The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 2

Emma writes a brief, distressed entry announcing she has discovered the identity of the journal’s author. She is so appalled by the revelation and her own actions that she covers her mirror to avoid seeing her own reflection, calling herself a “scoundrel of the first order.” (108)

Emma reveals that the journal belongs to the Duke of Islington. She is shocked by this discovery, and the revelation leaves her wondering how she will ever face him to confess what she has done.

In the crack in the garret wall, Emma finds a note from Mr. Pierce, who informs her he is leaving London until June 28 and would like to discuss a “business proposition” upon his return. Intrigued, she agrees to meet with him. The note provides a welcome distraction from her guilt over the duke’s journal, which she admits to having read twice. In a moment of flawed reasoning, she blames the duke for her transgression, arguing that if he had followed the local custom of placing a white feather atop the journal, it never would have “wandered” into her possession.

Waking to a sense of hollow silence, Emma remembers that Mr. Pierce is gone. Later, while attending a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral with Aunt Eugenia and Arabella, the sermon on the commandment “Thou Shalt Not Steal” strikes Emma as a personal condemnation for reading the duke’s journal. Overwhelmed with guilt, she resolves to go to the duke’s residence the following morning to return the journal and confess her crime.

Emma goes to the Duke of Islington’s home, where a butler directs her to wait in the “Rabbit Room.” The room’s decor, featuring opposing paintings of a hound and a rabbit, makes Emma feel like prey. When the duke arrives, he remembers her from their previous encounter. Emma explains how she found the journal and, lacking a name inside, felt compelled to investigate its contents, ultimately confessing she read the entire volume. 

The duke is furious, pointing to the monogram on the cover and accusing her of violating his privacy. They argue, with Emma insisting he should have written his name inside and the duke retorting he would have preferred she burn it. Their tense exchange ends when the duke requests her calling card. Upon reading her name and address, he simply says “Ah,” as if everything now makes sense, before seeing her out.

On the morning of June 19, Emma goes to the top of Primrose Hill and throws her “lucky-unlucky marble” as far away as possible. “Lucky indeed,” the entry concludes tersely.

Emma is caught off guard again when Aunt Eugenia asks about her chaperone; knowing it is scandalous for her to be living with Archibald without one, Emma invented a chaperone, using Agnes as inspiration. Emma quickly invents a lie to distract her aunt, but later, Arabella warns her to be more careful, as another misstep will expose her deceit.

Tybalt has been crying loudly every night, and Emma admits she, too, has missed Mr. Pierce. The cat’s wailing has an unintended benefit: Emma’s guardian, Cousin Archibald, believes he is being haunted by a ghost and has been frequently visiting the vicar, Young Hawkes, for counsel, leaving Emma in peace. Agnes, who has been sworn to secrecy about the cat, tries to comfort Tybalt with treats, but he remains upset by Mr. Pierce’s absence.

The day of the “Conclave of the Janes” arrives (119). With assistance from Arabella, Emma and Mary have arranged for Cousin Archibald and Parian to be away from the house. While in Regent’s Park earlier, Emma and Mary encountered the Duke of Islington. After some teasing banter, Mary impulsively invited him to the conclave. The duke accepted on the condition that Emma seconded the invitation, which she reluctantly did. As the meeting is beginning, Jack Hollingstell—Mary’s roguish associate, whom she pays to pretend to be her cousin so that she can go out unchaperoned arrives uninvited and unannounced.

As the guests assemble, Emma explains to the duke that the Jane Eyres have gathered to devise a plan to retrieve a cherished first-edition copy of Jane Eyre from Fortitude’s tyrannical headmistress, Mrs. Wade. She attempts to introduce the duke to Jack under the false name “Neville Cross,” but Jack reveals he knows the duke’s true identity by producing the duke’s stolen pocket watch from his open palm. 

After the Janes discuss and dismiss several options, Jack proposes a plan: He will pose as the husband of a former student to gain entry to the school, create a distraction, and pick the lock to steal the book. Since Mary is a known Jane, all eyes turn to Emma to play the part of his wife. She initially refuses, but Jack wins everyone over with a convincing performance of a doting, scholarly husband. The Janes unanimously approve the plan. Later that night, Emma sees Mr. Pierce arrive home. Though they exchange a brief wave through the window, she is disappointed when no note appears through the wall.

Emma and Jack Hollingstell travel by train to Fortitude, with Jack maintaining his persona as an eccentric intellectual husband. At the school, he charms the formidable Mrs. Wade with flattery and intellectual banter before knocking over a framed picture, causing momentary chaos. Emma does not witness the exact moment of theft and later admits she is “not altogether sure” how the rescue came about (135), but Jack emerges from the school with three volumes of Jane Eyre concealed on his person. On their way out, he reveals to a horrified Emma that he put a mild hallucinogen in the headmistress’s teapot, ensuring she will dismiss their visit as a strange dream. 

On the return journey, Jack proposes a deal: In exchange for an unspecified future favor from Emma, he will guarantee Mary is kept safe from his dangerous business dealings. Emma makes a counteroffer, promising two favors if his protection extends to all her friends and family, including the Duke of Islington. After she subtly threatens him with her aunt’s connections to Scotland Yard, Jack agrees, and they shake on the bargain.

The next day, Jack sends a box of pastries, and Emma wraps up the recovered Jane Eyre, kisses it, and sends it to Mary. The Duke of Islington pays a brief visit to ensure Emma “survived” her mission, and they share a tense, witty exchange. 

Later, Emma invites the newly returned Mr. Pierce for tea in the garden. Their conversation is comfortable and easy, feeling like a reunion between old friends. When Emma asks about his business proposal, Mr. Pierce asks to rent her unused salon to establish a portrait photography studio. Seeing the financial benefit, Emma agrees. They inspect the room, and he suggests adding a new door connecting the salon to his side of the house for his clients’ convenience. He promises to pay for the renovations and to provide comparable rental rates for her to set a price. They shake hands, finalizing Emma’s second major bargain in two days.