4. Chapter 4 (1/2)

two chapters in one day! yay! well, considering i am currently writing chapter 13, it's not too amazing. i actually posted this because i had intended to post the other a couple of days ago and had internet issues. so, you get two today! moving everything along, trying to get things set up to get to everyone else. i am so excited! y'all have no idea how hard this is. it's so good, and i am one of those people who like to give gifts early because i genuinely enjoy seeing people's reactions! i can't keep good news to myself for long. especially mary! i keep wanting to give hints but i make myself not. i haven't even written it yet! i am on chapter 13, but what i have for her is most likely chapter 30! or later! it pains me! her part of the story is pretty solid, as is jane and kitty's. lydia, as with lizzy, i am not 100%. lydia is a perfect three way split. regardless of her outcome, though, she won't mess too heavily with the other's personal storylines.

'…i do wish you were here as well, my dearest jane. despite all the humor i find in our cousin and his esteemed patroness, being here and seeing charlotte settled into her role as our cousin's wife, has left me feeling glad that at least we have not changed….'

jane set the letter down. she, too, found humor in the actions of her cousin and lady catherine de bourg, but she had a better comprehension of why charlotte made the choice she did. at the time, jane had defended her because that was what she did, she always looked for the good. mr. bingley had only just left netherfield and she clung to the hope her sister insisted she keep. knowing what she did now, she completely understood why charlotte chose to tie herself to her cousin. women in their positions had few options, and jane now knew she was in a similar situation. she was not on the shelf, but she would be in a very few, short years. her choices were dwindling. lizzy was wrong. whether she knew it or not it or not, even they had changed.

she had talked with her aunt about it a little the night before. she had confided in her aunt her new feelings, somehow knowing she would understand, and she did. her aunt had been on the

ink of losing everything when her uncle made an offer. her father had been the minister in a village called lampton. he became sick and quickly passed away. her uncle had enjoyed visiting with the father and daughter whenever his business

ought him to the area, and knowing the church had already selected a new minister and that she would quickly be made to vacate the parish, he offered her a home and security. her father had taught her that marriage is what you make it. in most cases, happiness and contentment in marriage were a choice. she knew edward gardiner to be a good, respectable man, so she had had confidence that they could have a happy life together.

once they had both shared their thoughts and experiences, her aunt had promised their support. her sister's letter had not changed her mind, but rather, it strengthened her resolve. she quickly read the last few lines and tied the letter into the bundle with the rest of her correspondence before heading downstairs. mr. andrews was coming to visit today, and she would finally get to meet his daughter, amelia, whom her cousins could not say enough about. jane thought of the conversation she had with her aunt when they returned from the park a few days before.

flashback:

"thank you for taking the children to the park. i would have hated to disappoint them, but we haven't had a chance to visit with oliver for several months now. he does not usually come to london this time of year."

"it was no trouble. i could tell there was a matter he wished to discuss with the both of you, and he would not have had the chance if i were in attendance."

"that was very kind of you, and yes, there was something he wished to share with us. it's not so much a secret as it is a sensitive subject. i am sure you know by now that he has a daughter?" jane nodded. "as you may have guessed, he is a widower. he has come to town to find a new wife."

"he is still in love with his first wife," jane said sadly.

"oh, goodness no!" she looked at her aunt with surprise. "all i will say is that she was not a faithful wife, jane. that is all you need to know. i am sure there are those who have begun to gossip about his past, because she hid her actions very poorly, but we are not likely to hear it. that information will be spread through much higher circles than ours. he is seeking a wife more for amelia's sake. she is a darling girl. he is sending for her. i imagine we shall be seeing a great deal of the two. amelia, eleanor, and madalene are very close. i hope this will not disturb you?"

"of course not, aunt! little girls are one thing i know very much about. now, if she were a boy, i might very well run back to longbourn," she laughed.

end of flashback

jane couldn't fathom why a wife and mother would behave in such a way. her heart

oke for this pleasant man and his daughter. jane made herself put any more thoughts she may have on the issue aside as she entered sitting room. eleanor and madalene were helping to set up tea with their maid, leah.

"are you hosting a tea today? i do not remember receiving an invite."

"don't be silly, jane. you live here! you don't need an invite," said madalene.

"wouldn't you rather sit and talk with mama and mr. andrews?" asked eleanor seriously.

"i could, but i imagine that their company will be remarkably dull compared to yours."

"well, i am sorry to have been such dull company. i shall be sure to remember that in the future," said her aunt dryly. the girls giggled.

"where are john and percy?" asked jane.

"neither of them are in the mood for company. i shall retrieve them later. i am sure the girls will not mind in any case." and they did not.

mrs. gardiner was finishing up a letter while jane reminded eleanor of the proper way to serve tea, when mr. andrews and amelia were announced.

"mrs. gardiner! eleanor! madalene! i am so happy to see you!"

"amelia!" cried the sisters, rushing to em

ace their friend.

"amelia, that is not how we greet our hosts," said mr. andrews with a smile.

"sorry, papa."

"eleanor, why don't you introduce your cousin to our guest," said mrs. gardiner.

"oh, right! amelia. this is our cousin, jane. oh, sorry, miss jane bennet."

"it is a pleasure to meet you, miss andrews. eleanor and madalene have told me much about you."

the little girl did a small curtsy, but found herself unable to respond. it took her father prodding her to get her to mumble a greeting. she just kept staring.

"mama said we can have a tea party! we can't have any cakes or biscuits though, since we will be having lunch soon. jane has been showing us the proper way to serve tea!"

"would you like to join us?" asked jane. amelia nodded shyly and followed them to the other side of the room, where their tea was set up.

oliver and margret took seats nearer the fireplace, where they had a good view of the tea party happening across the room. amelia had yet to say anything to miss bennet, and she continued to stare at her. she did, however, rush to take the seat next to her on the settee.

"i do not think i have ever seen her so quiet," said margret.

"this is the first time she has been around a young woman of miss bennet's age that wasn't family." he was tense watching them, wondering how they would interact.

"don't worry. she's in good hands with our jane. she'll have her relaxed and joining them in no time. besides," she said a bit louder, "they're not as dull as we are."

"let this be a lesson on the importance of context, ladies," said jane. "i did not say you were dull, only that you were dull in comparison."

"i am afraid i will have to disagree with you miss bennet. you did call her dull."

"us, oliver, she called us dull."

"well, i think i am offended, miss bennet. i am not dull at all!"

"yes you are, papa. grandmother and i get really tired when you start talking about your horses, and grandmother said that's because you're boring," said amelia. oliver made an undignified sound, causing everyone to giggle.

amelia opened up a bit more after that. margret and oliver discussed a few current events, and jane instructed the girls on the basics of tea and conversation. edward soon arrived.

"well, this is nice. where are the boys?"

"they weren't in the best of moods, so i decided it would be good to let the girls have some time on their own. they'll join us as soon as lunch is served." her husband had just taken a seat when lunch was announced.

as margret had said, the boys were retrieved for lunch. they were in a better mood than before, but were also obviously tired. they would be ready for a nap afterwards. conversation was light. amelia had been thrilled to be placed next to miss bennet. she asked her questions about her home in hertfordshire. oliver also heard his daughter telling them about their home in suffolk.

"papa doesn't sell race horses though. he doesn't like it," she said. "he says racing is, uh… papa, what did you say racing was?"