Authors note: Thank you to those who have reviewed. It makes me want to expand my story past what I already have. I am not using a Beta so all mistakes are mine. I have been reading stories on this site for years and have always wanted to write my own version. My inspiration for this story came when I was listening to an old Taylor Swift CD and the song Tied Together with a Smile came on. Anyways thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter 2
Jane
The week after the departure of that family was hard on Jane. During the day she put on a brave face as her neighbors and mother spoke of how she had been ill-used. How could they not see the pain in her eyes every time his name was mentioned? It was just plain cruel to mention his name all the time. It did not help that her friend Charlotte got engaged to her cousin. That seemed to fuel her mother even more. She was happy for Charlotte, though she just wished she could share that same joy. It brought back memories of a gentleman from when she was younger who courted her, even wrote her a poem, but he too left.
She was beginning to unravel. Her mother would not let up on being ill-used. Was she the one who got abandoned yet again? Was she the one who gets talked about all over town? Not to mention how her younger sisters thought it was all a good laugh. Her father too was no better, thinking every girl wants to be crossed in love every now and then. Where was the sense in that? And Lizzy, dear Lizzy tried to rally her spirits but she was going about it in the wrong way. How could Jane possible blame Caroline and Mr. Darcy for another mans doing? No, it was beginning to be too much. As her mother brought up his name once again she finally snapped.
"Enough! He is gone mother! He has been gone! You make it seem like you are the one who has a broken heart but its me! He left me, not you, not our family, me! Have you once asked me how I am fairing? No, of course not you are too busy gossiping my affairs with all of Meryton. Maybe if you acted like my mother instead of some silly neighborhood gossip he would still be here!"
Stunned by her own outburst, Jane ran from the room. She ran passed stunned servants and out the door. She ran until she could run no more and fell into the grass as she let out the pain and humiliation of the past weeks. She was so tired. Tired of concealing her pain. Tired of smiling for her family and friends as they discussed her life. But most of all she was tired of being beautiful for nothing. What good did beautiful get her? Yes she was admired, but was she ever even loved?