HEART AND SOUL: A BECOMING JANE FIC

And so it continues…

The fever had spread through England like a wild fire. The courts in London had shut down, the halls needed for housing the sick. Soon, they were every bit as needy as the poor in London had once been. Lines formed of people needing to see doctors, buggies were back up from people trying to get out of the city, but soon, everything was closed off and London had become quarantined.

Jane had listened to the news quietly, gripping the chair beneath her tightly until her knuckles turned white. Since her father's announcement of the fever reaching Hampshire, many of its relatives had begun plans to leave the county. Unfortunately, that would no longer be allowed.

Soldiers rolled in, adding Hampshire to the lockdown. The citizens were horrified. There was but one case in all of Hampshire of the fever. "You're dooming us!" they cried. "We'll all die if you don't let us out."

But they were contaminated, and in the country's state of panic, the words of the judges were law. Jane watched as her father spoke with many of their neighbors, trying to assure them that they would be alright.

Her sister, Cassandra came to stand beside her. Jane looped arms with her and the two strolled down the road, away from the heated discussions.

"I spoke to a passerby today," Cassie said softly, breaking the silence. "He was a reverend from London."

Jane nodded, and feigned interest. "Oh?"

Cassie nodded. "Yes. Apparently, his services are hardly needed much there." She looked at her sister, expecting some sort of reaction.

"That's a shame," she responded nonchalantly.

Cassandra waited.

Finally Jane sighed and turned to her. "What is it, Cassie? What news did he bring that is worth gossiping about?"

Her sister pursed her lips, hiding a smile and kept walking. "Nothing important, I suppose."

"If you plan on bringing up London," Jane responded, this time with actual interest. "Then please have something worth telling."

"Very well," her sister said. She looked at her, eyes sparkling. "He brought news of a certain young lawyer."

Jane froze midstride. Cassie unlinked her arm from hers, hiding a grin behind a delicate expression, and continued walking. Soon, her younger sister was back by her side.

"What news from London?" she demanded, allowing a smile as her sister began to giggle. "Out with it, Cassandra Austen. Surely you have something to say."

"Why so interested, my dear sister?" Cassie teased. "Does Mr. Lefroy still hold your heart, perhaps?"

"Possibly," Jane relented. "He may nearly have it locked with the only key in his possession."

Cassie smiled knowingly, enjoying the conversation greatly. It was quite possibly the longest one she and Jane had held in over a year. She began to giggle again when she felt her sister's arms go around her shoulders.

"My dearest sister, I do believe you have lost your train of thought," Jane continued persistently. "Allow me to guide you back to it. You were about to tell me of a certain gentleman?"

"Oh yes, of course," Cassie giggled. "How silly of me to become distracted; I shall have to mend my ways."

The two sisters exchanged smiles and bent forward together, linking arms once more.

"Reverend Tyler, whom I met today," Cassie began excitingly. "Told me of the most interesting demand made of him. Apparently, Judge Langlois, the uncle of the man in question—"

Jane shot her a sisterly glare.

"—ordered that the bodies of those killed from the fever be burned."

"To protect the remaining unaffected?" Jane asked.

"It would appear so," her sister agreed. "But the reverend, a young man be no means, is absolutely against the idea. He claims it unholy."

"Yes," Jane prompted her to continue. "And…?"

"Well, it so happened, that Reverend Tyler called on the judge in order to explain his standpoint on the matter and make some sort of agreement, but the Judge Langlois would have no part of it."

"No surprise there," Jane responded darkly. "The man is as stubborn and a young donkey..."

Her sister gasped. "Jane!"

"…without the cuteness of being young."

"Oh, however are we going to get you married?" Cassie exclaimed.

"By finishing your tale, my dear sister," Jane laughed. "Go on."

"Very well," her sister agreed, giving her a firm look. "He told me the judge would not even lower himself to see the visitor. Apparently, the greatest honor he would have been allowed would be the right to stand in the foyer, had it not been for a young charming lawyer."

Jane shot her sister another glare for pausing again. Her heart was beating a bit faster than normal and the knot in her stomach was sending butterflies throughout her abdomen. The suspense was nearly killing her. Thankfully, Cassandra continued.

"He spoke with the reverend, listening to what the very distressed man had to say," Cassie said with a gleam in her eyes. Jane knew the best part was next.

"And?"

"Then Mr. Lefroy gave the reverend his word that the families may have their relative's ashes to properly bury them. Reverend Tyler told me that he could hear the uncle and nephew arguing about this when he left, but as he said," Cassie winked at her. "There was no doubt Mr. Lefroy would be the victor of that argument."

"Why is that?" Jane asked faintly.

"Because not even Judge Langlois can overturn the word of a fellow judge."