Disclaimer: I do not own this movie or the characters! The plot is mine though...
Okay so Cassandra might seem a little out of character, but think about it, she wants her sister to be happy, and it's five years later after the movie takes place.Jane's POV
My stomach churned and bile rose in my throat. "Mama!" I weakly called out as best I could but it was not loud enough. I pushed myself up and felt the lightheadedness make my head spin, but I no longer felt my stomach lurch. My body felt feeble but I made it back to the bed, sweaty and in pain.
Was I to perish away and off this earth for ill health? I thought it would be from heartache and sadness, something more along the lines of what I read in books. My arms trembled from the weight of my body which suddenly felt heavier then it really was. As I lay down on my bed again, I closed my eyes and felt a tear slide down my face.
Cassandra's POV
"Mama! Papa!" I shouted and searched around the back of our residence.
"They are in front, speaking to Lady Gresham," one of our maids said, and I picked up my skirt and ran to the front of our home. Only minutes ago I had received a letter from Henry, and my heart had not stopped racing. Finally my mother and father came into view, having a chat with Lady Gresham.
The lady was dressed in dark blue and was alone, which was just as good. For that meant long appointment with her nephew, Mr. Wisley.
"Ah! Here is my daughter now. Cassie? Come and pay Lady Gresham your respects," my father said and I curtsied. Our cousin Eliza was with them as well, and I sighed. The news I had felt best to be told without the watchful eyes of the great lady.
"Lady Gresham," I said and looked up at her face. She held a gloomy yet peaceful expression, which meant this chat had no time limit to it.
"Cassandra, you are quite a beauty," she said and tilted her head towards my mother. "Her health has returned since the ill-fated tragedy of her husband to be?" My mother nodded and Eliza grabbed and squeezed my hand lightly. Lady Gresham was one of my least favorite people.
"I do feel quite recovered," I said as best as I could without my voice showing my emotions. She made a calm, "hmmm," and smiled at me largely.
"You know Cassandra, my nephew would like-"
"Madame, I'm afraid we are going to seem very straight forward, but Cassandra and I have a very important engagement to attend to and we need to be getting ready. Excuse us," She smiled and pulled me along. Was Lady Gresham suggesting... No, she could not be seriously thinking that her son and I.... I banished the thoughts and silently thanked Eliza.
"Eliza, you saved me from that woman," I hugged her.
"Do not fuss my cousin, because you see I excused myself in a way that I may become the next talk of the town."
"Yes, I can hear it now. Lady Gresham is rudely humiliated by two immature girls, seeking safety from her never ending actions of marrying off her troubled nephew." We laughed and smiled before Eliza became serious. Now what was it that you bounded out to the front of the house to say? Nothing serious I hope?"
I whipped out the letter and held it out for her to read. "It was sent only yesterday but Henry had a messenger ride here before him." Her eyes bulged out as I had expected them to and I smiled widely as well.
"Cassie! Tom... Monsieur Lefroy is coming here with my Henry, to see our Jane!" My heart beat faster at the thought of excitement, which had been missing from this house since the 'ghost' of Jane had settled here those five years ago.
"Oh my Lord!" Mama said and she sat down on the nearest chair and steadied herself.
My father looked at my mother and then at me. I knew he was going to address the issue, but we all waited and sat there stiff and rigid. "What has Henry done? Upsetting the harmony that this house is currently in?"
"Harmony? Peace? Papa, Jane is upstairs, very ill, and you call that peace?" I knew I had gone too far, and I didn't mean to shout. But this was my sister, his daughter, and I had wanted her to be cheerful for so long. How could my father be so blind to what was happening in his own household?
"Cassie," my mother whispered and looked sternly at me. Eliza sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Well Cassandra," my father said, "we seem to have no choice but to accept the fact that a young Tom Lefroy shall be arriving at our household, and Jane is sick in bed."
Jane's POV
The black figure walked slowly toward me. "Jane, why did you leave?" I didn't understand what was going on; except that I knew I could not, and should not let the black figure slip away from me.
"We could have worked it out," and voice said and I felt my chest tighten. Breathing became harder and I felt perspiration on my brow. My stomach leaped and my hands shook. My eyes opened.
"Just a … dream..." I whispered trying to tell myself that was what it was, a dream. As I recovered I realize I had been wheezing and there was sweat on my forehead. "Tom..." I cried out into the darkness and sighed. Only hours before, Eliza had come to me smiling, and told me Henry was coming back home. I hoped whatever business he had, he had solved it, for I missed Henry and his good sense of wit.
Thinking only made me feel worse, so I closed my eyes and let sleep take me away into a happier place.
The warm sun woke me and I saw Cassie sitting in a chair, reading. "Cass-"
"Do not strain yourself Jane," she said with a wide smile. What was I missing? "Eat please," and she rose and gave me a glass of water and a piece of plain toast. It was dry and bland and I forced myself to drink the water and keep it down. "You look better Jane," she said and took my temperature with the back of her hand. I had no idea what had got into her but I smiled softly. There was a sudden loud knock on the front door and Cassie quickly jumped from my side. "I shall be back Jane, one moment," and then she disappeared.
What was that all about? I could only guess that she was extremely happy to see Henry, but that did not make any sense. This was completely out of character for her. Voices made their way to my room and they did not sound that cheerful as I had guessed. But the voice did not belong to Henry... My heart skipped a beat and I wished I was not quite as sick.
The man came into my room and bowed, and he smiled with a flash of hope in his eyes. I did not understand why he was here, and why his expression was so pleased. Was this what Cassie was excited about? "Hello Jane," John Warren said and stared into my eyes in a way that made me feel quite uncomfortable. I looked away and did not respond back.
John Warren was the man who had destroyed my future with that simple letter to Tom's uncle. My life had ceased to exist because of John... Warren.
"Jane, I know that you did not call for me, but I wished to see you. I needed to see you and know that you were becoming healthier." I noticed Cassie in the doorway holding a some what angry, yet distressing expression. She shrugged and mouthed, 'I did not know.' I believed her, and I turned back to the annoying Mr. Warren in front of me.
"Leave me be," I said and his joyful smile faltered but he quickly recovered. He kneeled beside my bed and reached to grab my hand, which I pulled out of the way.
"My dearest Jane, I have been wishing for you for so long. I will and shall wait for you forever." I stared at the man with incredulity. How dare he stand here and tell me this, as I was lying on my sick bed? "I love you Jane, and I fought with myself, but I had the urge to tell you in hopes that it would help lead to a speedy recovery. Jane, my hopes are that you have forgiven me after all these five years."
My mouth hung open and Jane walked into the room. "Mr. Warren, please, my sister is tired," Cassie lightly touched his arm in the hopes from him to leave.
"Jane, please, tell me you love me, that you have forgiven me as I have wished for so long." What was I supposed to say? I closed my mouth and stared at the man in disbelief. Why me? "Jane?" He asked and I unfroze, and saw he was almost begging.
"Sir, I ask you to leave now," Cassie said louder now and more forceful. Angry, he stood straight and looked down at me.
"You do not have to answer now my dear, but as soon as you recover, I would like an answ-"
"No," I said, my first words of the new day. "I do not love you Mr. Warren and I do not and shall not..." I paused to catch my breathe. "I shall not forgive you. How dare you... come and tell me..."
"Jane," Cassie warned and looked at me with her motherly look.
I ignored her and continued, "How dare you come while I am sick and expect me... to answer you in this manner. Your visit… was unexpected… and some what rude. But I did answer your question, despite how rude your... behavior was." I finished and lay down; feeling rather well even as my head swam with dizziness and my joints ached.
Mr. Warren stood there, and Cassie shrunk back with pain on her face. I understood how hard it was to lose someone you loved, but if he had truly loved me all those years ago, he would have not sent that letter. "Good day Madame and I am very sorry to distress you with my actions." He turned quickly on his heels and Cassie after him.
"Well, well, Mr. Warren," Tom Lefroy said and Cassie jumped with surprise, and Mr. Warren babbled in disbelief. Tom's intense piercing blue eyes meet my own, and he simply smiled, I smiled back and at once, I felt happier.
I'm sorry to pause it there, but I'm exhausted and it's late. Also sorry for this chapter being very late, and pretty short, but school does come before fan-fiction.... unfortunately.
I shall try my best to update next weekend and I promise no excuses!
Thank you for reading and please review! =)