Jane finished her letter with a great reluctance.

She uneasily sealed the envelope and stared at it for a moment. She did not want to leave Hartfield and she did not want to care for children who were not her own or even the young five Knightly children. Yet it was far too late to change her mind it would be unfair and rude to both Mrs Elton and Mrs Smallridge.

She sighed heavily just as Emma stepped in the room. There was a tense and strained moment as they stared at one another from the mirror of the vanity table Jane had been writing at. Emma looked pale, tired, and there were noticeable tear stains on her cheeks whatever was left of Jane's fury earlier that day had completely evaporated at the sight of her friend in such a state of distress. She knew that Mr Knightly had given his own lecture to Emma on her behaviour and she suspected that had caused the many tears though considering the many hours Emma had spent in her aunt's company this evening told her that she was also feeling guilty and ashamed of herself out of her own violation.

"I am sorry Jane," Emma said meekly.

"I know," Jane sighed again.

There was another moment of silence and as always Jane gave in and turned round arms open for Emma to run into her arms. They embraced warmly and Jane wished with every ounce of her being that she did not have to leave Hartfield.

As Emma pulled away Jane managed to find enough courage to blurt out her secret, for she could never keep anything secret from Emma, "I have accepted the governess position at the Smallridges!"

"You did not! Jane, you cannot! You are going to be married!"

"Am I?"

"Of course you are why would you think you will otherwise?"

"Frank had preferred your company today over mine and his behaviour is evident that he no longer wishes to wed me," Jane said in a careful yet sad tone. She did not want to set Emma off into a lecture but she could not help the grieve that came with such thoughts. "I am too dull for his liking as well as too poor and unworthy of his attention."

"You are not! Dearest Jane, Frank loves you more than life itself, he cannot wait to marry you. You must not accept this position just a few more months, maybe a little more and you shall be Mrs Weston," Emma pleaded. "Just be patient, Jane."

"I have written a letter-"

"Have you sent it?" Emma interrupted.

"No," Jane admitted softly.

"Do not send it just yet. I will write to Frank and I am certain that he shall arrive immediately to prove his affections for you," Emma hurried to the vanity table where she pulled out some spare paper and then snatched up the abandoned writing utensil before dipping it into ink and hurried scrawling a note. Ink splattered over the page as she wrote without a care. "Promise me Jane that you will not send the Smallridges a letter until you have spoken to Frank face to face about this."

"I-"

"Promise me Jane."

Jane closed her mouth and took a deep breath. It would not hurt to wait for a couple days before Emma is proven wrong and Jane could go to her new life with the knowledge she was not only doing the right thing for her friends but for herself as well. She can wait for a few days and take the chance to spend some more time with her aunt who she had unfairly ignored in favour of her own misery recently.

"I promise," she whispered.

Emma looked pleased though the worry, panic, and exhaustion were all palpable beneath her satisfaction as she folded the letter up and sealed it with a small blob of wax before running out of the bed chamber. Jane lost all composure and threw herself into bed she could not believe the nerve of Emma waking up a servant to get the letter straight away to Frank (for that is surely what she is doing since the post office will not be open at this time of night) and yet strangely enough she was flattered that her friend would go to such lengths to ensure she knew that her fiancée truly loved her.

If only Emma was right in this instance.

EWEWEWEWEWEWEW

It was late at night when Frank was rudely awoken from a dream about Jane.

It had been a pleasant dream where they sat on Box Hill just the two of them and there was a pleasant mild breeze that blew Jane's perfume into his direction. She wore the same pretty dress that she wore today and she had that special smile that she would have when it was just the two of them.

And then a loud persistent knock interrupted his dream and rudely brought him back to reality. Grumbling to himself Frank struggled out of bed and pulled on his dressing gown though it was far too hot for an extra layer. He pulled the door open with a fury and demanded irritably to know what was so important to have him woken up in such a manner.

The servant timidly pleaded forgiveness before passing Frank a letter that had been delivered by a man from Highbury. Frank immediately forgotten all of his anger as he snatched the letter out of the servant's hand and ordered for some light in his room which the servant obeyed immediately out of fear of being dismissed.

With the weak candle light Frank read the blotchy and hastily scrawled note from Emma. He knew it was Emma because despite the untidiness of the writing there was the familiar flicks on the ends of each letter.

Frank,

Jane is considering accepting Mrs E's governess position. She believes you love her no longer, come as soon as possible to tell her otherwise.

Yours

Emma.

Without a second thought Frank screwed the letter up and threw it in the cold and empty fireplace before quickly getting dressed without a second thought to his appearance. He rushed down the stairs and as he past the night footmen he barked an order, "Tell my aunt I have gone back to Highbury, there's an emergency," before running out to the stables without hearing the reply.

His horse whined as he pulled him out from his slumber and hurriedly but carefully (for he could not afford to fall of his horse before he could prevent Jane for making the worst mistake of her life) saddled the horse and then he rode out towards where home was in the dark night with only the moon and stars to guide him there.

"I am coming Jane," he said to himself, "just wait a few more hours and I will be there."

He could not understand why the woman of his dreams could ever think he would stop loving her.

EWEWEWEWEWEWEW

Mr Knightly slept badly.

Every time he had drifted to sleep the image of Emma's tearful face or Frank lounging in her lap would make a reappearance and he would sit up and think once more how Emma could never return his love and that thought hurt him more than anything else. He could not remain in Highbury and continue to pine for a woman who will never return his affections, it was not sensible or practical of him, he was far better off going away and attempt to remove Emma from his heart so when the engagement announcement arrives he can be happy for her.

London would be the perfect option with John and Isabella always eager for a visit from him.

So once the sun had risen he ordered one of the maids to pack his trunk and barely touched breakfast before he had all of his affairs in order. Promises of letters to be sent to John's address were easy enough after all and then despite the inappropriateness of the hour as it was still far too early Mr Knightly made his way to Hartfield to inform Mr Woodhouse, the Bates, Emma, and Jane of his departure.

He decided to walk there so he could think of what he should say. It was difficult to think of what to say to someone when the last time you have spoken to them had been a stern lecture on their behaviour. It was also difficult to come up with the right words without telling that person the truth of how you felt about them.

He shall have to make this trip completely spontaneous and hide the fact he was leaving in order to spare himself the pain of witnessing Frank court Emma.

As he approached Hartfield he spotted a horse halting to a stop at the front as someone jumped off and ran to the front door banging on it impatiently. He hurried forward to see if there had been some terrible emergency perhaps Isabella or the children had been severely injured in an accident or had fallen ill. The mere idea of his sister or nephews or nieces being in danger terrified him but the closer he got the more the horse seemed recognisable.

The door opened and the man pushed his way in before Mr Knightly got close to seeing who it is. It did not matter the horse told him straight away, after all did that horse not ride up far too late at the Strawberry Picking party he held no more than a month ago?

Frank had arrived in a untimely manner with such urgency which had meant one thing.

He had come to propose to Emma.

It was then he decided he could not step any further. His stomach pained him as if someone had punched him hard and for one moment he had thought his heart had completely stopped at the realisation. The churning of dread, jealousy, hurt, anger, and misery was becoming far too much for him to cope. He could not go into Hartfield to hear the happy news, he could not bear to see Emma on the arm of another man, and he definitely could not see them share a loving embrace.

He turned away with a determination to go straight to London once he has his carriage ready.

He was not going to turn back to see Emma and he will not see her until she was officially Mrs Weston and he had put her out of his mind and heart definitely.

The image of Emma standing at the altar with Frank haunts him the whole journey back to Donwell Abbey.

EWEWEWEWEWEWEWEW

Jane was startled to discover Frank at her bed chamber door barely dressed and completely out of breath as if he had been running from a pack of wolves. She knew Emma had sent James out with extra pay to get the letter to Frank immediately but she did not think he would arrive before anyone was actually out of bed.

She flushed a bright pink as she realised she was dressed in nothing but her nightdress and shawl that she had grabbed off the chair when her sleep was interrupted by a desperate rapid knocking.

Within a minute of staring at one another Frank pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply and desperately. She had felt as if she had never been kissed before in her life it was such a different kiss from his usual ones. When breathing was becoming quite a problem for them both he pulled away but held her face in his hands with his thumbs brushing her cheeks.

"How can you ever think I could love anyone but you?" he croaked out. "Jane, dearest Jane, I would marry you right this moment if I could."

"I should hope so," Emma said from behind them, "with a kiss like that in such little clothing you are very lucky Father is not awake yet or you will be forced into the Church before breakfast."

"Emma!" Jane cried out with embarrassment. She could not believe her friend would say such a thing, even if it was the truth, it was nothing but embarrassing. "Frank, I-"

"I should not compromise you any further than I have," Frank interrupted hastily; "I should let you and Emma get dressed and discuss this with you properly. Shall I wait in the music room?"

Jane hesitated for a brief moment but Emma poked her hard in the back causing her to yelp a yes before she could think things through. Frank looked relieved and Jane felt a pang, how could she make her love worry so much? He obviously had very little sleep and not only had he rushed all the way from Richmond to Highbury he had obviously abandoned his duty to his aunt which was something he hated to do. Before she could say a word he kissed her again, much softer and gentler like he usually does and then headed down to the music room.

Quickly, with the help of Emma, Jane was dressed in one of her best dresses and had her hair held up neatly rather than the messy loose waves they were earlier. Together the two entered the music room where Frank was playing around with the piano; Emma sat herself by the bookcase filled with music books while Jane took a seat next to Frank on the piano bench.

She flushed again when she was greeted with another kiss.

"Talk to me, Janie, please I beg of you," Frank pleaded with her while using his most private pet name for her. "I need to understand, I need to know why, what could have possibly have gone through your head to have made you think I have stopped loving you."

With such a pleading look in his lovely eyes Jane found every trouble that had been troubling her since the beginning of this year spilling out of her lips. Mrs Westons hopes of a match between Frank and Emma, her own insecurity about her lack of wealth and social status, and how that made her feel to inferior to be his wife, his own flirtatious behaviour with Emma, and how much a better match Emma would be with her own wealth , his lack of writing to her and how it had prayed on her mind, Mrs Elton's sly jabs and badgering for her to accept the governess position, and then that final straw when Frank rested his head on Emma's lap.

Every single thing she had kept almost tightly bottled up came gushing out like a fast flowing river. Each word that passed her lips the more ashamed, angry and determined Frank's eyes got. She desperately hoped he would not be angry with her but she could not blame him if he was since she was practically accusing of him having an affair with Emma.

The moment she finished there was a tense silence. Emma had not spoken a word but she sat there watching them with concern and worry, she too was waiting for Frank's reaction. The silence went on for what felt like forever and a day to Jane when Frank finally spoke.

"Right," he said calmly, "first of all I understand your insecurity but you must understand Jane that you are far more accomplished and beautiful than any woman who has wealth and status," he turned to Emma briefly, "no offence Em."

"None taken," Emma said.

"Secondly, as much as I love Emma as a foster sister I have never considered her as marriage material. My behaviour towards her has been nothing more than my sibling affections and while I can understand how someone outside of the three of us could mistake it as flirtatiously I cannot understand why you would. If it was just the three of us you would have likely joined in by placing your head on my lap."

Jane blushed once more. When she thought of it that way it did seem rather silly but then the problem had been she was always more sensible, careful, and aware of society's standards of public affections than Emma and Frank ever had been. She had been seeing the whole situation with outsider eyes rather than her own and that made her rather ashamed really.

"And finally, forget Mrs Elton and the governess position, forget my stepmother's thoughts of matchmaking, both will forget they ever mentioned such things once we're married," Frank said reassuringly as he wrapped an arm round her. "There is nothing to worry about Jane. I love you and you will be my wife if you still wish to be."

"Of course I do," Jane burst out, "I love you more than anything! I want to be your wife more than anything."

"Good," Frank's eyes began to twinkle with mischief and delight, "Then let's get married."

He then announced his plan to Emma and Jane. Jane felt horrified at the idea but Emma thought it was exciting and agreed with Frank immediately. They soon turned to Jane and used every persuasive tactic the two of them had to get her to agree with them.

Unfortunately, no matter how sensible Jane is, Frank and Emma always won the argument when it came to doing something mischievous.

Maybe she would have been better off if she accepted the Campbells invitation to Ireland.

EWEWEWEWEWEWEWEW

Apparently his spontaneous trip to visit them was not as welcomed as he had hoped. John and Isabella were somewhat irritated with the lack of preparation they had to make his visit a welcome stay while his presence got the children in an overexcited state much to John' annoyance. However despite the somewhat cold behaviour towards him they were understanding and kind enough to allow him to stay as long as he needs to clear his head.

"But if you end up staying for a year I will throw you out," John added when his wife had left the room, "I am not running a hotel."

The next day after breaking their fast Mr Knightly settled in the small drawing room where Isabella did her sewing and John was answering some of his business letters. The boys were having their lessons while little Isabella was playing with baby Emma, the sight was endearing but it made Mr Knightly's heart ache for the real Emma who would have made the quiet atmosphere somewhat more vibrant and enjoyable.

It was then when Mr Knightly knew he was in for a long journey of trying to cleanse Emma from his heart.

Before it was even noon there was a sudden loud noise and thundering footsteps. John looked thoroughly irritated while Isabella sighed, the boys must be on their lunch break from their lessons, however the usual reactions turned one into shock when the door was thrown open and one of the footmen from Hartfield stumbled in while huffing and panting.

"Good heavens!" Isabella cried out. "What has happened? Is my father well, my sister, or is it one of the Bates? Has something dreadful happened?"

"The Master... sent me... to fetch you back... to Hartfield," the footman said between panting breaths, "He needs you home...Mistress Woodhouse...she has...eloped with Mister Frank Weston!"

It was then when the poor fellow collapsed out of exhaustion right on the rug before Isabella's feet.