Hampshire, July

Jane had given a great deal of thought regarding what her brother Henry had said that day on the path. Perhaps she could still find happiness with Mr. Lefroy. Hard as she tried, she still could not completely convince herself of it though. Things weren't the way they once were at all. They had been very young, and very foolish to think that they could have had anything, even back then. She thought of poor Tom as a young man, always being pushed by his callous overbearing uncle. It was he who ultimately decided that Tom not waste his time on an idea so foolish as to marry her. For he thought nothing good of Jane from their first meeting. She remembered overhearing the conversation between he and Tom in which he stated rather bluntly that she was nothing more than a husband seeking waste of his time. Tom, vehemently denied such claims, only to be laughed at by the man. Afterward, she remembered standing alone with Tom while he told her with his head to the floor that they could not marry, ever.

Jane's heart had broken into a million pieces with those words. After that, she had returned to Hampshire with no desire to ever have such affections for a man again. But of course, Tom would come to visit once more, only to make her fall under his spell yet again. That would be when they had planned their untimely elopement. For they could not stand any longer to be apart, and became desperate. And that would be the day that Jane had said goodbye to Mr. Lefroy for what she thought would be forever.

Now, once again Jane was faced with a choice. Run to him with open arms, or live her life in quiet solitude until it one day came to an end. Perhaps the choice was no longer hers to make, for he had already returned to London, hadn't he? Indeed he had. And now, her heart was sick with the possibility that she might never look upon his face again. Never again get the chance to gaze into his eyes, hold his hands in hers. She suddenly felt her heart quicken at the thought. It had been so many years since last they kissed. Jane remembered his kiss, by the fountain at a ball they had attended that summer. After arriving at the ball that night with wicked anticipation, she had searched what she thought to be the entire estate looking for him, only to find that he was nowhere in sight. In quiet desperation, she retreated to the outdoors, walking amongst the trees in search of him. When she came upon the fountain, she stopped, marveling at it's beauty. She had always found the simplest things to be the most beautiful. That was when she had heard his voice, low and rugged behind her. "Hello Jane." She turned to see him wearing the biggest smile she had ever seen. "Have you any idea how long I have been searching for you?" she asked, annoyed. "My, you are the most stunning sight I have ever beheld." His eyes were mischievous. "Care for a swim?" and with that, he jumped clothes and all into the cold waters that surrounded them. "Mr. Lefroy! What on earth has become of you? " she was laughing, for she too was a bit mischievous at times.




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