I am so happy to meet you

Lady Jane arrived the next morning with her companion at the door of Lady Susan's home. She was welcomed by the ladies of the house and happily heard about their plans for the day. Jane had been so touched by meeting these women. She had decided to take a chance and visit them outside of normal calling hours. Her companion had lectured her for not following the correct social expectations.

Jane rolling her eyes... she was sick of social correctness and it was the main reason she lived away from London.

She also was wanting to avoid a gentleman who wanted to marry her. He was a known rouge... Lord North!

The first time she had meet him there was something wrong with his eyes... predatory eyes... evil eyes. He had tried to appear as a gentleman but she knew of the countless ladies he had ruined and illegitimate children scattered throughout the country.

The problem she had was that he was titled and their fathers were close friends. She was thankful her mother had made her father promise she could be given the choice. He had loved her mother and had promised on her death bed. The last couple of years Lord North has been pushing himself onto her and had stopped other gentleman showing interest in her. It was easy to stay on her estate and evade the clutches of that man.

She had learned to be strong and fight against her father who was increasingly pushing her to marry Lord North. Her grandfather 'the King' was not able to help as he had periods of sickness and it had been the prince regent who had been able to stop her father.

"Do you want to force your daughter into an arranged marriage... like me... look how that turned out?" the Prince Regent reminded his brother.

After meeting the Crowe/Heywood families she had found a message from Lord North expressing his need to visit her the following day. She needed to be out of the Palace and the Heywood's came to mind. They seemed like people who could help her. She had knocked on the door of Lady Susan's house and waited... she was so relieved when they invited her in and made her feel welcome. Even though she was looking confident she sensed Grace Heywood could see her worry and need for safety.

Grace inviting Jane to come and join them in the morning room. She was meet with a happy scene of children playing on the floor or being read too from an adult. It was something she had not had since her mother had died. She had companions who reported back to her father. Feeling a little overcome she took a deep breath to reign in her emotions... but this was not missed by Grace.

"We are so pleased that you have come to visit us... we are morning people and thankful you are one as well!" Grace smiled trying to make this strong but lost woman feel comfortable.

Charlotte and Susan had told her about Jane's background. Grace's heart broke and could see this young woman needed love. Alison and Charlotte moving to join their mother.

"We have plans to go to the art gallery .. would you like to spend the day with us?" Charlotte asked while placing her hand on top of Jane's.

"Yes, I really would" she smiled

"Good... we are needing more adults to keep an eye on the children... I am concerned they are going to put their sticky hands on the master pieces" commented Charlotte.

Two identical little girls bounced over and seated themselves on either side of Charlotte...

"Our sister is going to have twins like us!... we are going to be their Aunties" Johanna speaking while Lydia pointed at Charlotte's stomach.

"Do you have a sister?" Lydia asked

"No... I grew up alone" spoke Jane

Johanna going over and gave Jane an embrace... "I will be your sister if you want" Jane looked at the little girl and smiled into her innocent face.

"I would like that..." she replied and quickly had to wipe a tear from her eyes.

Charlotte and Grace looking at each other... deciding to start another conversation to give Lady Jane time to compose herself.

They started talking about the Heywood, Crowe and South Estates in Willingdon. The various management issues and future plans. Jane was shocked to hear that Grace, Charlotte had equal say in the estate management and so would Alison. Jane joining in and for the first time told someone she managed the estate she lived on. She was pleased when they gave her a approving look and asked her about what she produced.

"I breed hunting dogs" she shared

"Really!"... commented an interested Charlotte... she and Henry were needing to increase their hunting pack and started asking questions about her breeds.

"It is so refreshing meeting ladies who are different..." Jane she didn't know how to finish the sentence

"We are a different breed of women and it seems you are very similar to us" laughed Grace.

"You must come and visit us in Willingdon... I also think my husband was saying we need some hunting dogs!" continued Grace

At this point the men came back from the club... John Christopher looking very handsome appeared started to tell his mother of his success but stopped when he noticed lady Jane present.

"Please excuse me... I need to tell everyone I finally beat my father!" he raised his arms in the air like an olympic athlete.

"Now I will try and return to being a gentleman.. ladies how are you all this morning?" John was the comedian of the family and made everyone laugh.

Lady Susan walked in the room ... reminding everyone that they needed to leave so they could make their appointed time for the tour of the gallery... she had also organised some other delights but they would discover them throughout the day. She watched as Henry and Charlotte, Alison, Victoria, Lydia, Johanna, Alex, John and Lady Jane prepared to leave... Edward, Stanley and his sisters were meeting them at the gallery.

Not everyone was going out today... Grace, John, Mary and Susan wished everyone a good day. They thought Lady Jane made a good addition to the group.