Chapter 39: Jo, Rohtak, 27 November 1857
"This colour is very pleasing," Mildred Alexander stated, indicating the pale blue dress in a London dress catalogue from last summer. "I've a mind to ask my Susannah to order me one from London so that it should be ready to wear when I arrive back. It's a pity I cannot wear anything with longer sleeves like that here, but of course it's so dreadfully hot. One can hardly do anything but retire to the ottoman and read here."
"I do like that blue," Jo replied. "It's very pretty indeed. Is your daughter expecting you?"
Mrs Alexander pursued her lips, "well of course I have written, but who's to say what the state of the postal service is like these days. If it is working it will be the only thing in this wretched country that is."
Jo nodded sympathetically, absently fingering the pages.
Mrs Alexander was one of the many English ladies who had lived in this country for over 30 years but had concentrated their time and effort of trying to recreate a little England here amongst the hot, unforgiving landscape of India. The rebellion had come as a bolt from the blue for her, for she'd never mingled with Indians, never been to the bazarr and communicated with her servants only to give instructions for tea and dinner. Mr Alexander and her son Daniel had both been killed in the rebellion and it was only now that the lady had fully come to appreciate how very foreign and remote this place actually was from the cosy English society she had sought to create here.
"I think this style would suit you quite nicely," Mrs Alexander said, pointing to a pale pink short sleeve spotted muslin day dress. "You have such a pretty complexion, I'm quite sure the colour would suit."
Jo blushed, and peered at the dress more closely. She had been thinking about ordering a dress actually –
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp rap at the door.
Jo set aside the catalogue and hurried to answer the door.
"Ohh," she gasped, staring up at the tall figure standing imposingly in doorway.
Lucas North stepped forward, removing his hat. 'May I come in?" he enquired.
Jo was standing stock still, staring at him in the doorway, looking distinctly pale. She suddenly seemed to collect herself and stepped aside, in a swish of petticoats.
Lucas took in the room. It was small and simply furnished but with pretty colours and a vase of bright yellow roses stood on the mantlepiece. No servants he noted. Whoever Mr Grant was, he cannot have been a gentleman of fortune.
"Sit down if you please," Jo said, indicating a chair. "This is Mrs Alexander. Mrs Alexander, Captain North. Captain North is – a friend of my brothers."
Captain North bent over Mrs Alexander's hand, "A delight madam," then swiftly reseated himself.
"Permit me to offer my congratulations Mrs Grant," Lucas said.
Mrs Alexander looked from one to the other, confused. It was hard to recall having seen anyone offer their congratulations in a less enthusiastic manner before. And had this Captain not heard about Mr Grant either? Poor Joanna had turned very pink indeed.
"Captain North, if I might be allowed to interrupt," Mrs Alexander began, "you may not have heard but - oh dear, this is all so indelicate and upsetting to dear Joanna, but Mr Grant is no longer with us. He was a victim of this terrible conflict, and now Mrs Grant is staying with us," she finished, patting Jo's hand comfortingly. "And we shall take good care of her, poor thing."
Jo stood up quickly, still pink, "can I get you some tea Captain North?"
"I am very sorry for my mistake," Lucas replied, though Mrs Alexander noted that though his voice was sincere, there was now a sparkle in his eyes that had not been there earlier. "I will take some tea and you must let me know if I can be of any assistance to you."
Jo smiled briefly. "That is very kind of you sir, perhaps I shall be take up your offer one day soon."
"There," said Mrs Alexander, with a smile, tapping Jo with her fan. "You have a good friend in Captain North. It is good to know that he will be around should you need his services when I have left," she finished, looking the Captain over properly.
Not only was he indisputably dashing, but evidently rather well off, and with pleasing manners. If she had been a match-making Mama, she would have pushed young Mrs Grant into his arms. But such things were not seemly with a recently bereaved widow, which was a pity.
Joanna passed Lucas a cup of tea and they chatted pleasantly for another fifteen minutes, before Captain North stood and bowed to both ladies. "You must allow me to excuse myself, ladies. Mrs Alexander – good day. Mrs Grant – I hope I may be permitted to visit you once again shortly to check on your welfare?"
Jo looked at him, and nodded. "Yes, yes of course. I shall see you out."
When they reached the door, Jo turned to Lucas. "Will you walk with me in the garden for a moment Captain North?"
"Of course," he nodded, and offered his arm.
"I like the weather of late," Jo started, "It's been very pleasing and not as horridly hot as last month I find."
Lucas looked around the garden, taking in the bright colours and lush green of the plants. It had been a long time since he'd had time to just be still and take in the scenery.
He'd turned to look at her properly for the first time. He'd thought of her every day, every night, and she was as beautiful as he'd remembered. Her skin was like porcelain, to his touch her hair had been like silk. He would make her his own, but he would have to wait. And he hated waiting.
"Miss – I mean Mrs Grant, my offer was genuine when I said I would help you if you needed any assistance."
"Captain North," Jo began, looking down. "I feel I must explain myself. When I saw you last in September I was Miss Carter. And now in November you find me Mrs Grant in so short a time."
"India makes for hasty matches," Lucas replied. He supposed it was hardly surprising that Miss Carter had been snapped up so quickly. For every Englishwoman out here there were four Englishmen, so competition was fierce amongst gentlemen for a wife.
"It does," she agreed, taking a deep breath. "But not for me. The truth is that I am not Mrs Grant and never have been."
Her legs felt positively shaky now and she quickly slid down onto the bench beside her, pulling her arms around her tight. "I am still Miss Carter. I am sorry for the deception and lies but it is a necessity."
"A necessity?" Captain North replied, puzzled, and then he understood. The rumours about Miss Carter and Lieutenant Rodgers.
He's had time to form a fair assessment of Rodger's character. He was pretty sure that along with cheating at cards, whoring and gambling away his inheritance, ruining attractive young ladies whether they consented to or not would be exactly the kind of thing Rodgers considered to be light sport of an afternoon.
Which was why he'd taken the liberty of stopping by the officer's mess last night and, finding Lieutenant Rodger's alone outside his tent, giving him a sound thrashing he would not forget for some while.
He scowled at the memory of Rodger's smirking face.
So Miss Carter had faked a marriage in order to remove herself to the country and restore her respectability. He supposed it was as good a strategy as any.
"You should know that I have spoken with Lieutenant Rodgers and he will not be spreading any further rumours about you," Lucas said. If indeed he recovered the power of speech, he added in his head.
Lieutenant Rodgers? Jo blinked. So Captain North had heard the rumours.
For shame, did everyone know about that then?
Captain North sat down beside her and took her hand, holding it gently. "I shall keep your secret as if my life depended on it, Mrs Grant. But you must allow me to say that-"
"Captain North, will you let me say something please," Jo interrupted, biting her lip. "I fear you have misunderstood my comments. I must be married not because of rumours but because…because I am to have a child and it must be seen to have a father."
Lucas stared at her, then sat back in seat, still in shock. "A child," he repeated, running his hand through his hair. "My child?"
"Yes. Your child," she replied, folding her hands together so that they did not shake. "I'm afraid so."