Miss Jane's Undoing Read Online Free PDF Page B

his manhood, but he gripped her wrist before she could go any further.
    “Wait,” said Tommy, agitatedly running his hand through his hair.  At this rate, he would never get around to saying what he wanted to say.  He looked away from Jane so that she wouldn’t see how much she tempted him, how much it cost him to resist.  Last time, with her willing submission, it had been hard enough.  Now, with her as an active participant, it was all he could do not to tear off that chemise and throw her on the grass.
    Tommy stood there in a state of indecision, his physical needs warring with his heart.  He could neither carry on with the lovemaking nor declare himself as he had meant to do.  He just stood there, dazed, making an effort to collect himself but distracted by her loveliness.  That pause, however, proved to be his undoing because it gave Jane the chance to retreat.  Before he could say anything, she gathered her things together and ran into the woods, tears glistening in her eyes.

    ****

    Tommy cursed himself several times after meeting Jane by the stream.  Perhaps it was time for him to just go over to her house where he could formally ask for her hand.  He’d delayed long enough out of a fear of rejection and then, he’d picked the worst possible time to speak.  He should have realized that her attempt to seduce him meant that she felt the same way about him.  Instead of stopping her in a misguided attempt to seal the deal, he should have let matters take their natural course.  It was just so hard to read Jane.  At one moment, he was convinced that she cared about him, but shortly thereafter, doubts assailed him.  In any case, Tommy didn’t have to wonder what to do for very long; the vicar proposed to Jane that very evening.
    Tommy heard about this occurrence at the dinner table; the entire family was agog with the news while his sister Elizabeth looked at him sardonically, as if to say, “I told you so.”  Tommy was quiet throughout the meal and ate little, disappointing his mother who was all solicitude.  She had not had the opportunity to fuss over him for the past three years while he’d been at Oxford, so she tried to cram in all the maternal feelings she  could—often to Tommy’s frustration and Elizabeth’s great amusement.
    “Well, it’s about time,” said Tommy’s father.  “We kept hearing about the possibility for the past year.  I, for one, am heartily sick of the topic.  Let them marry or not marry.  What difference can it make?”
    “Well, it’s not a bad catch for her,” said Tommy’s mother.  “The vicar has a nice appointment and a nice house and since Jane is not to come into very much money of her own, one can’t really expect her to do much better, despite her good looks.”
    “So it’s all settled then?” Tommy asked finally.  “She accepted his proposal?”
    “Of course she did,” said Tommy’s mother.  “For a while, it looked as though she was holding out for William Casey, but he couldn’t be brought up to scratch.”
    “I, for one, am surprised,” said Elizabeth.  “Jane has never shown any preference for the vicar.  If anything, it seemed to me as if she avoided his advances.  Now, of a sudden, they are to be married.  Something must have happened to tip her in that direction.”  She looked pointedly at Tommy, who said nothing.
    After dinner, Tommy told his family that he had some letters to write and disappeared into the library, where he paced back and forth.  He had no desire to write letters or read books.  It was a time for action, but what would be the best action to take?  He wasn’t sure.  Elizabeth entered the library to talk to him about the matter, and he didn’t attempt to throw her out this time.  She was a young woman.  Maybe she would know how Jane felt.  Tommy was at his wit’s end and ready to try anything.
    “Well, brother,” said Elizabeth with mock sadness, “isn’t this a depressing business?