Octubre 1812

"Miss Bennet, your uncle told me that next week you are moving to Liverpool with your mother and sisters."

"That's right, I can't live forever on the hospitality of the Gardiners," she replied with a forced smile.

Mr. Barrington took her hand, "Miss Bennet, Jane, I thought I would have more time to get to know you better before making this decision, but that's no longer possible." He looked into her eyes, "You are a beautiful and sweet lady and my daughter likes you. I admire you and I am convinced that together we can be very happy. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Jane looked at Mr. Barrington and for a moment hesitated. Mr. Barrington was a 32-year-old solicitor with a four-year-old daughter and an income of around £400 a year. His wife had died two years ago and the main reason he wanted to get married was that he wanted his daughter to have a mother. He was an intelligent and nice man, and although he was not particularly handsome he wasn't ugly either. Two years ago, Jane would have rejected his marriage proposal as she dreamed of marrying a rich and handsome gentleman, but her situation now was very different. Due to Lydia's death, she didn't go to Pemberley for Lizzy's wedding and missed the chance to see Mr. Elliot again. She had to forget about Mr. Elliot since she couldn't depend on an invitation from Lizzy to visit Pemberley that might never come.

If she turned down Mr. Barrington's proposal, she had to go to Liverpool with her mother and Kitty, and there was no guarantee of receiving a better marriage proposal in the future. She was twenty-three, had a little dowry, was no longer a gentlewoman and her mother was vulgar.

She knew that her aunt Gardiner wanted her mother out of the house, and she even doubted very much that her aunt would invite her to London again in the future. She noticed that her aunt and uncle frequently argue with each other and she got the impression they were having financial problems and were trying to cut down on unnecessary expenses.

With a forced smile, she nodded. "It will be an honor to be your wife, Mr. Barrington."

Mr. Barrington smiled and kissed her hand. "Thank you very much, Miss Bennet. I promise you won't regret it. If you agree, I would like us to get married soon, so you don't have to go to Liverpool."

"I agree with you…"

Despite Jane's fears and even pleas, Mr. Gardiner told Mr. Barrington what had happened with Lydia as there was a risk that he would find out before the wedding and decide at the last minute not to marry. Mr. Barrington not only didn't call off the wedding but was willing to help restore the Bennets' reputation.

The Gardiners were happy with the engagement and Madeleine even invited Mrs. Bennet to stay in her house for a few more weeks so she could attend Jane's wedding. On the other hand, Mrs. Bennet was disappointed and even tried to persuade her beautiful Jane not to marry Mr. Barrington, since according to her, Jane was too beautiful to marry a man who was not handsome, was very serious, he had a daughter and only earned 400 pounds a year. In her mind, Jane deserved much better.

Despite her mother's insistent protests, Jane never changed her mind. It never crossed Mrs. Bennet's mind that one of the main reasons Jane accepted the marriage proposal was to avoid living with her in Liverpool.

Jane wrote to Kitty, Mary, and even Elizabeth to invite them to her wedding, to be held the third week of November. Mrs. Gardiner sent a letter to Kitty to let her know that she had to stay in Ramsgate for another couple of weeks, and subsequently sent a letter to Elizabeth. Madeleine didn't know if it was appropriate for her frail niece to live alone with her mother in Liverpool. Although Miss Taylor promised Kitty that she would live with her in Liverpool for a few months, she never said that it would be forever…