The Wrong Gentleman

CHAPTER FIVE

Jane sucked in a breath as the corset pushed painfully against her ribcage.

"It's too tight, Mother," she winced, placing a hand on her stomach as she tried to force air into her lungs.

"There is no such thing as a tight corset," Margaret insisted. The corset pressed further against Jane's ribs until she feared she might pass out from the scarcity of air. "You must look your best if you are to gain the attention of the new Earl of Northampton," she sighed, coming to stand before Jane, "and if not, we shall force his attention upon you. I have it on good authority that he shall be in attendance tonight. A dashing young man, he is. I'm certain you two shall make a lovely couple."

Knowing full well the implications of her mother's words, a vile taste filled Jane's mouth.

"Do not appear so pale," Margaret admonished, sensing her displeasure.

"Perhaps there is another way, Mother? A way other than trickery."

"There is no way!" she snapped. "We already discussed this, and now that the plan is set before us, you wish to turn your back on your sister and I?!"

"It is not my—"

"What future do you suppose you shall have once you and your sister are left unmarried and penniless?!" she asked, cutting Jane off. "We shall be nothing but paupers, and poor Amelia shall be forced to work in a whorehouse. Is that the future you would wish upon yourself and sister?"

Jane swallowed, loathing her mother's plan, yet knowing that tricking a complete stranger into marriage was the only way to save her family from an uncertain future.

She was afraid. Perhaps in her bid to secure the future of her family, she would sacrifice her own future. She wondered about the life she was to have once she was married to a man she knew nothing about; a man she didn't love, and likely a man who might never love her. She suspected the earl would hate her once he realized she had tricked him into marriage, and while propriety would force him to make an honest woman out of her by marrying her, he would loathe her for her deception.

Tears filled her eyes at the thought. Jane didn't wish to live the rest of her life sentenced to a loveless marriage like her parents. The part of her that hungered for love kicked against her mother's plans.

"You must do the right thing! I've always known you were selfish, Jane. I'm appalled by your willingness to do nothing while your sister and I suffer."

"Please, Mother, it is not my wish to have you and Amelia live the rest of your lives in misery. But perhaps in my bid to save our family, I shall sentence myself to a life of misery?" she begged, desperate for her mother to see reason.

"If that must be the case, then so be it! You mustn't be so selfish, Jane! We all have to sacrifice for each other. I already spent a fortune having your dress for tonight's ball made. It was money I could have put to better use! And do not get me started on how much money I spent burying your selfish father. I am afraid it's too late to back down."

She breathed, her lungs constricting. "Perhaps our plan shall fail and I shall be ruined forever." It was a possibility. If her mother's scandalous plan failed, Jane's reputation would be ruined forever.

"You are already ruined. We're all ruined. You do not risk ruination tonight, Jane, you only stand to gain one thing; salvation. You must save our family."

She knew she couldn't win an argument with her mother, but she had hoped to reason with her. Clamping her lips shut, she feared she might give in to her desire to cry.

Margaret turned from her and to the bed, where Jane's ball gown laid. She took it and helped Jane into it. Jane stared at her breasts that were left exposed by the low-cut neckline, and instinctively, she pressed her palms to it. The short sleeves of the dress fell off of her shoulders, and the bodice gave her a ridiculously thin waist.