Chapter seven:

It had been a long few months, due to bad weather the estimated six-week journey of sailing had become ten but finally, the captain said they would-be docking in the next few hours. Luckily the swaying of the ship hadn't affected, Lizzie or Jane but their poor aunt Gardnier was not faring at well as they were. Aunt Gardiner often joked that she was normally a natural-born sailor as she always had always traveled with her husband, however, this journey was not agreeing with her and the young ladies were worried. It wasn't often that they would see any other passages as many appeared to suffer from seasickness like their aunt and many found that the weather was not agreeable to be on the deck as it was far too cold and they would much rather be in the comfort of their cabins.

This didn't seem to be the case with Mr. Brodwick who appeared to be a natural sailor he often accompanied Jane and Lizzie on the deck to stretch their legs especially as Mrs. Gardner was more comfortable staying in the cabin she shared with her nieces. Unkown to the ladies Mr. Gardnier has asked Mr. Broadwick to accompany his family on their travels, to keep an eye on them to keep them safe. As much as the Ladies travel with their manservants. Mr. Gardnier knew it didn't offer the same protection to a party of ladies to be accompanied by a man especially a son of an Earl.

Mr. Broadwick had taken his duty to keep the Ladies safe seriously, he also felt it was his duty to keep them entertained so he often joined them for tea and evening meals in a private parlor he had secured for their use. Often he would tell tales from his youth, growing up and attending school and then Cambridge. within the first two weeks of sailing, it was apparent to Aunt Gardiner and Lizzie that Mr. Brodwick was falling in love with Jane.

Later it appeared that he was courting Jane surprisingly Jane was openly enjoying be courted by Mr. Brodwick she blushed when he spoke to him, engaged him in conversation, and was much more animated than they had ever seen her before it led them both to believe this was true love. Mr. Brodwick was able to bring Jane out of her shell and when she was around him all her natural reserve and shyness melted away.

Even their daily walks on the deck had become Jane and Brodwick walking ahead together while Lizzie cheapened she tried to give them privacy in the small quarters of the deck that passengers were allocated to walk. This was no small challenge. Lizzie was glad that her sister seemed to be falling in love with Mr. Brodwick, however, it reminded her of Mr. Darcy, her love for him was too painful for Lizzie and she wasn't sure she would get past it. Each morning she awoke a broken person due to missing her child, she had discussed with her aunt previously she should always portray to the world a happy smile and the confident person she was who would protect herself and Clara Anne.

when they firs left Clara at Pemberly, she would cry her self to sleep every night but as they approached Boston, it appeared to her aunt and sister that these nights were becoming less frequent all's they could do was pray that it would get easier for Lizzie, that Lizzie would have the courage to move forward with her life. Especially as she had been given a new fresh start.

By their fourth week at sea, Mr. Brodwick requested a private audience with Mrs. Gardiner, to request her permission for him to openly court Jane and by their, seventh week at Sea, he requested a private audience with Jane where he proposed and was accepted. Mrs. Gardner gave her blessing but reserved final judgment to her husband once they arrived in Boston which she assured Jane he would grant. Lizzie was overjoyed for her sister, that her sister had met such a kind man who wanted to give her the world was all that she had ever wanted for her most beloved sister. To Lizzie, Jane had found her soul mate and best friend which made Jane an even better person than she already was it was like they were each other anchor points.

They soon docked at Boston and were greeted by Mr. Gardiner who was waiting for them, he was especially excited to see his wife who he had dearly missed and his two favorite nieces. he was also relieved to see Mr. Brodwick as their company had taken off Boston at a rapid pace and an extra per of hand were indeed needed.

"Brodwick I'm so glad to see you before I take you to the lodging I've secured you would join my wife and family for tea you can all tell me about your crossing?"

"Of course Gardiner, I would be happy to I actually wanted to speak to you privately today if you could spare me the time"

Mrs. Gardiner gave her husband a knowing smile.

Later that evening the whole family settled in their new home on the south slopes of Beacon hill they enjoyed a family dinner to celebrate the engagement of Jane Bennet to Jasper Brodwick the second son of the Earl of Ashbrook. The couple decided they would marry for the local church they would attend on Sundays in a month's time. Letters were dispatched to Longbourn and to the Earl of Ashbrook advising on the couple's plans to marry. Their first few weeks in Boston were a whirl of social calls, visits to the modiste for Janes Trousel, and new gowns for Lizzie in the more vivacious American style.

A week before the wedding, the two young Ladies were taken tea. They had been kept indoors by a sudden downpour, Lizzie was carrying the conversation as her sister was lost in her thoughts.

"Jane are you nervous about the wedding you don't see yourself today."

"I'm sorry Lizzie I'm in the clouds, I'm not nervous but I wanted to ask you something..."

"Ask away dearest you no there are no secrets between us"

"Would you mind if I told Jasper the real reason we came to Boston, as we are to be married I would rather not have any lies between us and I know he would keep your secret I trust him, I know he would understand"

Elizabeth's heart sank, the feeling she had been repressing for Mr. Darcy and Clara overwhelmed her and she broke down in tears. The tears she had been holding in for so long where now uncontrollable, she was sobbing so hard that she never notice when the parlor door opened. Jane was so busy comforting her sister that she didn't hear the butler announce Mr. Brodwick.

"Jane, Miss Elizabeth is everything ok, should I fetch Mr. Gardnier" Exclaimed Mr. Brodwick.

Both women looked up in shocked surprise, Jane began making excuses for her sister's tears. While Elizabeth watched the love and concern that Mr Boodwick showed for her sister she knew she could trust him just as she trusted Jane.

In between sobs as she caught he breath,

"Jane dearest, this will never do... Mr. Brodwick I can explain it all to you if you have time, I trust you." Spoke Elizabeth

A confused Mr. Brodwick took a seat, they waited for the tea to be called for and poured before Elizabeth began, for the next thirty minutes Elizabeth with the help of Jane, explained why they traveled to America. That they had left Longbourne for London before traveling to Scotland before finally Lambton, about Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy and their relationship and finally about Clara Anne. At the end of the story Jane told Mr. Brodwick she understood if he would like to end the engagement but she was glad there would know lies between them if he still wanted to marry her. Mr. Brodwick without missing a breath look into Janes's eyes with the most ardent admiration Elizabeth had ever seen and told Jane that he loved her, that they still would be getting married next week as long as she would still have him. In his next breath, he told them both that Mr. Darcy was a friend from school that he thought he was an honorable man and couldn't explain why he had left Elizabeth, he was sure he would make sure Elizabeth's child was safe and loved.

Mr. Brodwick went on to request that Lizzie called him Jasper as they were to be brother and sister he invited her to stay with him and Jane in Boston for as long as she would like to once the Gardiner's returned to England and that he would always keep her secret it was decided by the three of them that when Jasper or Jane wrote home to any members of Jaspers family they would not mention that Elizabeth Janes sister lived with them just encase Mr. Darcy decided at some point to look for her. Mr. Brodwick bought one of the best townhouses on the south slope of beacon hill while Jane hired all the servants they would need in including a maid for herself and her sister.

The happy couple was married just before Christmas eighteen thirteen. Jane couldn't believe how much her life had changed in a year and was delighted with the happiness she felt. To think that this time last year when she had believed she was heartbroken over Mr. Bingley, she counted her blessings as she was now convinced that she was flattered by his charm and it was nothing for what she felt for her most beloved Jasper. On receiving warm letters of joy from her own family but also her new inlaws, welcoming her to the Brodwick family with the promises of meeting soon. Jane and the countess of Ashbrook soon became regular correspondents igniting a true friendship which only become better when they met just after the birth of Janes's child when the Earl and countess visited the new world to see their only grandchild.

Mrs. Bennet was overwrought with excitement, that she now would have two daughters married after Elizabeth has rejected Mr. Collins, it was Miss Mary who had comforted him with the words of the good book, she had impressed him with her sound sense of duty and devotion to the lord. They began to spend more time together and when he came back for his second visit shortly after Jane and Lizzie left, he proposed and was excepted by Miss Mary who was now Mrs. William Collins of Hunsford parish. Mrs. Bennet wasn't one to read a newspaper but when her husband showed her the time's newspaper announcements page she was thrilled.

"The Earl and Countess of Ashbrook would like to announce the marriage of their second son

Jasper Henery Brodwick of Ashbrook House to Jane Francis Bennet of Longbourne

on the twenty-second day of December 1813, Boston America"

She shouted for the carriage to be ready so she could take the newspaper clippings to Meryton to her sister before calling on her neighbors so they could all congratulate her on having a daughter so well married a daughter she now shared with a countess.

Mr. Darcy sadly didn't read the society announcements if he had, he would have realized that Jane Bennet had married his friend Jasper Bordwick and he could have easily asked the countess of Ashbrook who was a friend of his late mothers for their address in Boston. When he later heard that Jasper had married he presumed he had married an American heiress as he knew he planned to travel to the new world and settle down there that he would be starting a trading business.