Emma was bored and rather lonely.

She had once again made a successful match but there had been consequences from this match. Although it was wonderful to be right once more and Mr Knightly wrong it did not stop her from feeling the consequences of matchmaking. Miss Taylor did deserve her own happiness, Mr Weston did deserve a wife after all these years, and Frank had always said if he was to have a stepmother he wished it was Miss Taylor.

So the match was perfect!

Yet there was another empty room in Hartfield ...well it would be empty but it was immediately given to Miss Bates. The point was Miss Taylor no longer lived with them, Emma would no longer be woken up by her tapping on the door, she would no longer spend every moment of the day with her constant companion, and she would have no one reasonable to talk to. The implications of losing the only member of the Woodhouse household close to Emma in age had only come to her when she watched Miss Taylor drive off into the sunset as Mrs Weston.

It was not quiet or empty, Hartfield has never been those two since the Bates has moved in, but it was dull and lonely for Emma. She had never craved Jane's companionship more than today, nor had she desired to see Frank or speak with Mr Knightly more.

It was an unfortunate coincidence that when Miss Taylor finally married Jane was still in Weymouth for a wedding, Frank was attending to his aunt's needs, and Mr Knightly was visiting Isabella who had just recently given birth to her fifth child.

They were all sitting in the drawing room Mrs Bates was dozing in her rocking chair by the fire despite the fact it had been a few short hours since she had woken up but then again it could be that she finds her daughter's voice very soothing. Lord knows when Emma, Jane, and Frank were young they fell asleep listening to Miss Bates drone on about something. She was discussing the idea of visiting Miss Goddard today, which held some merit and interest to Emma, with Mr Woodhouse while Emma was half listening as she attempted to read.

Their footman walked in, bowed, and then held out a tray with letters on to Mr Woodhouse. "Thank you," Mr Woodhouse said dismissing the footman as he took the letters. "There is a letter from Jane for you Miss Bates," he said glancing at the first one before handing it to his friend.

"Oh marvellous, she may have written with news of when she returns, it is so...well...it is not exactly quiet because Jane is very quiet herself, and it is not sad because Emma here is a ray of happiness that I cannot begin to describe, but it is not quite right without our Jane. Oh I do hope she is to come home soon!"

"So do we all," Emma smiled.

"Oh my poor dear, you must miss her the most! You two are so very close with one another, and with Frank, and to have them both gone at once with Miss Taylor married! Oh I cannot comprehend how lonely you must feel..."

Emma began to tune out Miss Bates as her father passed her a letter as well. She frowned to herself as she thought through the short list of possibilities of who would have written to her. Isabella would surely delay any news through Mr Knightly, who was to return soon, Jane would surely send her regards in her letter to Miss Bates, and Frank rarely writes more than two letters a month to her and she had already received those two letters. A careful examination of the envelope told her it was Jane who had written the letter. For there was no one but Jane who had such a careful yet beautiful hand. She frowned even more at the small note on the back on the envelope.

Do not open until you are alone, J.

What on earth could Jane possibly want to tell Emma and Emma alone? Jane did not keep many secrets from her aunt. It is an almost impossible feat to try. Pocketing the letter Emma returned her attention to the babbling Miss Bates who just finished telling the room how lonely Emma must be. "You are right, Miss Bates," she said, "I should join you and Mrs Bates on your visit to Mrs Goddard's school. It would be an enjoyable walk."

A small disturbed feeling deep within Emma told her that today was going to be the beginning where everything changes.

She did not think she was ready for so many changes.

EWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEW

Frank had woken up in the best of moods.

It was a warm sunny autumn day and he had plans to spend it accompanying Jane to a picnic with Mr Dixon and Miss Campbell who were to be married in a few short weeks. He had been pleasantly surprised when he had seen Jane in one of the assembly halls in Weymouth. She had transformed from being simply Jane to a beautiful elegant woman.

How could Frank not have noticed how elegant and beautiful her slim neck was? How could he have not noticed how warm and welcoming her brown eyes were? How could he have not noticed how sweet her smile was or how delicate her hands looked or even how soft her skin was?

He grew up with her! He should have known how beautiful Jane Fairfax was!

One dance with a fringe of conversation and suddenly everything changes.

Had Jane really been this witty before? Had she often used that light laugh that sounded like bells? Had she always been a little more than just a dearest friend?

Was she not supposed to be his sister?

He had always been close to Jane and Emma. Unnaturally close, some of the adults would say, because surely a young boy like Frank would wish for some male company? Frank never desired to play with the boys his own age after all he had Emma who would play swords and climb up trees with him, and if Emma was unavailable well he always had Mr Knightly and John who filled the duty of being an older brother remarkably well. Somewhere along the line Emma remained a friend while Jane changed into a possible love interest – no! She is the only love interest! For how could any woman compete to the beauty of Jane Fairfax?

They had spent the summer together walking, dancing, talking, going on picnics, to the theatre, and simply to look at the view of the beautiful seaside. Though the sea could never compare to Jane in beauty. He had told her so and delighted in the blush on her cheeks. He was in love with her. Somewhere in their companionship without Emma he had fallen in love with Jane Fairfax.

He had proposed to her two days ago and she had said yes. Today when Mr Dixon was preoccupied with Miss Campbell Frank shall talk to Jane privately and give her his mother's ring. The ring was not covered in jewels as some promise rings are but it was elegant with a simple small jewel, it had been all his grandfather could afford for his grandmother who gave it to his father to give to his mother. Now it was Frank's to give to the woman he loved. The simple design suited Jane who had never been flashy or exaggerated in her beauty.

They would marry soon hopefully. No more than a year of waiting. While his father would approve of the match and her family would be enthusiastic about it, there was no doubt that there was still obstacles in the way of them marrying, his aunt did not approve of Jane's lack of wealth. She had met Jane once and while she had complimented Jane on her beauty, talents, and manners she was quick to say Jane was unworthy for Frank despite their childhood bond.

Frank cared little for riches. He knew his father would support them and finds the help needed for Frank to establish himself in the working world but Frank did not want to make Jane suffer. He adored Miss Bates and Mrs Bates and wished to do them right too. It was not fair for them to live off Mr Woodhouse's charity forever and if all four of them did live on his charity it would drain Isabella's and Emma's inheritance which was not fair on the two girls.

So for the greater good of everyone Frank must wait for his snobbish aunt to die so he could inherit her wealth and support Jane's family.

He sighed. He did not know if he could wait for so long.

There was a knock on the door. He answered to find a maid outside she quickly bowed before speaking, "Mrs Churchill wishes you to spend the day with her. She is feeling unwell today and is in need of cheering up."

He inwardly groaned. There were times like this that he suspected his aunt feigned illness in an attempt to prevent him leaving. He would have returned to Highbury for his father's wedding had it not been for the sudden bout of illness that affected his aunt. It was his duty to attend her and he had been raised to always fulfil his duty.

Though there was no doubt that he had an ulterior motive as well. He wished to give Jane the best life possible and if that meant reading to an elderly lady who will criticise everything then he shall read.

He just wished he did not have to abandon Jane once again.

EWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEW

Emma was now in a far better mood. Her visit to Mrs Goddard's school had been very fruitful indeed. Although no one could ever replace Jane, Miss Taylor, and Frank in her heart she was certain she could develop a strong friendship with Miss Harriet Smith. According to Mrs Goddard, Harriet was well educated, well mannered, and well liked amongst the girls in her school. As well have many qualities Harriet was a fine beauty and Emma had no other desire than to take her under her wing and show her other opportunities in life.

It was definitely the distraction she needed from her loneliness.

Now alone in her room after a tiring and satisfying day, Emma pulled out the letter from Jane and ripped it open in her eagerness to see what was so secret that she could not possibly tell her own aunt.

5th September 1815

Dearest Emma,

I can hardly write for I am giddy with joy! I feel as if all my senses have collapsed and I cannot write anything sensible for you to read. You are my closest and dearest friend and I must confide in you or I cannot tell anyone at all! I now have a secret that you must not tell anyone it must stay between you, me, and Frank just like many secrets did when we were children. Though this is not a childish secret.

You are aware that I have been spending the summer in Frank's company. It was very fortunate that his aunt had decided to spend the summer in Weymouth once again as the doctors have recommended the sea air for her health. Although Mr Dixon and Miss Campbell are amiable as always they do not wish to have a chaperone come between them constantly therefore Frank had joined us on their outings to keep me entertained and distracted from improper behaviour of the engaged couple. Scandalous as it is Mr Dixon has not acted in any way that might blemish Miss Campbell's reputation. It is during these outings though that I felt a change in my feelings towards Frank. They were warm as always but there had been something different about them. It had not been until Frank had confessed his love for me that I realised that I too was in love with him!

Oh Emma! I can scarcely breathe! After confessing our love for one another, Frank then proposed marriage to me, and I have accepted! We are to keep the engagement a secret and a long one for Frank's aunt does not approve of my low status. I write to you in hopes of finding your constant friendship, advice, and blessing for this wondrous event.

Yours truly,

Jane.

At first Emma did not know what to think of it. She had never considered the idea of her friends marrying let alone to each other. Then she remembered fondly about the days they played weddings and how it was always Jane and Frank who married one another. Frank once boldly told Mr Knightly that he would marry both Emma and Jane but Emma had never seen the appeal in marrying Frank. He left his dirty clothes all over his bedroom floor for the maid to pick up instead of neatly folded in the hamper.

They were so different from one another and yet so close in the terms of friendship that Emma could see the marriage working to their advantage. They had already tackled the main challenge of a marriage due to living together throughout their childhood. She knew all of his bad habits and he knew her secret side hidden beneath her shyness. Together they would make a strong partnership.

Emma could not wait for the wedding and she hoped that they remember their friendship to her and name her godmother when the time comes.

She hurriedly set out to write a reply and remind Jane that she had promised once that Emma was to be godmother.