Mid-February 1809
Jemimah had been thinking about her conversation with Madhav for several days. His family had made their position clear, and neither his father nor his mother could accept the prospect of their marriage. Before they could consider what might happen next, she knew that she must speak to her own parents. It would not be fair to expect Madhav to face his family’s objections while she avoided the same responsibility herself.
She decided to speak to Georgiana first.
She found her sister in the drawing room one afternoon, occupied with a piece of embroidery. Sophia was out visiting a friend, and Frances had been taken into the garden by one of the household’s younger attendants.
Georgiana looked up as Jemimah entered.
“You have something on your mind,” she said.
“I have been meaning to speak to you. It concerns Madhav.”
Georgiana put down her needlework.
“Has something happened?”
“His father has been considering a marriage for him. There is a young woman from a family he knows, the Mukherjees, whom he considers a suitable match. Madhav has told him that he wishes to marry me instead.”
“And what did his father say?”
“He cannot agree to it. His mother feels much the same, although she has always been kind to me.”
Georgiana looked troubled.
“Then I suppose you must be very disappointed.”
“I am. We had hoped that his family might understand, particularly as they know me so well. I had even told Madhav that I should be willing to make my home at Basu Bari. I thought that perhaps, if I were prepared to learn their customs and become part of the household, we might find a way.”
“And they would not consider it?”
“No. His father believes our differences are too great, and his mother fears that I would never be entirely at home there.”
Georgiana considered this for a moment.
“I can understand that it must be difficult for them, even if it is disappointing for you. But what do you intend to do?”
“I cannot give up without speaking to Mama and Papa. They know Madhav, and they have always thought well of him. I must at least give them the opportunity to understand how serious we are.”
“I hope they will listen, Jemimah. But you must be prepared for the possibility that they may feel much as his family does.”
“I know. But I cannot make that decision for them before I have even asked.”
Georgiana reached across and took her hand.
“Then you must speak to them. And whatever they say, you know that I shall be here.”
“I am very glad of that.”
Jemimah spoke to her mother the following afternoon. Charlotte was in her sitting room, writing a letter, and put down her pen when her daughter entered.
“Mama, may I speak with you? There is something important I must tell you.”
Charlotte looked at her with concern.
“Of course, my dear. What is it?”
“It concerns Madhav Basu. We have come to care for one another very deeply, and we have been considering whether we might marry.”
Charlotte stared at her for a moment.
“Marry? You and Mr Basu?”
“Yes, Mama.”
“But he is Indian, Jemimah. And a Hindu.”
“I know. We have spoken about our different backgrounds and our faiths. Neither of us expects the other to abandon their beliefs.”
Charlotte rose and walked towards the window.
“Oh, Jemimah. You cannot imagine that such a marriage would be simple. You have been brought up as a Christian. What of your faith, and what of the family you might enter? What would become of you within a household whose customs and expectations are so different from our own?”
“I have visited Basu Bari many times. I know something of their way of life, and I have always been welcomed there. I should have much to learn, but I would be willing to do so.”
“Being a guest is not the same as being a wife.”
“I understand that, Mama. But Madhav has never asked me to give up my beliefs, and I would never ask him to give up his.”
Charlotte turned towards her.
“You may both believe that you can overcome these differences, but marriage involves far more than the affection of two people. I cannot believe that you would be happy, and I cannot give my blessing to it.”
Jemimah had hoped for a more sympathetic response, but she had expected objections.
“Would you not at least consider it?”
“I am afraid I cannot. I want you to be happy, my dear, but I believe this would bring you difficulties which you cannot yet fully understand.”
Jemimah saw that her mother was genuinely distressed. There was little to be gained by continuing the discussion, and she did not wish their conversation to end in anger.
“I am sorry to have troubled you, Mama. I only wanted you to know how I feel.”
Charlotte reached for her hand.
“I know, Jemimah. And I hope you will understand that I speak as I do because I love you.”
Jemimah kissed her mother and left the room.
She found her father in his study later that afternoon. Edward was looking through a number of papers, but put them aside when she entered.
“Jemimah. Is something wrong?”
“I should like to speak with you, Papa. It concerns Madhav Basu.”
Edward looked at her attentively.
“Mr Basu? What about him?”
“I have come to love him, Papa, and we wish to marry.”
Edward was silent for a moment.
“I see.”
“I know that you have always thought well of him. You know his father, and you have welcomed Madhav into our home. I hoped that you might understand why I have come to feel as I do.”
“I have a good opinion of Mr Basu. He is an intelligent and courteous young man, and I have always found him agreeable. But marriage is another matter.”
“We have considered the difficulties, Papa. We know that our different backgrounds and faiths will require understanding on both sides.”
“And what of the future? What of children, and the expectations of his family? Have you considered how you would live?”
“We have spoken about these things. Neither of us wishes the other to abandon their beliefs. We hope that we might find a way to respect both.”
Edward folded his hands upon the desk.
“Jemimah, I do not doubt that your feelings are sincere, nor do I question Mr Basu’s character. But I cannot approve of this marriage. I believe the differences between your worlds are too great, and I fear that you would find yourself in a position which would bring you unhappiness.”
“Even though you think so well of him?”
“Thinking well of a man does not necessarily mean that I can accept him as my daughter’s husband. I have to consider your future, my dear, and I cannot believe this would be a wise choice.”
Jemimah looked down at her hands.
“I had hoped you might see it differently.”
“I am sorry. I know this is painful, but I cannot give my consent.”
He rose and came round the desk, placing a hand gently upon her shoulder.
“You must not think that I dismiss your feelings. I know you have thought carefully about this. But I am your father, and I cannot agree to something which I believe would place you in such difficulty.”
“I understand that you wish to protect me, Papa. I only wish you could understand that I have considered these things too.”
Edward looked at her sadly.
“I know, my dear.”
She kissed his cheek and left him, knowing that there was no more to be said.
Jemimah found Georgiana almost immediately. Her sister was in her own room, and looked up as Jemimah entered.
“You have spoken to them?”
“Yes. To Mama yesterday, and Papa this afternoon.”
“And what did they say?”
“They cannot agree to the marriage.”
Georgiana put aside what she was doing.
“Oh, Jemimah. I am so sorry.”
“Mama was very distressed. Papa was kinder, but he said much the same. They both believe that the differences between us are too great, and that I would not be happy.”
“I had hoped Papa might be willing to consider it.”
“So had I. He thinks very well of Madhav, but he cannot accept him as my husband.”
Georgiana took her sister’s hand.
“Then neither family can agree?”
“No. I am afraid not.”
For a little while they sat together without speaking. Jemimah was grateful that Georgiana did not try to persuade her to change her mind, or offer easy assurances that everything would somehow be resolved.
“I do not know what will happen now,” Jemimah said at last. “But I could not have gone on without telling them. At least they know how I feel.”
“You were right to speak to them. Whatever happens, you must remember that I love you, and I want you to be happy.”
“I know, dear Georgiana.”
In the days that followed, Jemimah went about her usual duties as though nothing had changed. She sat with her mother, joined the family at meals, read with Frances and listened to Sophia’s accounts of her visits. She attended to the small responsibilities expected of her and continued to make the occasional call with Charlotte.
To anyone observing her, there was little to suggest that anything unusual had taken place. She was careful not to allow her disappointment to become a subject of household discussion, and she did not wish her younger sisters to be troubled by something they could not influence.
Yet her thoughts returned frequently to Madhav. She wondered how he had been managing since his conversation with his father, and whether he had found any reason to hope that their families might eventually be persuaded.
It was during this period that Jane Ellwood spoke to the family about her own future.
Jemimah had known that Jane and William Henry Bellamy had become close, but she had not realised that their attachment had reached the point of marriage. Jane explained that William, who worked as a clerk in the East India Company’s commercial department, had asked her to become his wife, and that she had accepted.
She had spoken first to Edward and Charlotte, who were pleased for her, although both were sorry that she would eventually be leaving the household. Jane had been part of the family for many years, and the younger girls were particularly attached to her.
“You will be greatly missed,” Charlotte told her. “But I am glad that you have found someone with whom you wish to make a home.”
Jane thanked her and explained that she and William hoped to establish a household of their own after their marriage. She would remain with the Fairfaxes for a little while longer, until suitable arrangements could be made for Frances’s education, but she would not continue in her present position indefinitely.
Jemimah was genuinely pleased for her. Jane had given her far more than lessons. She had encouraged her to read, to question and to look beyond the limits of her immediate surroundings. Over the years, their relationship had grown into one of affection and mutual respect, and Jemimah wished her every happiness.
Nevertheless, the news made her thoughtful. Jane had been a familiar presence throughout much of her life in Calcutta. The prospect of her leaving brought home how much a household could change, even when those changes were welcomed and brought happiness to the people concerned.
That evening, when she was alone, Jemimah found herself thinking over the events of the past few weeks.
She had hoped that the affection between herself and Madhav might eventually be accepted by both families. She had been willing to make her home at Basu Bari, to learn what was unfamiliar to her and to find her place within his family. She had believed that, because Madhav was known and respected by her parents, they might be prepared to consider the marriage even if they could not immediately approve of it.
Now she knew that neither family could agree.
She did not regret speaking to her parents. It had been necessary, and she was glad that she had not left them to discover her feelings by chance. But their refusal had left her with a sadness she could not easily put aside. She loved her family, and she loved the life she had known in Calcutta. She had never wished to be separated from either.
Above all, she thought of Madhav. He must be told what had happened, and she knew that he would be disappointed. He had already faced his own family’s objections, and now she would have to tell him that hers were no less firmly opposed.
She wondered what he would say, and whether, together, they might yet find some way forward. She could not answer that question herself. It was something they would have to consider together.
For the present, she could only hope that their affection would prove strong enough to withstand the disappointment they had both encountered.
She resolved to see Madhav as soon as she could.
There were things they needed to discuss, and she knew that neither of them could continue to live only upon hope.