Author's notes: Half a chapter, I'll try to post the other half today. Lord Sebastian is my favorite character in this story.
PPP
Lord Sebastian was a very serious young man, when he was barely five years old, his mother died. He had an excellent relationship with his father based on affection and respect which was rare in the circles of the nobility.
Since he was a child, his father instilled in him good manners and the importance of fidelity in marriage. Therefore, his surprise was great when his father told him that he had had an affair with a married woman, and even more so when he told him who the lady was and the possibility that Georgiana Darcy was his sister.
After a few days of processing such transcendental information, he decided that he wanted to get to know his 'sister' better. Since the Darcys were going to be in Hertfordshire for a couple of months, he remembered two very interesting facts: the first was that his uncle - his mother's older brother - was the owner of Netherfield Park, and his cousin was the parish priest there, and the second that his other uncle owned a small property only two miles away.
It had been a long time since he had seen Edward Barton, and he was in Ireland when he married a young lady who lived on a nearby estate, but since they were children they had a very good relationship.
After writing to Darcy, whom he knew from university, and another to his cousin, the first week of October he left for 'the Firs' where he planned to stay for at least two weeks. After two days of travel, an excited Lord Sebastian arrived in Hertfordshire. He knew that as a future marquis, his presence would not go unnoticed, but he wanted to attract as little attention as possible. The plan was very simple and consisted of simulating a chance meeting with the Darcys so as not to arouse suspicion.
But first that afternoon, he was going to visit his cousin and meet Mrs. Barton...
PPP
After the assembly, Jane Smith wrote a letter to the Gardiners to return to London. The Gardiners agreed to her request, and her visit, which was to last several months, was reduced to only one week. The next day, Mr. Gardiner was going to send a servant for her to accompany her to London.
During the entire week, she was at Purvis Lodge, her mother spent most of the time in her room with Mr. Stevens or alone. She constantly complained of an upset stomach and morning sickness. The few times she saw her during the day, she only talked about her future child; she was sure it was going to be a boy. Kitty and Lydia went to Meryton every day to visit their aunt and flirt with the officers, and since Jane tried to persuade them to be more discreet, they did not invite her to come with them again. She sadly realized that she was no longer part of her younger sisters' lives, and her mother no longer had the slightest interest in her.
The only people who genuinely cared for her well-being were her sister Mary and to a lesser extent Elizabeth. But her mother was still resentful of both of them, especially Mary whom she considered ungrateful, and would not allow either of them to visit Purvis Lodge. Therefore she had only seen them at the assembly, and that day - which was her last day in Hertfordshire - Mary had invited her to tea at the parsonage, and she headed there sad and thoughtful.
She knew that as the daughter of a soldier with no money and connections her social status was inferior to that of her sisters who were the daughters of a gentleman, and her sisters were inferior to Elizabeth since Lizzy's mother was also the daughter of a gentleman. She also knew that she had no dowry, and most men couldn't marry a woman without money. But until last night, she had never thought about how other people could look down on her like that for something that wasn't her fault after all.
Miss Bingley's cruel words had helped her understand that she should be more realistic, and not aspire to marry above her social circle since surely that was not going to happen and she would only be disappointed.
With such depressing thoughts, she arrived with tears in her eyes at the parsonage where Elizabeth and Mary were waiting for her...
"Jane, are you alright? Did something bad happen to you?" Very concerned they asked in unison.
Embarrassed, she shook her head and replied, "No, nothing bad has happened to me, I just have a little cold. But nothing of importance. I am sure in a few days with rest I'll be fine. I'm very happy to see you again and that we can talk, as we used to do several years ago. I miss those old days so much."
Elizabeth and Mary, not very convinced, nodded their heads and began to chat pleasantly about various topics. Almost an hour later, Mr. Barton arrived accompanied by a handsome gentleman of about 27 years...
Three pairs of eyes looked curiously at the gentleman, who by the clothes he was wearing must be a wealthy man.