Hello I know it has taken me ages to update this story but I was honestly blocked. I had many things in my head and I just could not think about were I wanted this story to go. I am in the middle of a huge project but I hope it wont take me as long to update again. Well, here is the next chapter.

Chapter 8

Jane

Two months had gone by since Mrs. Taylor had arrived at Loungbourn and it was everything that Jane had hoped for. Not everything was perfect, her father was still acting as a recluse in his library only coming out for meals and barely talking to anyone, and Lydia was still refusing to listen to anyone. She refused to leave her bedroom and most days she took her meals in her room instead of joining the family. Jane had hoped that with time she could reform but each day that passed proved Lizzy's thought on Lydia correct. Mrs. Taylor was not worried, she had spoken to Jane there was still time she daid, but in the meantime, they could start thinking about schools for Lydia. Jane was not sure about that possible solution, a school would cost money, Lizzy and her could go back through the ledgers and see if they could save some more money to send her to a school in the future, but she didn't know if sending her away from the family was the right option. She had talked to Lizzy about it and she told Jane that she was being too soft-hearted towards Lydia, that in the long run, it would be better for Lydia if they were tough now. If she didn't change she could get herself into trouble and lose her reputation and that would ruin her entire life. Jane understood, but she still thought that Lydia could be reformed at home with them.

Although Jane was disappointed on those two fronts she was extremely happy with the developments that were happening to the rest of them. Lizzy now practiced on the piano two hours a day, her natural taste and hard work were refining her skills at an impressive speed. Mrs. Taylor was having her focus on music that would be appropriate to play at gatherings so that she would have a roster of songs that she could play with great proficiency if she ever had the need to perform. They were also songs that could be accompanied by someone singing, so Jane also practiced daily her singing and together they had become quite a duo. They also found great pleasure playing and singing together, it had started out as a chore but it became something that they both looked forward to. Mrs. Taylor also had them working on their languages and reading. That part was easier for Lizzy than it was for Jane, but Mrs. Taylor had a way of making their studies be more entertaining and less a terrible chore to go through. Jane soon realized it was because Mrs. Taylor loved teaching, you could see it in her face, her energy, her tone when she explained things. She had true enjoyment for teaching and thus made the studies enjoyable.

She was also working miracles with Kitty and Mary. While Jane and Lizzy played and sang she would have manner classes with Kitty and Mary. What was the proper way of acting and what was not, what was expected of them and what they should never do. To Kitty, it felt like the world had been turned upside down, she confessed to Jane that she was absolutely mortified about how she had previously acted. The more she learned with Mrs. Taylor the more she realized how she had made her family look ridiculous. Mary did not have such an awakening but she did realize that she had also not always behaved as she should have, but instead of being mortified she was encouraged. She worked extremely hard and took every suggestion that Mrs. Taylor gave her. She even set aside her books of Fordyce's sermons and started reading other books. As the piano was mostly occupied by Lizzy, she would start taking classes with Mrs. Taylor to better her playing when Lizzy and Jane left for London. But the great surprise that had come out in the last month was Kitty's unknown talent. Apparently, Kitty had a great talent for drawing, Mrs. Taylor had seen a doodle that Kitty had done on the margins of her notes and had asked her if she enjoyed drawing. It took a bit of effort to get it out of Kitty but it turned out that she had always loved painting. She had once shown Lydia one of her drawings and had been mocked about it viciously and she had hidden her desire to draw since then. Mrs. Taylor had asked her to draw a sketch for her and after declaring that Kitty had great talent she started working with her in earnest. That was the accomplishment that would single Kitty out from her sisters.

Jane also became a bit anxious, the mourning period would soon be over. She had been in regular contact with her aunt Gardiner planning their trip to London. They would stay a few weeks in Loungbourn after they were out of mourning to socialize and be seen as a family together and then go to London. They would arrive in the middle of the season and would stay until the end of it and return on June back to Longbourn. What would happen in those months Jane was too worried to speculate about, on the one hand, she wished that she could be settled and be engaged by then, on the other, she still felt the pain of Mr. Bingley abandonment and was not certain if she was ready for that, either way, she could only pray from things to go well.

Lizzy

As the carriage started to slow down as they entered London Lizzy could barely believe that they were already there. The past months had passed by so fast, their mother's death, the funeral, Mrs. Taylor's arrival, the end of their mourning period, three weeks of Hertfordshire society. As terribly as everything had started Lizzy was pleased with how they had left things in Loungbourn, Mrs. Taylor had proved more than up to the task of what she had been hired for. While there was still no big improvement for Lydia the tantrums had stopped. After realizing that she would get no attention at all from Mrs. Taylor no matter how much ruckus she created she got tired and started to brood. Eventually she had started leaving her room and eating with the family, she did not participate but didn't try to disrupt either, Lizzy counted it as a win.

She was also extremely pleased with how much Kitty and Mary had advanced in the few months under Mrs. Taylor. Everyone had been terribly surprised when they had started to socialize again and see how the acted and looked. Kitty had toned down with the bows and ruffles and her hair and dress were simpler and more elegant, she looked older and more mature. Mary, on the contrary, had softened her look so that it would flatter her better and look more feminine, both looked much improved. Their manners were also significantly changed for the better and they both started getting genuine attention making their confidence rise. Overall Lizzy felt very comfortable leaving them in the very capable hands of Mrs. Taylor. Now it was time for her and Jane to prove themselves. She could see how nervous Jane was every time they talked about it, Jane hid it well but Lizzy knew her sister. While she understood Jane's uneasiness she did not share it, she had decided that they had done their best and what had to happen would. Fretting about it would not change the outcome. They were there to improve their circumstances true but that did not mean they could not enjoy themselves while they did it.

Their Aunt Gardiner was there waiting to receive them, extremely pleased to see her favorite nieces. She welcomed them warmly.

"Jane, Lizzy how wonderful it is to see you, and you both look so well. I hope you had a good trip? Your uncle was not able to be here as he is at work but he will arrive in time for dinner so you will see him then."

"We did aunt but I am glad to have finally arrived." Jane beside me agreed.

"It was an easy trip but I must admit the anticipation to arrive made it seem very long."

"Well my girls, you are here now so let's have you settled and then you can say hello to your cousins that are very excited about seeing you again I might add, and then we can have dinner."

"That sounds lovely aunt Gardiner." I replied, and it did sound lovely I was looking forward to seeing my little cousins again.

It did not take them a long time to get settled and soon they were downstairs hugging with their little cousins again waiting for Uncle Gardiner to arrive so they could have dinner. When he did their cousins were sent upstairs to eat and they sat down for dinner. After a bit of small talk the conversation turned more serious.

"Jane, Lizzy I think it is time that we talked about our plans for your stay here. I have been sharing your letters with your uncle and we have started forming some preliminary plans for your stay here. Haven't we Edward?"

"Indeed we have my dear. There are still three months left to this years season. I have been reaching out to contacts and friends to get as many invitations as possible, and I have managed to secure many tickets to the opera and the theatre which I know you will enjoy but where you can also meet many interesting people. I also wish to mention that there is also no rush. I understand that you mothers sudden death and Mr. Bingley's fast disappearance has frightened you, but there is still time. If you do not make a match this season we will try the next. I just wish for you to know you have our full support."

Jane's eyes started to water and her shoulders visibly relaxed. "Thank you, aunt and uncle, for your support. It has been a very trying time and I do feel much better about this whole endeavor now."

"Indeed Jane, we have come here for a purpose but now that we are here we should try to enjoy ourselves. We will not achieve anything by being nervous and tense."

Jane smiled back at me with a genuine smile. It was nice to see her happy again. Lizzy was certain that there would be challenges in their time there, but she believed that they would also enjoy themselves.