Sorry for the long update.

Disclaimer: I do not own all the characters, just my ideas and plot.

~paperbackwriter9

Jane P.O.V

The rain poured down, and the thunder clapped louder than any storm this month. I sat up in my bed, staring out the windows. Last night was a blur, and truthfully, I could not even remember what that girl looked like. But supposedly she was staying here as Cassie said outside my door to my mother.

This was too confusing.

Had someone sent her? But who would know that Tom and I had reunited after all these years? His uncle had passed away, and Mr. Warren had only seen Tom come into my room, nothing else. No one besides my family knew that Tom was here. So who was the girl?

"Jane," Cassie knocked on the door and I curled my knees to my chest. Truthfully I didn't want to speak to anyone, but Cassie sounded urgent.

"You can come in Cassie, please," and she peaked her head in. She was actually smiling and she sat down in front of me, her hand on my knee.

Before she spoke, she hesitated and looked around the room. "Last night was very strange, but-"

"Cassie, stop, I think I need a rest from the events from last night," and I said it too fast. I did not want her to know that I was bothered by it, but my voice cracked. She eyed me and then nodded her head. "Is breakfast ready?"

She shook her head no, "Only mama, and I, and you are awake, it is still early."

"The storm has not woken the others?"

"No."

The silence was growing oddly uncomfortable and she rose and left the room. I did not want to push Cassie away, but this was my problem, not hers. Quickly I got out of my bed and dressed in a simple dark blue dress. As quietly as I could, I tip toed down the stairs and slipped on my coat. I took an umbrella and closed the door.

The rain was still coming down, and I tried to hold up my dress and walked through the muddy road. Finally I came up to a small home that was on the border of entering the town. This was Mr. Warren's small home.

I raised my head and knocked on the door. When no one came, I turned, but then I heard the door creak open. "Jane? Jane Austen, do come in!"

I was happy to get out of the rain and shook off my umbrella. "Hello Mr. Warren, I'm quite sorry for the intrusion in the early morning-"

"It was no problem at all, I'm quite happy for it," he said and smiled. "Will you not sit?"

"Thank you," I said and removed my hat. The room was small but well furnished. There was a table in the corner and hallways to other rooms.

"I know that it is not grand, but I am leaving as it is," he said quietly, "but if you wished me to stay…" I looked away from the paintings, and sighed.

"Mr. Warren, I am not here to tell you that I… I do not feel the same way and I do not think I shall in the future…" This would be harder than I thought.

He held his head up, but winced and smiled like a gentleman, "Of course Ms. Austen. Then what brings you here? Something the matter?"

"Do you know of a girl that has come to the country, into my home, and claims she is connected to Tom Lefroy?" I swallowed, hoping to see him make an expression that I had caught him, but he looked confused.

"I know nothing of this girl, what of it Ms. Austen?"

"The letter that you had sent to Mr. Lefroy's uncle had come from you, in order to break up Mr. Lefroy and myself, then the girl…"

"Are you suggesting that I sent the girl?"

"Yes," and I eyed him as he eyed me back.

"Ms. Austen I did no such thing. When I left you the day you were sick, I promised myself to move on. I need to move on. I am moving to London, did I not mention that?" He shuffled his feet nervously and I swallowed.

"So you have nothing to do with the stranger who is presently staying in my home?"

"No, I have nothing to do with that situation. I promise you that I learned my lesson from the letter I sent. I was going to come by in the afternoon to apologize to Mr. Lefroy-"

"If you value your life, then I would not come if I was in your place," and I tried not to laugh as color left his face.

"Well, thank you for the advice," and he rose. "I shall get some tea."

"That will not be called for; I have the information that I wanted to hear. Have a pleasant trip to London sir," and I smiled trying not to frown. I was more lost than ever, who sent the girl?

Mr. Warren bowed and I curtsied quickly. I left the home and back into the rain. I had so hoped that it was John Warren's doing, and then we could clear up the problems and move on. But it was not Mr. Warren's doing, and things were not any better. The roads were slippery and I lost my footing more than once. The information I knew was that Mr. Warren seemed to honestly not be involved. If he was truthfully moving to London, then why would he send the girl if he tried to move on and not love me?

"Oh!" I slipped and fell backwards into the mud. All of these thoughts were impairing my vision! I was now soaked and awfully filthy. Was this worth going to get the truth from Mr. Warren? Did I want to get sick again? I stood and adjusted my hat, then looked at the hem of my dress.

Just wonderful.

The noise of a carriage grew louder and louder from behind me and I turned in time to see the face of Lady Gresham. The carriage stopped a short way up the road I walked to the side, not sure if I should be embarrassed or thankful. "Ms. Austen! Are you trying to catch your death a second time!"

"No, Lady Gresham, I was visiting… a friend," and I curtsied and prayed she would let me go in the carriage.

"At this hour? Well Ms. Austen, you have put me in a spot. If I do not offer you a ride, and you become ill again, you can very well blame me." I was not sure if she was inviting me in until she hurried me along, "Get in!"

Once inside, I took of my hat and smiled at her, only wondering how bad my appearance truly was. "How is your mother?"

"She is fine thank you, how is Mr. Wisley?

"He is fine," she said and frowned while eyeing the hem of my dress. She was obviously still upset after I had turned her beloved nephew down, for the second time. The thoughts of that event crowded my mind.

A week before I had become ill, and wandering aimlessly in the woods, Mr. Wisely had asked me once more. It was all his aunts doing I was sure, but it was harder to say no this time to such an innocent man. It was truly evil that his aunt was forcing him once again to ask for my hand in marriage.

"Ms. Austen, please forgive me, my aunt wanted me to try again. She has grown quite desperate to marry me off I'm afraid. She assumed that you would have changed your mind after the- the-"

"The elopement? Well, I have not changed my mind. I am sorry Mr. Wisley, but I must refuse again. We are not right for each other."

"I know that well enough Ms. Austen."

Yes, his aunt was always up to something, and I smiled pleasantly at her.

"Well, everyone is fine then I presume? No trouble in your home?"

"No," and I eyed her, she was always assuming that my family was utterly chaotic. I would never dream of telling her about the 'guest' not unless I wanted more headaches.

"My dear, is Tom Lefroy still there?"

"Yes, he is our guest."

"Guest?"

"Yes, guest," and the silence grew except for the rain. Why did she stress the word guest? How did she know he was there in the first place?

"His poor uncle, died before he had any grandchildren."

"From who did you learn of his death?" Lady Gresham was up to something, and I could sense it.

"The gossip is gossip, and I believe that his nephew never had any children from the gossip I heard," She eyed me and then turned her attention out to the window. The light that shone through showed how tired she was. Not just physically, but it was in her eyes. The way she could not accept that I had turned down her nephew and that she was not getting to my sister. I felt sympathy for her and cursed myself. Lady Gresham was a gossiper and only approved the thoughts she thought.

As the carriage rolled to my house, I thanked her and climbed out. The house was stirring as I entered and saw Tom coming out from the kitchen, worried. "Jane! Where have you been? Henry and I have been searching all over."

"I went to see Mr. Warren."

"You went? I would have gone with you…"

"And what? Tried to get the information from him better then I could? I told him not to come over to apologize if he valued his life," and Tom smiled and put his hands on either arm.

"What did you find out?"

"It is not John Warren that sent the girl, he is moving to London Tom, he said that he give up on me after I turned him down earlier when I was ill. I believe it was not his doing," Tom looked at me, and his hard gaze made me nervous.

"I believe it if you do," and I nodded.

"There you are," Henry said and came up to us, "where have you been?"

I swallowed, "At Mr. Warrens."

"What ever for?"

"To prove that he was or was not involved with the girl," I really did not like repeating the same story to people. "He was not involved."

Henry sighed, "Are you sure Jane, think of the letter..." I went on to repeat to him about his moving to London. Then Cassie came, and Eliza, and I repeated the story until every single person knew what was happening. Mama was fanning herself in a chair and my father was looking out of the window hard.

"Where is our guest?" Henry said, and everyone looked up at one another. In all the trouble dealing with the girl, no one thought to wake her. A knock made everyone jump and no one moved. Was this stranger at the door going to be bringing even more trouble to the household? "I shall answer it," Henry said and my father shook his head no and he went to answer it.

"Yes?" It was a messenger and people sighed, relieved it was not another guest.

"A message for Ms. Alaine Cleary, urgent," and the messenger turned to look at the brewing storm.

"One moment," and Cassie rose and headed up the stairs to wake the guest. It was at least three minutes later when the both of them walked down into the parlor. I wanted nothing to do with the girl and refused to meet her gaze.

"Are you Ms. Cleary?"

"I am."

"Message for you," and he handed her a letter, tightly rolled and left without a word.

"How odd, who is it from?" My mother asked and Eliza held my arm tightly. I looked up to see the her red hair free and curly, and a green dress she wore, making her look truly beautiful and Irish, just like she said. I envied her for a moment, until I pulled myself together and watched the pink drain from her cheeks as she read the letter.

"I must leave," and she looked up at my family. She was still a stranger to us, but her eyes were filled with worry and I wanted to know what was going on. "I shall pack my things at once," and she headed to the stairs. How odd. I rose and followed her.

"Jane," Cassie grabbed my arm. I looked at Cassie and then she let go. I followed her to the guest room and entered. The small bag was open and she put her few dresses inside and I cleared my throat.

"Who are you?" I asked bluntly, and she looked down. "This is my home, and my family you have intruded on, causing stress to everyone. I have the right to know who you are, and what you want." Still no answer. "Do you truly know Mr. Lefroy? Who sent you?" At that she looked up at me.

"I can not say," her voice was quiet and yet now I knew what I thought all along, she was sent her. "Ms. Austen, I did- my reasons-" She sighed and closed the bag. "Good day, thank you for the guest room." She walked out and down the stairs quickly. I heard the door shut and I closed my eyes, still in the room.

I felt his hands on my shoulders and then wrap around my waist. "We should just forget this odd event love," and he kissed my neck. In my whole life, this was the oddest event that had happened, ever.

That night, after explaining what I had asked the girl over dinner to my family, we laughed and shook it off. While the candles burned, and the storm rumbled on, we sat around reading, sewing, and other time consuming things. It had been a while since I could laugh with my family, and it was quite nice.

The candles were finally burning down, and it was time for bed, and goodness knows I needed sleep. "Tom, I shall make up the guest room for you," and he kissed my hand.

"We do not need to see this," Henry said, sounding drunk. Henry, I heard Eliza warn him and he laughed. "I am not drunk, just trying to lighten the mood." I rolled my eyes and went to the guest room to make the bed for Tom.

After setting the candle on the desk and changing the sheets, I sat on the desk for a moment. I was going to personally scrub those sheets and forget that girl was ever here. The candle burned out, and I had not even noticed it was running low. Due to the clouds blocking the moon, it was very dark in the room. "Where is that candle," and I found it, and knocked it over. Hot wax hit my hand and made a puddle on the desk. "Ouch!" I said and got off the chair and bent down to find the candle.

Had it rolled under the desk? I reached for it, and found something else. A piece of paper, that's what I thought it was. I headed to my room, where I had lit a candle already and held it up. It was a piece of paper. In fact, it was the letter that was addressed to a Ms. Alaine Cleary. I almost burned the letter, as I stared at it.

Maybe now my questions would be solved. The whole evening trying to forget the strange event disappeared, and I flipped it over, and began to read.

Thank you for reading!

I know exactly how my story is going to work out. =]

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Until next time!