Chapter Twenty-Six #3
“You may, perhaps. I hope I am not too forward, but my grandmother recently told me of an occasion when my mother and father were invited to Donwell by your parents, with some of their set, for a strawberry picking party.”
“It is not too late in the year for such a scheme,” he mused.
“That is very generous of you, sir.”
“It is my pleasure. Indeed, I think that you have come to Highbury at just the right time, Miss Fairfax.”
“I believe I have,” she agreed.
“We are sure to be often in company together; I hope we might often speak so candidly with one another.”
Jane smiled at Mr. Knightley, feeling herself lit from within to see him taking such evident pleasure in her company. “Depend upon it,” she said, blushing a little at what the words meant to her.
She felt as if they had reached some private understanding between them, a courtship unspoken, and she allowed herself to be carried away by her own fancy until they rejoined the rest of the party.
Perhaps she ought not to have enjoyed their easy camaraderie; perhaps she ought to have felt disloyal, but she did not.
Perhaps, if Frank returned and discovered the newfound intimacy between Jane and Mr. Knightley, she might tell him she was only doing her part to ensure his aunt heard naught of their secret betrothal.
Ere long, they returned to the parlor and stood together at the back of the room as they watched Elizabeth finish her performance.
She played beautifully, and Jane found that she was not at all surprised to find Mr. Darcy singing with her sister.
She was overjoyed at the sight of Elizabeth’s happiness, and did not even think to look for Miss Bingley’s displeasure.
There was something bittersweet in her heart, however.
She wished her sister well with all her heart, but she envied how easy it was for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and she wondered what would become of her after her sister was happily settled, and their parents reunited. Would she still be waiting for Frank?
A few nights later, Jane was still plagued by these doubts at Mr. Weston and Miss Taylor’s engagement party at Randalls; Frank was not in attendance.
Jane had not responded to his letter, and he had not written again, so she was not surprised by his absence.
If anything, she was shocked by her own indifference to it.
Miss Taylor was visibly disappointed, which aroused Emma’s displeasure, and Mr. Weston did his best to smooth over his son’s offense.
“He has written to me just this morning that Mrs. Churchill has been advised to see a specialist in London for her many maladies, and the Churchills mean to take a house in town as soon as this week.”
Jane was too filled with dread to listen to the conversation at the dinner table after this.
She ought to be filled with joy at the return of her beloved, but she could not summon any other feeling but anxiety that Frank should soon be amongst them again.
It was some relief, at least, that Emma did not react as Jane expected.
She had prepared herself for Emma’s enthusiasm for Frank’s company, had even steeled herself for forgiving her friend for the offense she did not comprehend, but Emma instead took pity on Mr. Bingley.
She said only, “Well, then I suppose we might name a date for our ball. I had thought we might hold the event on the fourth of September, in honor of Jane and Lizzy’s birthday. ”
Miss Bingley was displeased with this, and Emma did not conceal her gratification at irking the woman.
“I have no objection to the date,” Miss Bingley sniffed.
“But by then, the banns will have been read a third time for dear Mr. Bennet and me, and for you and my brother, Miss Woodhouse. Ought the ball not celebrate our nuptials?”
Emma’s eyes lit with mischief. “And the banns for Mr. Weston and Miss Taylor, too! Oh? I do hope we might share a wedding date, Miss Taylor, for you are dearer to me than any other creature.”
“I should be glad to set a date,” Mr. Bingley said, giving Emma a conspiratorial wink. “But should we not share our happy day with my sister?”
“We can all share, then,” Emma said with a shrug. “Surely you would not object, Miss Bingley, to sharing the happy day with my former governess?”
Miss Bingley looked as if she might shatter the wine glass in her hand, and Jane grinned at Emma before sharing a wicked look with her sister across the table. Jane could not resist needling her friend a little. “I am so pleased you and Mr. Bingley will be setting a date for your wedding, Emma.”
“You and Miss Taylor will make such lovely brides,” Elizabeth agreed. She raised her glass aloft. “To the two happy couples.”
Emma’s eyes flashed with indignation and something like panic, and Jane gave her a little smirk.
Perhaps she should not revenge herself in such a mean way, but she rather enjoyed it.
And when Jane looked over at Mr. Knightley and saw no anguish in his eyes as they discussed Emma’s marriage, her heart leapt to greater heights.
He turned to her as if he could feel her gaze, and offered her a bright smile.
Jane let out a breathy giggle.Across the table, Elizabeth caught Jane’s eye and raised her brows impossibly high.