Although it was June the weather resembled that of a mid-October day. The sky was made up of varying shades of gray and the air was still but had the distinct smell that indicated it would soon rain. The sun was nowhere to be found but this suited the mood of Emma Woodhouse as she walked home to Hartfield. Emma was not someone prone to sadness and despair but she could feel little else when she examined the events of the past months and noted that everything she was experiencing had all started with the marriage of her governess Miss Anne Taylor to Mr. Weston of Randalls…
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Emma watched with bittersweet joy as Miss Taylor became Mrs. Weston. Her beloved governess had raised Emma and her sister, Isabella, since they were little girls after their mother passed away. For the last year, Emma had paid close attention to the interactions between Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston before coming to the decision that they would be a perfect match. Mr. Weston was a good-looking man in his early forties who had married young and lost his wife to illness only a few years later. Though Emma had not known the first Mrs. Weston she had been told that while the couple's marriage had been a content one it had not been a love match. Because of this, it was with even more delight that Emma became aware of the interest her governess and her friend held for one another.
Miss Taylor was a lovely woman in her thirties who quickly captured the hearts of everyone she met. She had been of marrying age when she took the role of governess for Emma and Isabella, a respectable position for a gentleman's daughter. Her even temper and sweet disposition had won over the Woodhouse family and there she had stayed until she was well beyond the age that society would begin calling a young lady a spinster.
As Emma watched the new Mr. and Mrs. Weston leave the church, she brushed a single tear away from her cheek and moved to assist her father out the doors and into their carriage. Looking at the solemn expression on her father's face as they rode, Emma covered his hand with her own, "Was it not a lovely wedding?"
Mr. Woodhouse turned serious eyes on his youngest daughter, "Yes, I suppose. I do not know what we shall do without Miss Taylor. Such a pity…"
"She will only be a mile down the road from us. We can see her as often as we wish. For now, we must make ourselves content with seeing her at Hartfield in a few minutes to celebrate her marriage." Emma gave her father's hand a light squeeze and was rewarded with the ghost of a smile.
Once the carriage reached the Woodhouse residence of Hartfield Mr. Woodhouse was persuaded to sit outside with the other guests as they arrived. He did insist, however, on wearing his hat and scarf to ward off any chill despite the fact that it was a fine Autumn day. Emma caught sight of the new Mrs. Weston and abandoned all propriety as she wrapped the woman in a hug. Mrs. Weston returned the embrace easily and with as much love as it had been given.
Emma pulled back and smiled brilliantly, "I am so happy for you both. I think marriage suits you very well, already."
Mr. Weston, whose kind and optimistic character was welcome everywhere, gave Emma a happy smile, "Yes, I do believe I am the luckiest of men. To have such friends and now to have the loveliest woman as my wife."
Mrs. Weston blushed before directing the conversation away from herself, "Have you heard from Mr. Knightley, Emma? Will his return home be delayed again?"
"I received a letter from him this morning and he is to arrive tomorrow, though he wishes he could have been here for the wedding. He thinks very highly of you both and I know he was very disappointed at not being able to attend." Turning to address Mr. Weston, Emma couldn't contain her curiosity, "Speaking of missing guests, are we to expect your son Frank today?"
As the smile fell away from Mr. Weston's face, Emma wished she could take back her question. Mr. Frank Churchill was Mr. Weston's son from his first marriage and after his wife passed, Mr. Weston did not feel he could offer his son as many advantages as he wanted for him. The boy had been sent to live with his mother's sister and had not returned to his hometown of Highbury in nearly twenty years due to the demands placed on him by his aunt. It was a frequent occurrence of late that Frank would write his father about his plans to visit only to cancel his trip shortly before leaving because his aunt fell ill once more. Mrs. Weston looked at her husband with concern. She knew how much he loved his son and how the pain of not seeing him for so many years pressed on him.
Repeatedly having his hopes crushed had begun to weigh on Mr. Weston but his smile returned as he spoke, "He could not make it today but says he plans on visiting within the next couple of weeks."
"Well, his arrival will be met with even more delight than if he came today, for our anticipation will have that much more time to grow," Emma's attempts to please Mr. Weston were successful and she spent the rest of the day reveling in her friends' happiness until the last of the guests departed and Emma and her father returned to their own world behind the closed doors of Hartfield.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
True to his word, Mr. Knightley arrived on the steps of Hartfield the following afternoon, having only stopped at his own home, Donwell Abbey, just long enough to freshen up and change his clothing. Some may think it odd for an independent man of wealth to go directly to the home of his oldest family friends after returning from a trip rather than have the desire to be in the comforts and quiet of his own residence. For Mr. Knightley, choosing Hartfield was as natural as breathing since it contained something that Donwell did not: Emma Woodhouse. Knowing Emma since the day of her birth had forged a bond between the two and Mr. Knightley could think of no one he would rather spend time with. Mr. Woodhouse was a great friend to him, of course, and would always hold a special place in his heart but Emma was the true object of his affection.
She had been a fearless girl when she was little but having lost her mother so young had changed that fearlessness into a confidence that was adept at not only running an entire household, servants and all, but also at interacting with others in such a way that one would not soon forget her. In terms of wit and intelligence, Emma had enough to spare despite her outright refusal to read more as Mr. Knightley was always encouraging her to do. In the presence of others, Emma was all good humor, grace, and cleverness. When it was just she, Mr. Knightley, and the few people who were close enough with the Woodhouses to be considered family, Emma was all of those things and more. Begrudgingly Mr. Knightley was also forced to acknowledge the fact that Emma was stunningly beautiful. With her long, thick blonde curls, perfect soft skin, sparkling blue eyes, full rosy lips that parted to show perfect, even white teeth, and statuesque figure, anyone would have difficulty finding her equal.
Unconsciously, Mr. Knightley spurred his horse on faster and before he knew what had happened he was dismounting and walking up the steps to Hartfield. On entering, he accepted the efforts of the butler to remove his hat and coat and made his own way to the parlor, which was a favorite spot of Mr. Woodhouse and his daughter. Indeed, Mr. Woodhouse was sitting in his beloved chair by a roaring fire, several blankets tucked around him. Stuffing down his disappointment at Emma's absence, Mr. Knightley smiled at the older man in greeting.
"Ah, Mr. Knightley! So good of you to come see us," Mr. Woodhouse smiled and then frowned. "I do hope you took care to see to your well-being before coming here. It is not healthy not to rest in between journeys."
"I assure you, Sir, I am quite well and I did stop at the Abbey for a short reprieve."
"And here I thought that we would be your first priority upon returning but now I am to understand that taking a nap has usurped our position," The melodic sound of Emma's clear voice caused Mr. Knightley's heart to beat oddly but he ignored it and turned to greet his friend.
"Has your opinion of yourself been raised so very high since my absence?" He raised an eyebrow and Emma laughed in response before offering a quick curtsy.
"To be sure it has not but a great deal has happened since you went away," Emma took a seat on the small couch in front of the fireplace while Mr. Knightley placed himself in his customary chair on the opposite side of the fireplace from Mr. Woodhouse.
"And what have I missed?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Weston's wedding for one thing. It was quite beautiful and they were both so happy," Emma's smile faded away as she got a faraway look in her eyes.
Mr. Knightley, knowing the cause of the change in her mood, attempted to reassure her, "I am sure it was a grand event and I can think of no two people more deserving of it. It is lucky that they should live so close. You can visit at least once a day."
"Yes, I believe I shall become a most unwelcome guest with my many visits."
"I highly doubt that. Now, I was led to the conclusion by your earlier statement that something else has transpired while I was gone?" Mr. Knightley smiled with satisfaction when the sparkle returned to Emma's eyes.
"Oh, yes! I have made a delightful new acquaintance. Someone that not even you will know, Mr. Knightley."
"Has young Mr. Churchill finally taken it upon himself to see his father?" Mr. Knightley frowned at the idea of Frank Churchill having met Emma and left her with a favorable impression. Though he himself had never met the man, Mr. Knightley had no tolerance for him and was easily irritated at the mention of him. The reason being that for all the good his father had done for him, Mr. Frank Churchill had yet to repay his father's love with even so much as a visit. At least, Mr. Knightley had told himself this was the reason for his unreasonable dislike of a man he'd never laid eyes on, though somewhere deep inside there was another reason altogether that not even Mr. Knightley was aware of.
"I do not know why you have taken such a dislike with Mr. Churchill when neither you nor I have been introduced to him," Emma stared at him curiously before waving her hand. "Nevertheless, I was not talking about him. I was walking by Goddard's and met a young lady, a Miss Harriet Smith. She is a boarder there and possesses such a sweet disposition and lovely face that you will be unable to find fault with her. We have become fast friends already."
Mr. Knightley was pleased to hear that Emma had made a new friend close to her own age, especially since her father's anxious nature prevented her from going further than the town line of Highbury. "And who is her family? Do we know them?"
"No, apparently her circumstances are somewhat of a mystery but Mrs. Goddard said that all of Miss Smith's expenses are paid for in a timely manner. I have come to the decision that Miss Smith must be a gentleman's daughter, for no one such as she could come from anything less," Emma nodded her head as though the truth of Miss Smith's situation had been decided upon.
Mr. Knightley, however, grew concerned that this friendship could be of no benefit to Emma. He sighed to himself, though, as he realized that telling Emma this would result in nothing but earning him her ire. When Emma was resolved on something it would take a hand-written letter from the King to make her reconsider and even then Mr. Knightley was not certain that would work. He returned his attention to Emma as she spoke.
"You will get your opportunity to meet Miss Smith tomorrow evening. I have invited her and several others to dine with us. You, of course, are included if you wish to come," Emma looked hopeful and Mr. Knightley could not say no.
"I look forward to it...and to meeting your Miss Smith," Mr. Knightley accepted the invitation and decided he would spend his time observing the interactions between Emma and Miss Smith to gauge if this was truly a friendship he would encourage Emma to pursue.
