening, and Mrs. Hayward was busy giving extra piano instruction to a pupil. Jane, Henry, and one pupil were alone.

  “I am so pleased to have finally met you again, Mr. Walter. It was so long ago, when we were only children, when I first made your acquaintance. How is your mother, sir?”

  “She is very well, Mrs. Grant. She was extremely pleased when your kind mother, Mrs. Hayward, offered me this position. As you have probably heard, I recently finished at Cambridge and seem to be positioned on a path to a career in teaching. And yet that is quite limited for a man in my position,” Henry said, his face suddenly taking on a look of sadness. After a few moments of thought, he continued. “I have thought of perhaps taking orders and becoming a clergyman. I have had very little success with my writing. Only one poem has been published.”

  “To have even one poem published in a reputable publication is an accomplishment, sir, I assure you. Perhaps one could be a clergyman and continue to write and publish?” Jane suggested.

  There were a few moments of silence as Jane tried to think of a way to introduce the topic of her sister into the conversation.

  “My sister enjoys poetry, sir. Has she mentioned that to you?” Jane asked, examining Henry’s face. She was pleased to see a flush appear on his cheeks.

  “I do not think she has said anything on the subject, other than that she has a general love of reading.”

  “Oh, I see! Well, she certainly likes poetry very much. She and I were reading some works aloud to one another this morning. She has mentioned to me that you write poetry,” Jane strategically revealed.

  “She mentioned me? I did not know that she was aware that I write poetry,” Henry said. He could not hide how pleased he felt.

  Jane looked as nonchalant as possible as she said, “Oh, yes. She certainly does. She admires poetry, and poets, very much.”

  19

  After her conversation with Henry, Jane felt certain that he greatly admired Letitia. It seemed likely that his shyness and reticence might partly arise from the knowledge of his currently limited prospects. He was still trying to make his poetry accepted and admired in the world, and he was unsure where he could go in a teaching career. With a young lady as beautiful and accomplished as Letitia, he undoubtedly believed he could not possibly have a chance.

  Jane knew, though, that he could have a chance to win her sister, who was clearly already partial to him, if he could think of a plan for the future. And it occurred to her that perhaps she could help. He seemed open to the idea of perhaps becoming a clergyman one day, and after all, as the wife of the heir to an earldom, she had the connections necessary to be able to find and secure him an ample living.

  Jane decided that she would continue to encourage her sister to think of Henry. As they walked to the village the following morning, she decided to let Letitia know she observed that the young man certainly admired her. The two young ladies were enjoying the lovely, slightly brisk air and appreciating the benefits of exercise. Letitia was an especially enthusiastic walker. She loved to explore. Jane broke her reverie with a rather blunt yet undeniably pleasing statement.

  “Henry Walter admires you, Letitia. I am certain of it.”

  Letitia was clearly startled and an irrepressible smile graced her countenance. “Nonsense! If he admired me, why wo
uld he pay me so little attention?”

  “I think it is because of his limited prospects. He is uncertain about his future as a teacher and has only published one poem. Thoughts of taking orders and being a clergyman have entered his mind. But I think he is worried that he lacks the connections to secure a good living. The point, Letitia, is that he must feel that you are simply too beautiful and accomplished to ever see him as a worthy suitor,” Jane explained.

  Letitia seemed unconvinced. “I think you speak as my loving sister who cannot see any faults in me. I do not think Mr. Walter admires me, and therefore, it would never occur to him to worry that I would not approve of his prospects.”

  “I see you will not believe me!” Jane said, laughing. “Well, let us put it to the test. We have often heard it said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, have we not? Come to London with me for a few weeks.”

  “London? Are you going to London?” Letitia asked.

  “I will be after I depart our mother’s house. We will stay at our London residence. William will be almost finished his business by then, and he will be able to come out with us to balls and parties. We will have a charming time. And we will see what Henry Walter’s reaction to your absence will be,” Jane explained. “When you return home, you will see his emotions in his eyes.”

  “I do not believe I will see anything in particular in his eyes, Jane. But I think I will accompany you to London. It would be a pleasant change for me. I will need to speak with our mother first, though. She may not be able to manage without me for that period of time,” Letitia responded.

  “Oh! I am sure she will be able to manage. I will speak to her with you. She knows that you have been a bit melancholy lately. A change of scene would benefit you.”

  When the girls returned to the house later, they spoke to Mrs. Hayward, and Letitia quickly received her blessing for the stay in London. The kind lady was pleased to think of her daughter, who she had noticed not quite being her usual cheerful self lately, having a diverting time in London. There is always so much to do there, after all. And it did occur to her that perhaps Letitia might finally find a young man who recognized her worth and who truly deserved her.

  The two young women were very excited and talking in a quite animated way in different parts of the house about their upcoming London excursion over the rest of the day. As they did so, Henry Walter certainly heard them and gathered the import of what they were saying. And what was in this young man’s heart? He was distressed yet resigned. He was determined to be resigned.

  20

  The time of Letitia and Jane’s journey to London arrived, and they greeted that morning with great anticipation. They had spent significant time packing their trunks the evening before, ensuring that all of Letitia’s best gowns and shawls were included.

  She was a very level-headed girl and had already worked to resign herself to life as a teacher, and so this trip to London was quite dizzying, pleasantly dizzying, for Letitia. It was true that she would not see Mr. Henry Walter for three weeks, but she felt it would be easier for her to disengage her feelings if she did not see him. And she so loved to dance. What opportunities were there for dancing at home, other than when she took part in lessons for the pupils? Of course, that was not quite the same, especially for an energetic young lady like Letitia.

  Once the long journey had passed, which included staying at a respectable traveler’s inn and enjoying some time by the fire with a hearty and comforting meal, chatting privately with her much-beloved sister, they found themselves in London. No matter how many times a young lady had been to London, she was always struck by the bustle and busy character of the city, especially when one reached the inner parts of the metropolis. The environs increased in energy as one inched further inside from the suburban areas.

  In their fashionable carriage, the young ladies were properly sheltered from the world outside, but they chatted excitedly about all the sights they saw as they peered through the windows. They soon found themselves in Mayfair, where the Grant family’s imposing London house was found. It was not very far away from their Aunt Pembroke’s house, and they knew they would see her during their stay.

  They were greeted at the door by the butler and maids, and soon after making their way in the home and seeing their luggage carried upstairs, they saw William, Jane’s husband. William approached to affectionately kiss and embrace his wife and warmly greet his sister-in-law. Letitia saw with pleasure that he appeared as kind and friendly as he had been when he was courting her sister.

  William led his wife and Letitia into one of the house’s libraries and asked a maid to bring them some refreshments, knowing that the ladies would be in need of tea and sandwiches before dinner after their long journey. They seated themselves on plush sofas of the deepest burgundy upholstery.

  “I am very glad you were able to come and stay with us, Letitia,” William said. “I know how close the two of you are. I’m sure you’ll have a splendid time.”

  “I am sure too, sir. Thank you. I am so grateful to spend more time with Jane. And to visit London, too. When I last left Aunt Pembroke’s, I did not think I would be in the city again any time soon.”

  William smiled at the two sisters. “Isn’t it charming when life surprises us like that, Letitia? And certainly, no one deserves some diversion and enjoyment more than you. Jane has told me about all of your letters and how devoted you are to your young pupils.”

  After about an hour or so of conversation, the three were ushered into the dining room. After a relaxing meal, Letitia excused herself. She felt tired and asked if she could be directed to her chamber for some rest. Jane brought her upstairs herself and made sure she was comfortable before she left to spend some more time with her husband in the library.

  Letitia lay her head on the lovely down pillow with thoughts of her most recent stay in London in her head. She was pleased that she would soon see Aunt Pembroke again, and she even wondered whether Lady Maxwell and Georgina would make an appearance. Whether or not she would see Matthew Lambert was of little importance to her. She now felt that even if he suddenly devoted himself to her, she could not love him. Her heart was very much otherwise engaged. And it was with this thought that she drifted off to sleep and the comforting world of dreams.

  21

  The next morning brought refreshing tea and toast in the sun-soaked breakfast room of the Grant town home, which overlooked lovely gardens very much like those at Aunt Pembroke’s house. That very morning, a letter arrived from that very kind and matronly lady. Only Letitia and Jane were present, as William had already eaten and was out on business for his father.

  “Aunt Pembroke has written, Letitia. She says that she will call on us this very afternoon,” Jane told her sister.

  “Lovely! I am glad to hear it. I am eager to see our aunt,” Letitia replied, smiling.

  As expected, Aunt Pembroke arrived for a visit later that day. She was thrilled to see her two nieces. She had seen Jane more recently than Letitia, and as a result, she spent more time speaking to the elder sister and inquiring after her mother’s well-being and that of the school. Letitia assured her of her mother’s health and happiness and the school’s prosperity. Her aunt was exceedingly pleased to hear it.

  “Girls, you two simply must accompany me to a party tomorrow evening. Jane, will William be at liberty to accompany us, too?” Mrs. Pembroke inquired.

  “I think he will be. I will ask him when he comes home later today.”

  “Excellent! I would love for you all to accompany me. And Letitia, there will be young gentleman there who will be certain to admire you. Indeed, who wouldn’t?” Aunt Pembroke said, looking at her niece affectionately.

  Letitia looked shyly away. There seemed something more than modesty in her consternation, and Jane was easily able to discern this.

  “Perhaps my sister knows that a very charming and handsome young gentleman already thinks of her, aunt,” Jane said, unable to help herself. She was afraid tha
t Letitia would be angry with her, and she looked towards her apologetically.

  “Indeed! Is this true, Letitia?” Mrs. Pembroke asked.

  “Absolutely not, aunt. My dear sister thinks too well of me and imagines that every young man who sees me must see something to admire,” Letitia responded emphatically.

  “I am compelled to disagree,” Jane said playfully. “Deep in her heart, Letitia knows how much Mr. Henry Walter admires her.”

  “Mr. Henry Walter? Is that not the young gentleman that your mother has engaged as a tutor for your pupils?” Aunt Pembroke asked, clearly intrigued.

  “Yes, he certainly is,” Jane responded. “I am sorry, Letitia. Please do not be angry with me.”

  “I am not angry. I am only embarrassed. And I must assure you that you are wrong. Henry Walter does not admire me.”

  “Well, we will have to agree to disagree there,” Jane declared. “I know that he admires you. Do you admire him? Come, Letitia, tell me.”

  “Yes, I do. You know I do. How could I help it? He is not only so very clever but so kind, too,” Letitia responded.

  “And handsome!” Jane exclaimed. “Nay, Letitia. Do not blush. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging a young gentleman’s good looks.”

  “Well!” Mrs. Pembroke said. “This is all extremely interesting. Do you think that this young man might appear in London, Jane?”

  “I am afraid that does not seem very likely, Aunt Pembroke. What say you, Letitia?”

  “I would have to answer that it is entirely impossible. I cannot think of any reason why he would appear here,” Letitia replied.

  “Well, I do not know this young man, and so I cannot make any comment on what his feelings are or what you may or may not do. But what I can declare, my dear, is that any young gentleman who does not admire you is not worthy of you,” Mrs. Pembroke said with conviction.