“I let you suffer precisely as much as you wish.”

Jane pressed her hands against her temples. “Perhaps you should all go to Bath and leave me here. I have no stomach for the crowds.”

“What a splendid idea!” Mrs. Ellsworth perked up right away. “It is so much easier to manage having one daughter out than two, and the ton will be there at this time of year, so Melody will surely catch the eye of a beau in the fashionable set. Only think, Charles, how nice that would be.”

He harrumphed. “We cannot leave Jane here by herself. That would not do at all. And no one has asked whether I want to go to Bath.”

“Papa, do you want to go with us?” Melody laid her hand on his arm. “Say you do, please? It would be so lovely.”

He patted her hand. “But think of your sister. I will not leave her alone here. It is not right.”

“I do not mind, Papa,” Jane said, excited by the notion that she might have the house empty of all her relations. “Nancy would be here to look after me, and I could follow by post chaise if the solitude became too oppressive.”

At last Mrs. Ellsworth seemed to awaken to the proprieties of the situation. “No. No, it will not do to have you alone in the house. Unchaperoned! What would the neighbours think? You will have to come with us.”

“The neighbours would think that I am safe being left alone because I am an old maid. I am of an age and a character where I can serve as a chaperon more readily than needing one.” Jane put her utensils down on the table and turned to her father. “Please, Papa. I do not want to go to Bath. If you feel you must take the family, then that is all well and good, but leave me here.”

He leaned back in his chair and laced his hands across his waistcoat, drumming one thumb against his belly. Tucking his chin in, he studied them each in turn. Jane felt his gaze on her as if she had just come in from hiding from her governess; she was not sure what she had done that made her feel vaguely ashamed, but she still flushed under his gaze. After a length, he snorted. “I will stay here with Jane and the two of you can go to Bath. I will contact our solicitor to see you settled there for a visit. Does that suit all?”

Jane shook her head. “You should not miss out on Bath on my account.”

“I would not stay home if I did not want to. I am well satisfied to miss Bath.” Mr. Ellsworth winked at her.

“I think it is a splendid idea. Don’t you, Mama?” Melody clapped her hands. “I can look after Mama in Bath and you can look after Jane here. How perfect.”

Jane had her doubts about the advisability of sending her mother and sister to Bath without anyone to check their behaviour. But without agreeing to go to Bath herself she could not see a way to convince her father, who patently did not want to go, to accompany them.