Chapter Fourteen
Jane read Lizzy’s latest letter again. Something about it was not right.
“Jane?”
She looked up. “Yes, Aunt?”
“You are frowning. Is all not well at Longbourn?”
Jane hesitated. “Lizzy writes that everyone is well, and that a new tenant has moved into Netherfield Park.”
“A new tenant?”
“Yes; evidently he is a gentleman of some means.”
“That is certainly good news, is it not?”
“I suppose so.”
“Yet you frown. What is it, Jane?”
“I do not know. I just feel that something is not right at home.”
“Perhaps you are just feeling homesick, my dear. It would not be surprising; you have never been away from Longbourn for such an extended period of time before.”
“Yes, that is likely it. Thank you, Aunt; you have relieved my mind considerably.”
“And is your young man not coming to carry us off to another art exhibition shortly?” Aunt Madeleine’s eyes twinkled.
“Oh! Yes; I had better go and change at once!” Jane left the room and ran upstairs, her misgivings now allayed.
Mr. Stanford had made it his personal mission to educate Jane on his favourite subject of art. Jane could not say that she would ever become an expert on the subject, but it was certainly no hardship to be escorted about London in an elegant carriage with a handsome and kind gentleman.
But she knew she was not in love with him. She and Lizzy had spoken for hours, late at night, under their covers, about the unmistakable signs of true love. Faster heartbeat, blushing upon hearing his name, tingling in the fingertips…she had none of these symptoms.
She suspected it was because she was not yet certain of him.
That he liked her was not in doubt, but he did not know all there was to know about her.
He knew that she had relatives in trade and appeared to have no objections to that.
He knew that her father owned a small and insignificant estate, and he appeared to have no objection to that, either.
But he did not know that she had no dowry at all, and that might be enough to put him off her entirely. Should she tell him?
What would Mama say? Of course, Mama would advise her to say nothing until she was certain of him. That was likely good advice.