Sunday 2 October 2022

A Civil Contract Part VI

 The Lyntons return to London in October, and consult Dr Croft, the doctor whom Mr Chawleigh has found for them. Croft was a real person, and later, he was doctor to Princess Charlotte when she had her one still born child.. and died.  Jenny does not take to him.  He is arrogant and tells her off for putting on weight....  She finds London increasingly depressing.  It is winter and cold, and she feels ill, and she has also been used to a different life now in Fontley.  She realises that before her marriage she had kept house for her father but found it rather dull, yet she had accepted boredom as the unlucky lot of women. In the country, there was more for her to do, and learn about, and she was much busier and stimulated. 
Mr Chawleigh thinks that she cant possibly be bored with London, the theatres, shops, entertainments and her social life with the upper classes.. but she is....

Jenny is shy and finds a life of pleasure seeking is not really to her taste but she tries to make the best of things.  Adam can see that she's ill and unhappy, and he consults Lady Oversley who is friendly with Jenny.  She supports Dr Crofts diet, beleiving that it is a good idea for pregnant women..and a new idea but she tells him that Jenny is probably depressed as she is alone a good deal.  She has no mother or sisters, and does not know her mother's family at all since there was a coolness when the late Mrs Chawleigh, daughter of a prosperous farmer, married Mr Chawleigh who was still trying to make his fortune.  Adam has an idea, and goes to Bath to fetch Lydia, to come and be company for Jenny. Lady Lynton has settled there, near to her widowed sister, Lady Bridestow, so she has a companion, and so can spare her daughter.  

Jenny perks up  with Lydia living with her, and Adam is relieved because he is growing fonder of his wife, but they then hear the news that Julia is engaged to Lord Rockhill. 

 Jenny visits Lady Oversley, who is pleased to have her daughter engaged and to such a rich man but worried that he is too old for her, and that she is not completely recovered from her love for Adam. 

Jenny can see that Adam is still carrying a torch for Julia, but they cannot talk of this matter.  Shortly afterwards, she faints one morning and Lady Nassington, Adam's aunt happens to be visiting.  She is a blunt lady who speaks her mind and tells Adam that Jenny should not be dieting and being bled; she should be living quietly in the country and keeping busy with her house there.  Adam consults another doctor, one of the Prince Regent's men and he advises that while Jenny should be careful, she is in good health and would probably be better not dieting and living at Fontley.  He suggests a local doctor who could attend the confinement, in case Jenny has a difficult time. 

Mr Chawleigh is furious at the idea, but he can see that Jenny is happy at the thought of going out of London, and while he still worries, he sees her off back to Fontley with Adam.  He comes to stay at Christmas, and Jenny is in better health by then and is so clearly happy in her new home that her father makes the best of it.

Julia marries in the New Year and goes on honeymoon to Paris. Jenny awaits the birth of her baby in March. 

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