Finally, she would have to convince her aunt that she and Jonathan were made for each other. She had reached her majority, so that apart from informing her solicitor Mr. Bundy for the sake of politeness, she was free to do as she pleased.
But if she feared Jonathan's tongue-lashings, they were as nothing compared to what her aunt could dispense when the mood struck her.
So, she would just have to be careful, and move things far enough along that there could be no going back. But there was a fine line between getting engaged and causing scandal. People were bound to talk anyway: the divine Miss Ashton marrying Jonathan Deveril, a vicar, of all people. She could just here them all atwitter now.
But Pamela didn't care. She loved Jonathan. She would summon up all the detailed knowledge she had gleaned from the popular novels, and make herself a match with the man she loved.
Chapter Seventeen
Pamela's scheme to woo Jonathan for her husband got under way the very next morning. Her plan of attack had to be subtle, but persuasive. Warm, but not too heated. And it had to take place in full view of a houseful of companions and chaperones.
She started off with a fine day gown of white lawn trimmed with dark blue satin ribbon around the hem, neckline, and short sleeves, the ribbons there being tied into bows.
Breakfast being a relatively informal meal, she timed her arrival to ensure she was not last down, and thus got to sit across from Jonathan. She asked him if he had time that morning to take her over to the poorer area of the town. He doubted the wisdom of it, dressed as she was, but asked his sister if she would like to accompany them.
Pamela had not had very much time to sew for the poor with her never-ending round of entertainments, but she brought what she could, and donated some fabric and some of her own things as well. If he thought the batiste night dresses too fine and delicately made for poor Mrs. Jenkins, who had to be twenty stone at least, he said nothing. There was no opportunity for intimate conversation between them, but she could take his arm when walking, and his hand when he helped her in and out of the Duke's carriage.
When Sarah saw someone with whom she particularly wanted to speak, Pamela made room for the newcomer by seating herself next to Jonathan.
"I don't mind, honestly. I know you prefer to ride facing," said she to Sarah, enjoying the nearness of the compelling man by her side.
On the way back to the house, she said in a low tone, "I have taken what you said very much to heart, and shall speak with my aunt about her indiscreet behavior. I'm sorry if Elizabeth has been harmed in any way by anything we might have said inadvertently, and will do our best to make it up to her."
Jonathan smiled slightly. "It's enough if you try to be a better friend to her. She admires you, and wishes she were more sociable."
"But as you have pointed out, that can be a bad thing."
He nodded. "It can indeed, if her name is paired with the wrong person. But the Duke and I have cleared things up, and we hope that most right-minded people will forget they ever heard such arrant nonsense."
Pamela wondered whom Elizabeth had been paired with. She had never noticed anyone paying especial court to her, though as a Duke's sister she was worth cultivating, even though she was still very young.
"What are your plans for the rest of the day?" he asked now.
"I thought to go over to see my old school friend, Belinda Bassett, who is in West Avenue, and from there go on to the milliner's. I am also quite out of material, and as you can see, I have nothing left to give after our visit this morning."
"If you would like my sister and I to accompany you-"
"But Sarah has her friend Angela with her now. I would not like to deprive her of that society."
"Then I shall ask Elizabeth to go with you."
"I should like that."
But when they arrived back at the house, Elizabeth was unavailable, having gone out with her sister-in-law to the fabric shop in Cheap Street.
"If we go there first, we may be able to catch them," Jonathan suggested.
Vanessa Stone agreed to go with them. She had a list of errands of her own to run. She also wasn't averse to a bit of matchmaking. She was no fool. She could see the way the couple looked at each other, both when they were conversing, and especially when they thought the other was not looking. She thought it would be a very fine thing for Jonathan, but knew he would never dream of doing anything improper.
Now Pamela, on the other hand, was a most determined young woman. In this case, she thought that might be no bad thing. Jonathan had rigidly denied himself happiness for far too long. It was high time he wed and set up his nursery.