I am glad to say I passed my exams. It exhausted me more than I thought. Try writing a three day exam with 5 hours per day. I can not recommend it.

As to the Poll: There will be a Mr. Collins in the future of this story, but since nobody could agree on the scenario I will have to think of something.

Sorry I couldn't update earlier.

Thanks to Alice Vampire and all of you who reviewed and added me to your favs and alerts.

Seventh chapter

For Major Jasper Whitlock the evening had proceeded as expected so far, in other words, in a less than pleasant occupation of his time. To escape the continuous attempts of flirting directed at him, he was hiding in a nook in an adjunct room, where refreshments were served. There he was soon made an involuntary witness to the following conversation.

"Oh, excuse me, Miss Brandon." The sneer added a not very becoming expression to the face of the young lady. "What could an orphan without any connections and a small fortune be to someone of consequence like me."

"Jessica, you are so right. Don't bother yourself with her. This officer is certainly not worth to kiss the hem of your dress if he danced with that twice." The other lady added with an obvious slight to the young lady in question.

"Since you have both insulted me now, I would dare say, you are lucky that I was brought up better than you. I might add, though, that no matter what your consequence may be, my fortune is bigger than all that you might get. Since your fathers estate is entailed away from you." Miss Brandon answered in suppressed anger but strangely composed, as Major Whitlock noted with wonder. To exert herself in this way in the face of those worthless women, for he couldn't call them ladies after what he had just overheard. He could not but admire her courage. And thus, as the women left with another slight to Miss Brandon, he strangely found himself going over to her. She had a delicate, petite figure and her black curls were done up in a fashionable stile, with green ribbons in the colour of her dress to ornament them. She hadn't noticed him yet, since she stood with her back to him and was probably deeply distressed. Her next movement surprised him, as she drowned her punch in one hearty draught and then threw the delicate glass to the floor with force. He stopped in his tracks and watched in astonishment as she straightened her dress and turned to him. Miss Brandon, unaware of company till this very moment, stopped likewise and blushed a bright scarlet with embarrassment.

"I was just…" she broke off, not knowing how to finish that sentence in any intelligible way.

"…throwing your punch glass, I saw." He finished and bowed slightly. "May I introduce myself? My name is Jasper Whitlock." He bowed again as she curtsied and looked to the ground to conceal her embarrassment as she recognised the name.

"I am glad to make your acquaintance Major Whitlock. My name is Alice Brandon." By this time she thought desperately of a polite way to escape but it would not do.

"Would you grant me the honour to stand up with me for the next set? If you are not engaged already?" he asked to his own astonishment and that of the lady.

"I would be very much obliged to you." She managed to answer and proved once again, though unknowingly, her genteel manners to him.

It is left to say that not only were the officers of the regiment amazed at the sight of their Major on the dance floor but both the Miss Stanley and Miss Lauren Mallory were deeply mortified in seeing him stand up with the very lady they had just slighted.

As to astonishment and mortification there was much of it, when Miss Brandon later revealed the little scene to both of her friends. Astonishment at the total lack of propriety and manner both ladies had displayed and mortification at the thought of their dear friend facing them alone.

I hope you like it. Next will be the morning after. Please review.