A Happy Circumstance

(What Jane and Charles got up to While Lady Catherine attacked Elizabeth)

Based on Chapter 56 of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Jane suddenly realized, as she and Charles walked further into the shrubbery, that they were entirely alone, “Charles, have you contrived to take me out of doors unaccompanied?”

   “That was not my motive, what a happy circumstance,” he replied, “my first object was to avoid the visitor.”

   “Happy? Charles whatever do you mean?” Jane said, suddenly wishing she had thought to bring Elizabeth with her.

   “I mean to say, we are engaged and alone,” he smiled.

   Jane furrowed her brow, “Yes, I just said that we were alone. And we are engaged. I ought to have brought my sister.”

   “You want one of your sisters to be here?” Charles said, dreadfully disappointed, “I suppose we could return to the house, but then we will be trapped there.”

   Jane looked back and saw Elizabeth walking off towards the copse with a lady she did not recognize, “Is it not more proper for one of my sisters to accompany me? Elizabeth is now out of doors, though I doubt she can perceive us from there.”

   “No, I do not think she can,” Charles said, tentatively hopeful.

   “Perhaps we ought to walk towards them,” Jane suggested, “what do you think?”

   “I would greatly prefer to remain here, or perhaps walk further in the opposite direction.”

   “For what possible purpose?”

   Charles could now perceive raised voices coming from the copse and he was very inclined to lead Jane away. They ventured further into the trees, where neither the pair in the copse or the family left inside could have distinguished them.

   “This is much better,” Charles said, as they sat on a small bench.

   “We are very secluded here,” Jane said, looking about her.

   “Yes, quite,” Charles agreed in a low voice.

   “Such a lovely spot, perhaps we should read a poem?” Jane said, producing a volume of sonnets.

   “I have no inclination for reading,” Charles hinted.

   “Oh, then perhaps cards?” said Jane, for she had both a deck and a cribbage board at her command.

   “I thought you disliked cards?”

   “I do, but I thought you might wish to play, I could never deny you any pleasure.”

   “Could you not?” Charles said in agony.

   “Are you hungry?” Jane asked, as she began to spread a blanket beside a hearty basket of vittels.

   “Jane, my dearest, we have just eaten breakfast.”

   “Should we begin to write our wedding invitations? I have here paper, ink, and well-mended pens.”

   Charles was becoming despondent.

   Jane continued, “I dare say we should check on Elizabeth, I thought I just heard her speaking very loudly.”

   “Jane, allow me to say that I believe we should take advantage of this fortunate circumstance and use it to know each other more fully,” Charles said, in a last attempt at subtlety.

   “What would you like to know? Have I told you yet about my Aunt Gardiner’s extensive family history?”

   “Dearest, loveliest Jane, another day I would hear about your aunt forever. But please, tell me now if I have no hope of succeeding in my purpose; I can no longer bear the suspense.”

   Jane blushed deeply and gave a small smile, in a soft tone she said “Whatever can you mean, Charles?”

   Wisely, Charles took Jane’s hands to prevent her from producing further distractions, “You have understood my meaning from the start.”

   “I have.”

   “Is it not a happy circumstance?”

   “I dare say it is,” Jane smiled.

   There was no cause for further discussion.

Check out my novel, Prideful & Persuaded, for what happened two years later, starring Caroline Bingley!