After a pause, he sat up a bit straighter and met Michael’s gaze directly. “After your third duchess passed, I wrote to Jane and suggested she come home, at last, and see you, to apologize in person and put the past behind her, so she could move on and perhaps find some peace and contentment. I mentioned that you would undoubtedly have some difficulty finding a fourth bride, owing to your misfortunes with the first three, then casually suggested she might still marry, despite her ruination, that there were a number of gentlemen of reduced circumstances who’d be willing to look past all that and love her for her fortune.”
Michael was shocked. Truly astounded. “Surely you didn’t say such a thing to her!”
“Oh, but I did. I knew it would get her back up, but I also knew it would set her to thinking, to wondering, now that you were free again, if perhaps she might marry you, after all. I was convinced, from four years of letters asking after you, that she was still in love with you. Within a month of my letter, she wrote to say she would come home, at last, and asked my assistance to see you again, that she could apologize.” He glanced around the parlor. “And here we are, not quite three weeks since your meeting at the Manderly ball. I do hope you’ll give this your best effort, Blixford. I have come to see you in a far different light, and am convinced, despite my earlier anger with you and disappointment over the entire situation, that you and Jane are extremely well suited, and have the prospect of a very happy union . Unfortunately, I believe you’ll have to be the impetus to make this happen.” He sighed deeply. “It will require a fair amount of hard work.”
“I’ve heard it said that hard work is its own reward.” Despite the pall cast upon him, Michael smiled. “She’s certainly an unusual woman, and I’m constantly surprised by her. In truth, I wouldn’t have her any other way. She’s devoted to you and her brothers, and I’m well able to see why she would be so upset that you know anything of what happened to her. She sees it as her fault, her shame, and won’t allow that she was duped and misused by a blackguard of no honor. I’m planning his comeuppance, by the bye.”
Sherbourne’s eyes glittered with relish. “You will, of course, allow me to assist you, if at all possible?”
“I’ll be only too happy to do so. After today, I’ll be even more committed to the task, for it appears that, even now, he’s interfering in my wife’s happiness.”
“Poor Jane, my heart breaks for her. I wish she’d see that this doesn’t lower my estimation of her, but she will believe it until I prove otherwise. It will be difficult, but I’ll succeed.”
“You must have some intrinsic understanding of women, because she respects and loves you so much. You also apparently had a harmonious and happy marriage. I wonder how you went about it? What is the secret to providing a wife with happiness?”
“It’s not so very difficult.” His father-in-law relaxed in his chair and smiled at him. “Within reason, when possible, admit you are wrong, even when you’re convinced you’re right. You should say you’re sorry, even when you cannot fathom how you have erred, or why she’s so angry with you. It’s also wise to bestow gifts, not necessarily of value, but thoughtful tokens. Just last week, I gave your sister a set of pencils and a package of drawing paper, because she hadn’t brought any from home, not planning to stay longer than one night. You’d have thought I handed her the crown jewels.”
He took another drink and stared intently at the portrait of Mrs. Hopping that hung above the mantel. “Never criticize her family. No matter how much she may criticize them, never vocally agree with her, even if you do. If she asks if she appears to have put on weight, deny it, even if she’s grown heavy with child and fair waddles. These things should all be applied in double doses when she’s in her courses. They’re downright mean at times, and you’re powerless in the face of it, trust me. No amount of reason will work. Just get down and grovel and be done with it.”
“Wise words, but sometimes difficult to put into action.”
“True, but it does become worth it, you know. Women don’t expect so much, in truth. They need to know they are cared for, that they are loved, respected and appreciated, and they require a certain amount of affection. They’re also deuced sensitive about the offspring, so have a care before you criticize her mothering skills. I’ve come to believe they view it much as we would react were another man to call us dishonorable. It is the greatest insult. Truth be told, they generally know, much better than we do, the physical needs of a child.”