The summer of 1812 was a classic, glorious Hertfordshire summer. Jane thought that she couldn't remember a better one but recognised that the early days of matrimonial bliss might just be colouring her perceptions. The home farm at Netherfield was doing well, everything growing as it usually did after good rain and it looked to be an excellent harvest. Charles was very pleased with himself, assuming it was to his credit.

Good news came in mid-June in the form of a letter from the Hursts to Caroline - Louisa had had her baby.

"Oh," said Caroline as they sat down for tea, "Louisa says her baby has finally come. Good, maybe they will be near enough soon that I will be able to see them." She glanced up at Jane, "Not that I mind being on my brother's wonderful country estate," she added with pretended innocence.

Jane smiled as she read her own mail, "Do not be concerned, Caroline, I am aware you would prefer to be with your sister. It was not my fault Mr. Hurst's parents will not welcome you to their estate. You burned your own bridges there, I am told."

Caroline harrumphed.

Jane continued, "What does Louisa say about the baby?"

"It seems to have gone well, and she is well, but read it yourself".

Caroline passed the page to Jane, who read it avidly.

"… we have called him Walter. He was eight-and-a-half pounds at birth, and childbirth is every bit as bad as we suspected. But now I have my little boy, and Godfrey has his heir, so all is well. He is very long and has black hair, just like his father. Godfrey's parents are very well pleased with me. I have received a diamond necklace as my reward - this is very pleasing, I would say that makes it all worthwhile, but your nephew is the most adorable baby who ever lived and that is what actually makes it all worthwhile…"

Jane gazed towards the window briefly and wondered when she and Charles would be blessed with an heir, then read on.

"…The wet nurse seems to be a competent woman, but I have the child brought to me more often than Godfrey's mother thinks sensible. But I do love to hold him. I am unsure when we will be able to see you, as you cannot come to us - I do not wish to travel with a child so small, perhaps in a few months. It will be a few weeks before I am churched anyway, so certainly not before then".

"Well," said Jane, refolding the page and passing it to a servant to hand back to Caroline, "Louisa sounds happy. A shame you won't see her very soon, but with the harvest coming on we won't be able to travel for a while. It is excellent news that she and the baby are well. I must write to congratulate her and Godfrey." She opened her portable desk.

"But a boy!" replied Caroline, "Although, I suppose that means Hurst is more likely to leave her alone now. But a little girl would have been something!"

Jane was surprised to hear a note of wistfulness in Caroline's voice and looked at her. Caroline was staring out the window with a lost look on her face. Well! thought Jane.

~~ HoL ~~

Mid-July was Elizabeth's planned trip north with the Gardiners. Elizabeth had gotten over the worst of her upset after the… incident in Kent, thought Jane. But she was still somewhat quieter and more thoughtful than she had been before she went to Kent, although no one else in the family seemed to notice.

Elizabeth's birthday had passed that month and the Gardiner's invitation for the trip North was their idea of a coming-of-age gift.

The trip had been put back to mid-July from the original plan, and was going to be shorter than they had planned as uncle Gardiner had to be back in London earlier than hoped, for business. They would only be away a month. They would come to collect Elizabeth and leave their children at Longbourn - Mary would be caring for them. Jane wondered how often she would be able to steal them away, and smiled.

Jane took the carriage over to Longbourne to see the Gardiners and Elizabeth off. There were tears and waving. As the carriage pulled away into the distance, Jane thought to herself, "I really do enjoy travelling - we must do more".