Chapter 13:

Lady Catherine did not waste a second of breath before jumping into interrogating and controlling all those around her. She asked Mrs. Collins about her poultry, asked her to double check her accounts, and suggested she looked into her idea for adding shelves to the guest room. No details was too small, no detail was to be overlooked. Lizzie was proud of how Charlotte bore it, with all the grace that her husband so evidently lacked.

After Mr. Collin sycophantly praised Lady Catherine, she finally moved her attention towards Mrs. Collin's pretty friend.

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet" she said, drawing her attention, "from Longbourn, that is the estate the Collins will inherent upon your father's death"

Lizzie smiled at the lack of sentiment expressed by Lady Catherine, of how she would delight in tonight's supper and conversation.

"Yes, upon my father's death" she repeated dramatically. Charlotte could feel Lizzie rolling her eyes internally.

"How many sisters do you have?" demanded Lady Catherine, for all her questions felt like a demand.

"We are five sisters" Lizzie responded.

"How many are out?"

"All" said Lizzie, smiling, for she knew that Lady Catherine would not like that.

"All?!" spat Lady Catherine, "That seems most improper. Pray, how old are you?"

"With four sisters out, your ladyship cannot expect me to divulge such information" teased Lizzie. Lady Catherine was at a loss for words, for no one dared to defy answering her.

"You speak your mind very well for so young a person" observed Lady Catherine, with a mixture of disgust and interest.

"I thank you" said Lizzie, smiling at her Ladyship's compliment. Lady Catherine stared at her for a second longer and then invited them to join her in the dining room, as supper was promptly ready. Lizzie put down her saucer, which she had barely drank from and it was now cold.

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Mr. Frederick Weston was the son of a lawyer in town. His father, the late Mr. Weston, had provided amply for his family and although they were never quite rich, he had ensured his sons received an education and had the ability study. Frederick was never interested in the law. He always had a uncanny ability to see possibilities where others did not and with his direct and efficient communication, he turned out to be a good, if not excellent, tradesman. He was not interested in owing an estate, for he had no desire to be seen as a gentleman. Oh how he loathed the social climbers who then rejected their roots. No, he was happy to have new money and to live in Cheapside.

Frederick could not shake the image Miss Bennet holding his Emily, of how lovely and sweet she looked. But he would harden his impression by reminding himself that she was a gentlewoman and they all wanted the same thing, something he was not interested in. He let out heavy sigh, loosening his cravat and allowing himself to sink unto the chair. He had unfinished business with Mr. Gardiner and could have easily called on him in his warehouse but he wanted to see her again, he wanted to convince himself that she was the same as the rest.

The next day, Mr. Weston called on Mr. Gardiner around midday but was told by the footman that he was out and to be in soon. Mrs. Gardiner welcomed him in, assuring him that he should arrive soon and to please make himself comfortable. She led him to the drawing room where her niece, Miss Jane Bennet was doing embroidering. His face hardened—he thought embroidery was impractical and a waste of time.

"How do you, Miss Bennet?" asked Mr. Weston, taking off his hat and sitting down across from her. He thought he saw a smirk on Miss Bennet's face but she quickly recollected herself.

"I am well, how is your beautiful daughter?" she asked, very politely. She noticed from the moment he walked in how reluctant he was at addressing her and how he seemed to find her embroidering with disdain. Why did he find her disagreeable? And if so, why was he coming to visit?

"She is well, thank you" he responded curtly.

"I apologize" said Mrs. Gardiner, whispering to the maid and then turning her attention to Jane and Mr. Weston, "I am needed in the kitchens, I shall return in a few moments" she said and hurried off the room.

Mr. Weston simply looked at Miss Bennet, his gaze hard and evident.

"Have I offended you?" asked Miss Bennet, shocking both herself and Mr. Weston.

"No, of course not" he responded quickly, "Why do you ask?"

"You are starting Mr. Weston and not in the way that men stare as a way to compliment" she said, her eyes strong and defiant.

"Do you take it as a compliment when men ogle at women?" he asked, his disgust evident.

"Do you have no manners as to make polite conversation and not offend the ladies present?" retorted Jane, not sure what had come over her. Perhaps it was the pain of her broken heart or having been jilted or feeling like she was not respected by the opposite sex but she was done with it.

"I do not feign to be a gentleman" he said, though his gaze softened.

"It does take being part of the gentry to be kind" said Miss Bennet, her voice softening.

"You are correct, Miss Bennet, please accept my apologies" he saw, bowing his head.

"I will do no such thing" she said, and then smiled, breaking into a small laugh. "Of course I shall accept your apology if you promise to not vex me again"

"I am afraid now I will say that I cannot do no such thing" he teased, "For it seems to come on rather naturally." They both smiled and fell into a comfortable silence. "What brings you to London?" he asked.

Jane stared, coloured, opened her mouth, and then closed it.

"Have I hit a nerve?" he teased.

"No" she said rapidly, "I mean yes, actually, I do not know."

"I know what a broken heart looks like, Miss Bennet, mine has been broken since the death of my wife, Julia. She passed during childbirth" he said, leaning closer to Jane.

"Oh, I am so sorry for your loss" she said, her voice as sweet as ever. It was no wonder that his face hardened when she had mentioned the baby's mother when they had first met. "It must be very hard to be raising a baby all by yourself."

He raised an eyebrow—was she implying something? He looked closer and saw that she was genuine, no she was not. He was too cynical for his own good, his own mother often told him.

"My mother has wanted me to remarry since the moment Julia left, but I find that I cannot. It has been nine months and though I do not pretend to be sentimental, we were only married for less than a year, I did care for her and will not marry just for the sake of my child" he said, sharing what he knew was too much information but he did not care for propriety. He wanted to test her—was she like all the others?

"I do not know such pain but I understand your predicament. I think it is our choices that define us, specially during difficult times" she said, thinking of another gentleman whose choices she was very disappointed by.

Mr. Weston heard Mrs. Gardiner come into the room and he drew his body back, not realizing he had been leaning in towards Miss Bennet.

"Mrs. Gardiner" he said, standing as she walked in. "I would be delighted if you, Mr. Gardiner, and your niece could join us for supper tomorrow night."

"I do not believe we have a prior engagement" she said, looking at Jane for a hint, was she opposed to going? But Jane looked calmed and collected, as always, and so Mrs. Gardiner professed her many thanks and agreed that they shall go.

Mr. Gardiner walked in soon after and asked Mr. Weston to come directly to his study, where they spent over an hour in serious discussion.

"Oh Jane, what have you done to Mr. Weston?" teased Mrs. Gardiner, sitting down next to her niece and laughing. "He is not very talkative usually."

Jane did not know what to make of him. He was a tall, handsome man, whose striking and knowing eyes sent chills down her spine. If she were honest, and she was being honest to herself, she wanted to know more of him and if she were really honest, she would love to feel the touch of his hand upon hers. She coloured and then returned to her embroidering, hoping her aunt did not catch that.

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this scene between jane and frederick came hard and fast and I think I'm half in love with him already...