Eliza's gone a hunting! Jane is going for a ride. There will be a literary parallel mentioned. Bad news on the horizon.

Jenny Chapter 36

I took Eliza to one side after we had gone upstairs—I wanted to ask her about Lord Ingram. She was a bit reluctant at first, but she confessed finally that she was exceedingly fond of him and would be happy to become Lady Ingram sometime in the near Future. I told her of what Mr. Rochester had said to me about the Ingram Family being a bit pinched in the purse. "You realize, Eliza, that they're in need of someone with enough Capital to help them out of their troubles. You were always so careful in your accountings—I know you are a good manager of money—you might very well prove to be the answer to their needs. The Dowager has a strong personality, but I think you have enough backbone to stand up to her."

Eliza beamed at me, "You have put it very well, Jane. Theodore has already hinted at his intentions. I wondered why he was hesitating. They are in need of funds—that must be the reason."

"You may tell him that your dowry is fifteen-thousand—perhaps that will bring him to the point."

"I will let my Uncle Gibson tell him that—one man to another, you know."

"Excellent! I wish you all success—particularly with getting Miss Blanche married off!"

"No fear, it will be one of my first endeavors!" We both broke into giggles at thoughts of Eliza's future plans for the maintenance and reform of the Ingram Family. I went to bed, but it was a while before I could sleep; I had such a lot to think about! I found myself puzzling about that odd hesitation of Mr. Rochester's when he had said "Good night" to me—what he really meant to say? Perhaps the Morning would bring me an answer to that.

I rose early that day, eager for my promised ride—the Morning air was delicious—cool and fresh with the scents of the orchard and the meadows. I skipped out to the Stables filled with such a happy feeling that I wished all the world could share it with me. I discovered there an unexpected element to my plan for a ride: Ham was waiting for me; when I said that I was not riding with him, but with Mr. Rochester; he looked a bit shame-faced as he told me that Lord Richard had given him strict orders to stay by me—no matter what my wishes might be.

"But Ham—this is a private estate! There can be no danger!"

"Danger comes all sorts o' ways, Miss Jane—I must do as I were told."

Mr. Rochester appeared on the scene just then—to my chagrin, he agreed with Ham—saying, "The accompaniment of a Groom is ever a wise precaution. There is always the possibility of an accident. I am certain that your servant will keep a sufficient distance to allow us to converse privately should we wish to do so."

"Oh, very well!" I said as he helped my onto my horse.

Ham smiled benignly and allowed that Shem had wished to come also, but that they had settled for drawing straws to determine the matter. "Seeing as I pulled the longer of the two—I won the draw!" he exulted. I saw Mr. Rochester hiding a smile at this naïve display of sibling rivalry, as he swung up on his big black horse.

"Is that the same horse you had before, when you came to Strydings?" I asked him.

"Yes, this is Mesrour, he's not so young anymore—but he is still very hardy."

"Surely it was not that long ago that you came to Strydings."

"True, only a few years—four or five—but much can change in so short a time. The young grow older and the old sometimes leave us, houses are built and nations fall, but Time goes on just the same—is it not so?"

"You are becoming a Philosopher, sir—is this a new trend?" He laughed, and we rode on.

"Miss Jane, I wonder if you are at all acquainted with an amusing novel which I have read recently. It begins with a most ironic statement, to wit: 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune' . . ."

"'Must be in want of a wife.'" I finished for him, "Yes, I have read it and I thought it very entertaining, even though there were no mysterious castles or horrid ghosts, alas!"

"Do you then prefer the Gothic sort of novel?"

"No, not really, I would far rather read about ordinary people. I can understand and sympathize more with them, and that makes the story more enjoyable to me."

"Still, to read about the everyday world without any grand, romantic incident occurring—you don't find that a bit . . . flat?"

"Not at all, for wherever there are two or more people, something is always going to happen."

"You are absolutely right—I congratulate you for your clear-sightedness. Have you read others of Miss Austen's books, then?"

"Miss Austen?" I looked at him questioningly.

"They say that the Lady who wrote the book I quoted from—'Pride and Prejudice'—was named Jane Austen. Her father was a Clergyman and she had a great many brothers, but only one sister."

"There was a book called 'Emma' was there not?"

"Certainly there was—about a most managing young woman who thought herself a great Matchmaker, much to the detriment of her own matrimonial future."

"I trust you are not drawing parallels with present company, sir!"

"I value my life too highly to do so!"

"Most wise of you, indeed."

We had reached the top of a hill at this point in our ride, and the suggestion was made that here we could dismount and let the horses rest for a while. We went to stand at a place where there was a fine vista of the valley with its river winding through—I could see Thornfield in the near distance, the smoke from the kitchen chimney, the activity in the Stableyard, the woods with their rookery, the gardens—all bright and serene in the clear Morning air.

"It's a lovely property you have," I said.

"Do you find it so? I confess that my view of it is somewhat colored by things that have happened in the Past. Thornfield has not always been as peaceful as it seems this Morning. I can remember a time or two . . . " he sighed and was silent.

Ham cleared his throat, startling me as I had forgotten his presence. "Excuse me, Sir—but it do seem that there be someone coming to the Hall." He indicated with a gesture the distant road with a cloud of dust following a small carriage upon it.

"You are doubtless right—we will have to return," He helped me onto my horse and we retraced our path back to Thornfield.

Our unexpected visitor was my 'Uncle' Darcy who had come in great haste to fetch Lord Richard and Lady Catherine. Their Cousin Anne, Lord Richard's wife and Lady Catherine's daughter, was dangerously ill at Rosings, and their presence was instantly required at her bedside. The outlook was not a good one as her health had always been fragile. They left in haste, without Lady Catherine's usual stately preparations for travel.

Mr. Darcy and I stayed behind—he saying that we would leave as soon as we could see to the packing and transport of their belongings. This was already underway, of course, as Lady Catherine's small army of servants was well-trained in their Mistress' foibles. They left for Rosings early the next morning—carriages and wagonloads, servants, footmen, coachmen, horses and all. Their absence left a vacuum of sorts in the Household—a certain amount of bustle and commotion was suddenly lacking in the daily routine: empty bedchambers, empty places at the table in the Servant's Hall, empty stalls in the Stables, and so on. I missed Lady Catherine's constant monitoring of my behavior and her comments on correct deportment. I felt suddenly adrift without her vigilance.

My Cousin Eliza achieved her ambition when Lord Ingram asked her to marry him. I failed to believe that it was a true love-match; however, the two of them seemed pleased with themselves and the bargain they had made—indeed I have seen worse pairings in my time. She would rule his household with an iron hand, I made no doubt of that! Their Engagement was announced the night before Mr. Darcy and I were to leave for Pemberley—a great deal of celebrating and toasting left many of the Company in a rather dizzy condition—yet a good time was had by all—until the next Morning, of course, when the aftereffects of their indulgences would be felt.

Mr. Rochester had given me an ironic look when the announcement was made, as with a lifted eyebrow and a one-sided smile, he observed, "Well, 'Miss Emma Woodhouse', I believe that you have succeeded once more in your matchmaking machinations."

I simply smiled and made him a little curtsey in acknowledgment. "It is kind of you to appreciate my delicate negotiations on Cupid's behalf, Sir."

"Are you sorry to be leaving?" he asked.

"Yes, I believe I am—I have enjoyed my visit here—the Company has been very pleasant."

"Perhaps you might consider a return visit."

I might, if I were invited."

"You will always be welcome to my house, Miss Jane, and that you surely must know."

"Would that not depend on your wife's wishes?"

"My . . . wife?"

"Miss Blanche, I think, has rather set her mind to your capture and imprisonment in the chains of Matrimony. You must beware, for Eliza will be set upon marrying her off, once she becomes Lady Ingram."

"No danger there, I can always go a travelling and thus make my escape."

"Simple but effective."

He was the door the next morning to bid us Farewell as our little party left for Pemberley: Mr. Darcy and I, Letty, Ham and Shem, with a small mountain of luggage, two carriages and a great number of horses. I looked back as we drove away—wondering when, and under what circumstances I would see him again.

No, he didn't ask her to marry him, did he? At least, not yet.