Free Dearest Cousin Jane by Jill Pitkeathley Page A

Mr Sheridan himself assert that ‘Hastings’ transgressions are many,’ and I believe it will be so proved.
    In spite of being on trial as a criminal, Hastings and his wife continue to live in great style. They even have their own box at the Opera to which we went one evening. I think there is a great cachet—one of Eliza’s words—to being his goddaughter but if I were in her position now, I should be ashamed to be associated with the scandal and humiliation of this trial. But the more intimately I know Eliza, the more I realise that very little makes her ashamed. I know not if she has heard the gossip about her parentage but do not think she would even find illegitimacy shameful. For instance, she simply refuses to believe that her son is not normal. He cannot yet stand or talk, though he makes a great deal of noise. He has frequent fits and to all who see him it is obvious that his faculties are impaired. I know my aunt Cassandra compares him to her unfortunate sonGeorge and fears he will never be right. But Eliza only talks lightly of him proceeding at his own pace or of his having inordinate trouble cutting his teeth.
    They are to convey me home soon and go on to Ramsgate with the little one, as Eliza is convinced that the sea bathing will do him a world of good.
    Tunbridge Wells, Kent
    Oh! How good it is to be home again. I understood that Eliza and my aunt were to return to France as soon as they came back from Ramsgate—what a scandal it is that the babe has not yet even met his papa—but I have heard today from Eliza that they have delayed their journey yet again because of some disturbance in a town called Rennes, which it seems would have made it dangerous to travel. This is the woman who has willingly travelled in pursuit of pleasure to areas where there are known highwaymen and footpads. She seemed to think nothing of danger when she travelled into Surrey last year, yet when it comes to rejoining her husband she fears for her safety!
    But of course she is not to stay quietly at home as would be fitting, but is visiting Oxford. I know this is because her cousins James and Henry are there at present, and I suppose she continues to flirt with them both outrageously.
    I could scarce believe the impudence in her letter that arrived this morning telling me of this visit. She actually aspires to be a Fellow—is there no limit to her outrageousness?
    We visited several of the colleges, the museum, etc., and were very elegantly entertained by our gallant relations at St John’s, where I was mightily taken with the garden and longed to be a Fellow that I might walk in it every day. Besides I was delighted with the blackgown and thought the square cap mighty becoming. I do not think you would know Henry with his hair powdered and dressed in a very tonish style, besides he is at present taller than his father. We spent a day seeing Blenheim. I liked the outside of the mansion but when we entered I was disappointed at finding the furniture very old-fashioned and shabby.
    How typical of Eliza to be taken in by ‘ton’ and so dismissive of one of our great monuments. I hope she is not setting her cap at Henry. He is ten years her junior and she is married. But now I have spent time with her, I see these facts would be of no consequence to her if she has her heart set upon him. I fear there will be trouble ahead.

EIGHT
Eliza at Her House in Orchard Street, London
    September 1788
    D elighted as I am to have a visit from dear uncle George and his family I could wish they were coming at a more propitious time. I do pride myself on always keeping an elegant home, and it is hard to be elegant when surrounded by boxes and packing cases. But I have so much to accomplish before our return to France, so much to store away here, so much to purchase and pack for the establishment in Guines that the disarray cannot be helped.
    In addition I am so concerned about dear little Hastings. In August he suffered a most alarming series