They exchanged stilted pleasantries and Miss Bella interjected a few hidden barbs until the tea cart arrived. Then she leapt from her chair and insisted Jane allow her to pour, that she would be most honored. It was an unusual request, but the woman appeared enamored of the idea, and pleaded in a far kinder tone than she’d previously expressed, “It’s so rare I’m able to perform the service. My father doesn’t allow me to entertain at the vicarage. I’d consider it a great favor, Your Grace, if you’ll permit me to serve you.”
She acquiesced, all the while thinking Miss Bella was a strange sort. She was, quite simply, unlikable.
Almost as soon as she’d handed Jane her cup and seated herself on the chair opposite, she asked after Mrs. Daniels. “She and I were particular friends,” she said with a sniff after Jane informed her the housekeeper had been replaced, “and as our village is so very far removed from other villages, it’s not a simple endeavor to acquire friends. My father is very particular about who I associate with, and Mrs. Daniels was one I could visit without his knowledge, when he goes on his Wednesday visits to the orphanage. I do wonder how I shall go on without her companionship?”
Jane might have said then that Miss Bella could count on her friendship, but she did not, for it was untrue. She disliked the woman, could feel a strong sense of hostility emanating from her, and wished she would make her visit short. She was also possessed of a great need to answer nature’s call, as she’d been very frequently of late. She set aside her tea after only a few sips, thinking it best not to encourage her need of the privy. “I hope you’ll convey to your father how very much his grace and I enjoyed his sermon, Sunday last. It’s regrettable we’ve not had the opportunity to invite him to call again, but we’ve been rather inundated with getting the household in order. As you know, hard work is its own reward, but it appears there’s been a lack of any sort of work here at Eastchase, hard or otherwise. Much remains to be done.” In only a few statements, she gave Miss Bella a setdown for her temerity in calling without invitation and aired her low opinion of Mrs. Daniels’ competency.
Miss Bella’s back went up and her gloved hand obviously tightened about her teacup. “Perhaps Your Grace’s standards are higher than most. I believe the previous duchesses were pleased with Mrs. Daniels’ abilities.”
“It’s of no consequence, Miss Bella, as those dear ladies have all departed from here and ascended to God, have they not?”
“One would hope so, but who can say? It’s said in the Bible, we must not judge, lest we be judged, and whether for good, or bad, I believe this holds true, don’t you?”
“I daresay one’s hope of a departed soul’s ascension to Heaven cannot be considered passing judgment, but we’re all entitled to our own interpretation of God’s word.”
Miss Bella looked quite superior in that moment, as though she were the duchess and Jane a mere underling. It was bizarre in the extreme. “I’d not expect a woman of your reputation to be learned of the Good Book, nor to comprehend its significance to the souls of good, decent, Christian folk.” Her brown eyes were cold and hard. “Blixford is a small village, but not completely shut off from the world. I have heard of your ruination, of the sin in which you lived while in Scotland.”
Jane was astounded by her bold, rude insult. She was about to remind Miss Bella of her place, and ask that she leave, immediately, but before she could say a word, Blixford strolled into the drawing room. Dressed in his riding breeches and a coat of blue superfine, he looked handsome and fresh, his cheeks and nose pinked by the sun, his dark hair overly long at the moment and tousled by the breeze. “I understand Miss Bella has come to call,” he announced as he came in, heading directly toward the vicar’s daughter, a wide smile upon his lips. “How good of you to come, Miss Bella. How are you?” He bowed to her curtsy and grasped her extended hand most courteously before releasing it to step back and beam down at her.
Astonished, Jane watched the change in Miss Bella’s demeanor. She retook her seat, blushed, and batted her lashes at Blixford as she said very prettily, “Simply marvelous, Your Grace, and oh, so much better now that I have seen you. It appears you are in the very best of health, for which I am glad.”
“You’re also looking fit, Miss Bella. How go things at the vicarage?”
While Jane watched in complete fascination, Miss Bella expounded on the good works of her father, the progress of the village school, and plans being made for a spring fete, to be held for the benefit of the orphans. “I do hope you’ll extend your help, Your Grace. We require the support of our benefactor to make it a success.”