HEART AND SOUL: A BECOMING JANE FIC

Jane was certain that all the gossip in England was carried by the mouths of reverend's wives. The irony of the statement struck her as slightly humorous. A small smile appeared on her face and she glanced at her father.

Reverend Austen was deep in conversation with Reverend Tyler. Her father had offered for the reverend and his wife to spend a few days at the Austen residence. Now, the two wives and two husbands were carrying on separate conversations.

Jane and Cassandra exchanged amused glances. Though they were seated closer to their father's conversation, it was the ladies gossip of London that caught their attention. Cassie looked at her sister with a surprised expression and both tried not to laugh, but soon, the talk of trends and fashion turned to more serious discussion.

"Our lovely city has gone down in ruins," Mrs. Tyler was telling their mother. "All the young bachelors and ladies, all the children, all the elderly… It's a wonder so many families are able to stick together."

"Oh, is it so bad?" Jane's mother gasped. "Surely, it cannot be. We had heard that no one was able to get out of London, that it was quarantined. However did you make it out of there?"

"We were in the last group out," the other explained. "There was barely any time to pack. We had to leave so much behind, so many family heirlooms. Oh it was awful."

The men had fallen silent and were eating quietly. They seemed to be in deep thought, but their wives found it necessary to include them in their conversation.

"Wasn't it horrid, dear?" Mrs. Tyler asked her husband. "Leaving our London? And the tragedy befalling our beloved home! You do believe the children are alright, don't you?"

Reverend Tyler nodded, unperturbed by his wife's uneasiness. "The fever has not reached Cornwall, my dear. I am sure they are fine."

"Our son, Richard lives in Cornwall," Mrs. Tyler explained to Mrs. Austen. "He has a fine establishment there. If you are ever in the area, you ought to stop by. It is where we are now headed."

The women once again began speaking of the finer things of life concerning Cornwall, and soon Mrs. Austen was bragging about the newest fashions coming to Hampshire from there. While Cassandra was able to contribute to their busy talk, Jane found herself listening to the men.

Reverend Austen spoke softly to the other reverend, not wishing for their wives to hear. "How far has the fever spread, do you know?"

The other shook his head slowly. "No, the last I had heard, it went as far as Wiltshire, but that was weeks ago. I have not been in touch with Judge Lefroy since he warned me to get out of London."

Jane started at that. Her head turned to look at the reverend, any possibility of remaining discreet about listening went out the window the moment she heard his name. Her heartbeat had sped up slightly. "Judge Lefroy?"

Reverend Tyler turned to her in surprise. "Yes, Miss Austen?"

"You know him?" she asked attentively. She felt her father's gaze turn to her and tried not to blush. "Judge Lefroy, you know him well?"

"Yes, miss, I do," he responded with a smile. "A good deal, I should like to think. We see eye-to-eye on a few things, or at least, share a mutual respect," he added looking at her father. "The new judge is quite the young man, a fair catch for the young lady who manages to get him."

Jane swallowed slowly, her mouth dry. "He's not married then?"

"Oh no, Miss Austen," the reverend replied. "He was betrothed at one point, I believe, but at reaching the level of judge, it was dissolved. I am told it was a mutual understanding between him and his bride to be. Arranged marriages are just not as popular in these days as they used to be."

Jane could feel her face beginning to heat up and she looked down at her hands. She could sense her father's gaze on her and knew he could read right through her. After nearly disgracing her family, she did not have the proper right to inquire about Mr. Lefroy, but Jane could not have held her tongue. Her heart was getting in the way of her sensibility. Even as the shame built up, she could feel her hands begin to shake with anticipation.

Finally, she looked up, but to Jane's surprise, there was no incrimination in her father's eyes, only understanding. She glanced around and noticed her mother's eyes held the same. The guilt lifted off her like a bird with wings.

Suddenly, Jane realized that the table had grown silent; even the gossiping reverends' wives had quieted. Cassie reached over and laid a hand on her sister's arm.

"Love, it seems, is much more in style these days," Mrs. Tyler suggested, breaking the stillness. She smiled at Jane comfortingly. "After all, it is much more worth the risk."

Jane returned the smile softly.

"Isn't it, my dear husband?" Mrs. Tyler turned to her husband. "That is after all why we married, is it not?"

The reverend nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Of course we did, dear."

Mrs. Tyler smiled and patted her husband's arm. "We were ahead of our time."