Chapter 10

Emma spent the night tossing and turning, while going through every word that was spoken during her confrontation with Jake. She had a hard time believing what he had revealed but it was clear that Jake truly believed what he had said. How could it be true? How could I spend most days with Ms. Taylor and not notice such a thing? A child with another man… it was no wonder Ms. Taylor had written she could not come back to Highbury.

Emma continuously replayed every encounter with Ms. Taylor over the past year. Suddenly she was doubting every conversation, looking for some signs or clues that would help her determine what was the truth. Jake had never lied to her in the past and she knew he was an honorable and truthful man. However, she had considered Ms. Taylor to be like a sister and how could she believe such accusations about her. Emma had heard of people having children out of wedlock, but she had never known anyone personally. There would be no excuse she could think of to explain how Ms. Taylor could be engaged to Jake while having an affair with Mr. Weston. Why did Ms. Taylor accept Jake's proposal if her interest was elsewhere? Why did Jake even offer the marriage?

She was sure if anyone else had made such accusations she would not have even given them any thought, except the emotion behind Jake's declarations made them hard to ignore. Emma had planned on writing a reply to Ms. Taylor, and yet she spent the remainder of the evening unsuccessfully trying to convince herself to go through with it. The warring emotions and tumultuous thoughts made it impossible to write a simple letter. She could not directly ask about Jake's accusations but at the same time she desperately wanted to make sense of it all.

However, even more than the confusion, she felt ashamed. Emma had been begging Jake to confide in her, to reveal his secrets. She had provoked him and prodded him until he had reacted with intense anger and instead of trying to make sense of what he had said or talking him through it, she had slapped him. His insult towards Ms. Taylor had been so out of character and sudden that she had reacted before fully even thinking of her actions. Once again, her temper had made an already complicated situation even more difficult.

The night had been both extremely long and too short, as Emma finally forced herself to walk down to the breakfast table, only to see her sister conversing with her father.

"Izzy, I did not realize you would be coming today," Emma exclaimed in shock, glad for the distraction her sisters visit would provide.

"John had some errands to run near here, so I decided to come along to Hartfield. He will pick me up when he has finished his work," Isabella replied while buttering a piece of bread.

Emma quickly grabbed a plate and joined her family. It was not very often that it was just the three of them anymore. The two sisters had always been extremely close to their father, and this was a throwback to simpler times, before Izzy was married.

"Okay girls, you have kept me from my business much too long," Mr. Woodhouse began as he pushed back his chair.

The girls both stood and gave quick kisses on their father's cheek, as they also made their way outside of the breakfast room.

They had barely made it out the door for a stroll when Isabella grabbed Emma's arm and pulled her close. "I have some interesting news. I think you were right about Mr. Knightley being interested in Jane Fairfax."

Emma felt her heart stop at this pronouncement. "Why?" Emma cleared her throat to dislodge the lump that had formed, "why would you think that?"

Isabella looked like a child who was on the verge of jumping up and down from excitement. "Well, I was waiting for John in the carriage while we were in town and Ms. Bates happened by. She told me the most incredible story. Just two days back, Ms. Bates came home and there was a large crate sitting on their front steps. At first, they thought it must have accidently been delivered to the wrong house. She had not been at home all morning, so she did not even see the men who delivered it. Ms. Bates was going to go around to see if she could round up some men who would be able to take the crate to its rightful owner. Of course, she had to find out who the rightful owner of this large crate would be. I mean who in their neighbourhood could have such a large delivery coming? Who would even have the funds for such an expense? But guess who it was addressed to?"

Isabella paused dramatically and looked at Emma expectantly. Her excitement was so palpable that Emma could not help the small smile even while she dreaded the response, "I cannot imagine, pray tell me."

"Jane Fairfax!"

"Jane Fairfax?" Emma knew her eyes were wide in shock, even as she had already anticipated her sister's response, "What was in the crate?"

"That is the best part. A pianoforte," Isabella declared. "Can you believe it? A brand-new pianoforte. Someone had a brand-new pianoforte delivered to their house while they were away."

"And you think that someone was Mr. Knightley?" Emma asked carefully.

"Who else could it be? There are not too many people who could afford such a grand gift," Isabella said as if it should be obvious. "Also, remember the conversation at our tea outing the other day regarding how much Jane enjoyed playing music. It must have planted the seed for the idea because just a week later she has her very own pianoforte. I mean just the very fact that Mr. Knightley was there that day and having tea with Ms. Bates and Jane should have been a clue as to his interest."

Emma stretched her mouth in what she hoped resembled a smile. Isabella had a valid point. There were not too many households that had a pianoforte nor could afford one. Jake could certainly afford it and it was as grand a gesture one could make to declare interest. Even Emma had been surprised that Jake had been in the town square at that time since it was more for socializing then conducting actual business. He had denied it of course but Emma could no longer say if he would tell her where his interests lay.

"I am surprised Mr. Knightley did not just say it was from him," Emma murmured softly. "He is not the type to do dramatic gestures that would bring attention to himself, but if he were to buy something, he is generally pretty straight forward in his approach. I am also surprised he would get such a personal present for someone."

"Yes, but there are many things he has done recently that we would not have previously thought him capable of," Isabella replied archly.

Emma had to concede that point, "did Ms. Bates have any thoughts on who it could be? Or Jane?" There was a slight desperate tone to her voice as if hoping for other names to be added to the speculation.

Isabella nodded, "Ms. Bates is also convinced it is Mr. Knightley. She is sure he is just being reticent to make a formal announcement due to how soon it is after his engagement ended. As for Jane, apparently she has an idea who it could be but has not shared it even with her own aunt."

"If Jane has an idea of who it is, it must mean he has had a private conversation with her to indicate his interest," Emma finally murmured. She should not be feeling as crushed as she was by this news. There had already been signs and clues that Mr. Knightley might be interested in Miss. Fairfax but whereas before it was just a possibility, this seemed to offer confirmation.

"I plan on asking him when I see him," Isabella continued. "As the present Mrs. Knightley, I will need to make preparations to welcome her if he is planning on making a public declaration."

Emma turned to face away from her sister, not wanting her to see the sorrow in her eyes.

"He never gave Ms. Taylor any presents, especially nothing at this scale," Emma stated finally.

"Well, no," Isabella nodded her head slowly in thought before sighing. "To tell you the truth, I never understood why they suddenly got engaged. There had been no outward sign of any interest and then suddenly they were engaged. I tried asking him once, but he just said there was no point asking why, it was done, and that was that. There was no talk of love or devotion. Based on that conversation I would not have thought him capable of romantic gestures, but maybe he was waiting for a different type of person who would capture his heart."

"And you think Jane is that person?" Emma asked in a small voice. She knew she should be happy for Jake, especially if what he had revealed was true and he had been severely wronged by Ms. Taylor. He deserved happiness and she should be happy for him.

"All evidence points in that direction."


Frank Churchill stuffed his hands in his pockets as he slowly made his way down the country lane. If anyone who knew him were to see him, they would barely recognize the morose looking man. Frank was known for his easy laugh and jolly personality, however there was no laughter or charm in him today.

He was not prone to deep thoughts or emotions, but truthfully, he had not really needed them before. Things had always worked out well for him and he had been blessed with a relatively easy life. His good looks and easy charm had helped him throughout, and he was generally able to talk people into what he wanted. He probably could have in this case as well if things had been up to him but there were so many things that were going on which he had no control over, and he found himself as one of the casualties of the situation.

Frank knew he could not spend too much more time in Highbury as there really was no point anymore. He had originally rushed to Highbury as he had gotten word that his father had been a fatality while defending his country. What had meant to be a trip to pay his final respects and get his father's affairs in order had taken much longer when it was revealed there was a mix-up at the military infirmary and his father was alive. Those first few weeks had been a waiting game and there were many moments when he had been sure they would lose his father. However, he had pulled through but had needed help with managing his affairs.

The trip that had meant to be a few weeks had quickly turned into a few months. During this time, Frank had started to correspond with Jane Fairfax. It had initially started as a simple note she had sent inquiring about his father's health. There had been a separate portion which had also asked regarding how Frank was doing and if he needed help.

He had received many notes asking after his father, but this was the first one asking about him. He had responded to it personally instead of asking his valet to reply and just written a simple, I am humbled that you would ask after myself even without having met me.

Jane's next note had caused him even more surprise when she revealed that he had in fact met her and had a conversation with her in London. He could not remember a single acquaintance from London that was in Highbury and the curiosity had him sending a hasty reply.

The correspondence quickly turned into a habit and during those initial few months, those letters became his ray of sunshine. His one happy spot in otherwise bleak days filled with looking after an ailing father. By the time his father regained his strength, Frank's reason for staying in Highbury had begun to change.

Eventually, he had remembered the quiet and mousy Jane Fairfax from a London gathering. However, the words she wrote were not ones of a shy creature but filled with hidden depth and a sharp wit. The two began to meet at different social gatherings, however, were always careful to not reveal a deeper acquaintance to avoid any talk. Frank knew Jane did not have much of a dowry or social connections, so her reputation and manners were of great importance to her.

Frank had been waiting for his father to be fully on his feet before declaring his feelings for Jane and proposing marriage. However, he was once again thrust into the role of being the nurse for his father, albeit this time for a broken heart. It had turned out that he had fallen in love with Ms. Taylor. However, as soon as news of his death had become public knowledge, the lady had gone and very publicly gotten engaged to Mr. Jake Knightley instead. Once his father found out he had been inconsolable, and it had taken another few months before he was the strong army Lieutenant.

The engagement was sad; but it should have been the end to Mr. Weston's and Ms. Taylor's romance. Instead, it slowly became apparent that the actions of his father and Ms. Taylor had put him in a position where he could not pursue his own love interest.

Frank once again grew angry thinking of his father's selfish actions. The latest news had further made it impossible for him to pursue Miss. Fairfax without exposing her to extreme gossip and scandal. Her reputation was of great importance to her, and she was very careful to avoid doing anything that would have people talk about her. Frank knew that his sudden lack of response to Jane's letters without any proper explanation had caused her great pain and confusion. But how could he disclose events that he did not even fully understand himself?

The only thing he could think of doing was to leave Highbury. Seeing Jane at the impromptu tea party sitting next to Mr. Knightley had made it obvious that Frank was not strong enough to see her with any other man. He knew he either had to propose marriage or remove himself, so she was free to accept someone else. He did not want to hold her back and yet the jealousy at seeing her smiling and chatting with Mr. Knightley had been swift. He had to stop himself from running over and ripping her arm away from him. It was that same jealousy which made him say the comment regarding her favorite musician. He knew it was not well done to display such a deep familiarity and had unintentionally insulted her aunt in the process. However, even while knowing he had been in the wrong, the sharp rebuke from Mr. Knightley had made the urge to punch the older man even stronger.

Frank gave a satisfied smile at the thought that at least he had bothered Mr. Knightley just as much with his presence besides Miss. Woodhouse. In the absence of his father, Mr. Knightley blamed Frank and could not stand the sight of him getting better acquainted with Miss. Woodhouse.

In fact, he had initially furthered his acquaintance with Miss. Woodhouse to find out information regarding Ms. Taylor and his own father. He was not proud to admit he had not known at the time where his father even was but was following his hunch that he might have gone to pursue his former love interest. He could not even blame Mr. Knightley for his anger towards him. Frankly, Mr. Knightley had been handling himself quiet well, all things considered, but that still did not help quench the ugly jealousy that reared itself at the thought of Mr. Knightley and Jane Fairfax.

That was the reason he had purchased such an over-the-top present for Jane. In another life, the pianoforte would have been him staking his claim, but as it was, this was his final goodbye to Jane Fairfax.