Posted on 2017-02-10
In the continuation of
EMMA
, we follow the story of Jane Fairfax after she marries Frank Churchill. The many benefits of a longer Engagement are life long lessons for Miss Jane Fairfax.
Chapter 1
The wedding of Miss Jane Fairfax to Mr. Frank Churchill was heralded as a happy day among her closest friends. Officiated by the Reverend Philip Elton, and attended to by his wife, Mrs. Augusta Elton, who considered herself the dearest of all friends to the bride, and had, since learning of the imminent nuptials, insisted upon the privilege of her role as Matron of Honor.
Miss Jane Fairfax was a prize to be certain. Beautiful, fair, wise, and modest, she could draw, sing, play the piano and speak French. She expressed perfect manners, and always said the right thing. She was the darling of the village of Highbury. The intimate gathering at the chapel collectively sighed when their Jane stepped forward to promise her devotion to Frank Churchill. Mrs. Elton declared Jane Fairfax the most beautiful bride since her own blessed day barely two years gone by, even if Jane did skimp on the lace.
While everyone in attendance wished the betrothed the most true, deep, enduring joy, and a life together that would never know sorrow, want, or despair, it must be acknowledged here that there were several guests who harbored secret doubts. After the ceremony, Mrs. Elton marvelled to anyone with ears with reasonable hearing, for she uttered her misgivings of Miss Fairfax’s shortcomings in only the harshest of whispers, that the marriage saved “her dear Jane from a life of servitude.” Were it not for a fortunate marriage, Jane Fairfax, who was raised in expectation of, and destined to be a governess, which of course, in becoming Mrs. Frank Churchill, had certainly circumvented.
“But in all honesty,” Mrs. Elton rasped into Mrs. Cole’s ear at the wedding breakfast, “thanks to my thorough inquiry and determined pursuit of only the very best station for my dear Jane, had she not entered a secret engagement-so foolish and impetuous to be sure! I, myself had most assuredly secured her a desirable home with a respectable family in a large estate in the North. The Smallridges, dear friends of my brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Suckling of Maple Grove. That situation would have been the most comfortable, that is, had my dear Jane not secured Mr. Frank Churchill!”
The other guests misgivings regarding the marriage were unspoken, and not of the same mind as Mrs. Elton. Frank’s own step-mother, Mrs. Weston secretly wished for a longer engagement. She had never felt truly at ease with Frank’s manner of rushing from one idea to the next, nor was she convinced that his secret engagement was of a true love to Miss Fairfax. She knew her step-son to be silly, sometimes frivolous and inconsiderate to those who loved him the most. Frank’s father, Mr. Weston, hoped that the marriage wouldn’t be too difficult for his new daughter. Mr. George Knightley, who only knew Miss Jane Fairfax to be a lovely, moderate, demure, sensible, yet unfortunate young woman, found her choice in a husband well beneath her. Frank Churchill was silly, careless, and indifferent to the point of incivility in Mr. Knightley's estimation. He had never visited his own father, Mr. Weston, of his own accord when he became of age to assert his decisions. He put off his visit to Randalls to pay honor to his new step mother until it was painfully obvious that he had no design to do so. Such visits were generally known to be forbidden by his foster mother, Mrs. Churchill, a formidable woman, but Mr. Knightley rather believed it was an easy excuse for Frank Churchill to avoid family duty where there was so little in return. He only made his triumphant return to Highbury when, as it turned out, it was a benefit to the interest of his own heart. And even in that light, Frank Churchill behaved in a less than gentlemanly manner. He played with the feelings of his closest friends, and fiancee, seemingly for his own entertainment. And that was not the worst of Mr. Knightley’s intelligence of Frank Churchill. He knew that Frank Churchill played foolishly had several debts of honor, yet he behaved as if the hundreds of pounds he owed were trifles, mere misunderstandings! Mr. Knightley sorely regretted the news of the secret betrothal of Jane Fairfax to Frank Churchill upon hearing the news. He believed in his heart that she would find more peace of mind as a governess in a settled estate.
Fortunately, Mrs. George Knightley, formerly Emma Woodhouse, knew none of her husband’s misgivings. Shortly before learning of Miss Fairfax’s engagement to Frank, she had finally a change of heart. For so long, Emma could not bring herself to even consider with true kindness Jane’ plight as a poor orphan, born to a once noble family of the neighborhood of Highbury. For as long as Emma knew, Jane Fairfax was the darling child of all, but to Emma, she was cold, in possession of an impenetrable heart, forever distant. Their personalities were at such odds, that friendship was impossible. The general expectation that Emma should stand by Jane Fairfax the way the entire village embraced her cause, irked her beyond reason. Jane’s grandmamma and aunt, Mrs. and Miss Bates, respectively, were the favorites of Highbury, yet Emma found each of them nearly intolerable. She could not be moved by Colonel Fairfax tragic death that left destitute a widow, a daughter, and a distantly removed cousin, all who had to rely upon the kindness of their neighbors to sustain them after his death. For some reason, as a charmed child of fortune, Emma Woodhouse Knightley could never appreciate the Fairfax-Bates dilemma. It was not until Emma learned of Jane’s secret engagement, and to her horror, that her own callous indifference nearly drove Jane to the Smallridges in the North. She truly felt the error of her ways. Emma longed for Jane’s complete happiness and peace of mind. She wished nothing more for her than joy, of a life with many contented babies, as Emma had just safely been delivered of her own precious George the IV. Jane Fairfax deserved nothing but a life of ease, and peace. It bothered Emma in quiet moments that the true wish for Jane’s utmost joy was nearly marred by her small part in almost unsettling forever Jane’s engagement to Frank Churchill.
Chapter 2
After the wedding, and surprisingly brief trip abroad, Mr. and Mrs. Churchill took the best available house in the neighborhood of Highbury. It was at the insistence of Mrs. Eaton, who declared it would never do for her to be separated from her dear Jane again. Frank had inherited handsomely upon the death of his step-mother. In dying, Mrs. Churchill not only released her miserable grip on her step-son, she also freed her husband from his own wretched existence in living with such an unhappy and vengeful woman. Mr. Churchill happily approved of his step-son’s secret engagement, for he wanted nothing more than to be done with the boy. He had forever found him silly, simpering, ingratiating, and lazy. It was no surprise to him that his wife adored the boy enough to leave him her entire fortune, for Frank Churchill knew just where his bread was buttered.
As for the release of his step-son in the marriage to Jane Fairfax, the venerable Mr. Churchill found his own second life: a vibrant young and fertile wife who had over forty thousand, and, as he had never known a moment of tenderness or domestic bliss with the first Mrs. Churchill, a woman who welcomed him each day with a smile.. He had an abundant, steady income from his shipping trade that industriously occupied so many hours away from home while his first wife lived and breathed. Yes, Papa Churchill was more than happy to dispatch Frank to Highbury in order to enjoy a new existence with as few reminders of his previous one as he could manage.
Frank was all to ready to live in the luxury he had long been accustomed with, and wasted little time filling the house with more furniture than it would ever hold. It soon became apparent to Jane that her husband enjoyed extravagant projects, and that his attention waned as quickly as it flared. He moved from one exciting idea to another. As soon as their home was filled, and feeling, to Jane, like a museum, Frank’s interest veered to the hunt. Horses! Hounds! Haberdashery and guns! He was off like a braying mule, yet not before he planted the seed of the next generation. Poor Jane had not a moment’s rest between her wedding, then traveling abroad, then settling her home, only to find herself delivering a scrawny, squawling daughter she called Lettice before they could celebrate one year.
“But of course we couldn’t be happier,” spluttered Aunt Bates to the small gathering of Jane’s intimate friends assembled to praise Jane’s infant of three months. They were gathered in the crowded drawing room: Emma, Harriet Martin, Mrs. Cole, and of course, Augusta Elton.
“Mamma is overjoyed with little Lettice! Why just last night we were talking of so many wonderful events in one year! The engagement, the wedding, this house, and now dear sweet Lettice! What more could we want…”
Miss Bates trailed off as she stole a glance at Jane, in a very rare moment in her life, she was at a loss for words. As if to make up for the awkward pause, she attempted to settle herself back onto the slippery, overstuffed velvet settee that she kept sliding off. Either Aunt Bates was too light, or the cushion was utterly unforgiving and unwilling to permit a body to rest.
“Miss Bates, more tea?” commanded Mrs. Eaton, the ever present figure in the rapid succession of milestones thrust upon Jane Fairfax. Mrs. Eaton had taken charge of the small tea party because Jane appeared to be unable to handle the duties. She could barely smile at her guests, and upon the presentation of the scones and clotted cream, she abruptly excused herself from the room.
“I daresay, good fortune, at times, can overwhelm,” said Mrs. Eaton calmly as she poured, pretending not to notice Jane rushing out, hands covering her mouth, zigging and zagging to avoid tables, chairs, and umbrella stands.
“Oh yes,” gushed Harriet Martin, eager to contribute to the conversation, although not understanding that the topic was to be unspoken, “why I remember feeling the very same way when I was with my Robert. I thank heavens it was easier with Will and Sarah. And with this little one, too!” she said smiling down at her bulging middle.
Augusta rolled her eyes to the ceiling, but held her tongue. If she was alone with just Jane and Harriet, Harriet would have received a good verbal lashing, but in the company of people who mattered, or who might spread unfavorable stories, Augusta Eaton kept silent. She knew her image as a kindly, composed minister’s wife must be upheld in the neighborhood.
Miss Bates, unsuspecting of Harriet’s impeding joy until that very moment, for Harriet always looked burdened with child since her marriage to Robert Martin, smiled broadly and said,
“Congratulations! What happy news, another Martin!”
Miss Bates smile changed to a look of puzzlement as she looked at the door Jane had just rushed out of, then she looked at Mrs. Elton and asked, “Jane? Another? So soon?”
The silence that followed was deafening.
Jane was safely delivered of a second small, homely daughter called Petunia. Upon the arrival of his second daughter, Frank appeared to lose interest in family life.
The wedding of Miss Jane Fairfax to Mr. Frank Churchill was heralded as a happy day among her closest friends. Officiated by the Reverend Philip Elton, and attended to by his wife, Mrs. Augusta Elton, who considered herself the dearest of all friends to the bride, and had, since learning of the imminent nuptials, insisted upon the privilege of her role as Matron of Honor.
Miss Jane Fairfax was a prize to be certain. Beautiful, fair, wise, and modest, she could draw, sing, play the piano and speak French. She expressed perfect manners, and always said the right thing. She was the darling of the village of Highbury. The intimate gathering at the chapel collectively sighed when their Jane stepped forward to promise her devotion to Frank Churchill. Mrs. Elton declared Jane Fairfax the most beautiful bride since her own blessed day barely two years gone by, even if Jane did skimp on the lace.
While everyone in attendance wished the betrothed the most true, deep, enduring joy, and a life together that would never know sorrow, want, or despair, it must be acknowledged here that there were several guests who harbored secret doubts. After the ceremony, Mrs. Elton marvelled to anyone with ears with reasonable hearing, for she uttered her misgivings of Miss Fairfax’s shortcomings in only the harshest of whispers, that the marriage saved “her dear Jane from a life of servitude.” Were it not for a fortunate marriage, Jane Fairfax, who was raised in expectation of, and destined to be a governess, which of course, in becoming Mrs. Frank Churchill, had certainly circumvented.
“But in all honesty,” Mrs. Elton rasped into Mrs. Cole’s ear at the wedding breakfast, “thanks to my thorough inquiry and determined pursuit of only the very best station for my dear Jane, had she not entered a secret engagement-so foolish and impetuous to be sure! I, myself had most assuredly secured her a desirable home with a respectable family in a large estate in the North. The Smallridges, dear friends of my brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Suckling of Maple Grove. That situation would have been the most comfortable, that is, had my dear Jane not secured Mr. Frank Churchill!”
The other guests misgivings regarding the marriage were unspoken, and not of the same mind as Mrs. Elton. Frank’s own step-mother, Mrs. Weston secretly wished for a longer engagement. She had never felt truly at ease with Frank’s manner of rushing from one idea to the next, nor was she convinced that his secret engagement was of a true love to Miss Fairfax. She knew her step-son to be silly, sometimes frivolous and inconsiderate to those who loved him the most. Frank’s father, Mr. Weston, hoped that the marriage wouldn’t be too difficult for his new daughter. Mr. George Knightley, who only knew Miss Jane Fairfax to be a lovely, moderate, demure, sensible, yet unfortunate young woman, found her choice in a husband well beneath her. Frank Churchill was silly, careless, and indifferent to the point of incivility in Mr. Knightley's estimation. He had never visited his own father, Mr. Weston, of his own accord when he became of age to assert his decisions. He put off his visit to Randalls to pay honor to his new step mother until it was painfully obvious that he had no design to do so. Such visits were generally known to be forbidden by his foster mother, Mrs. Churchill, a formidable woman, but Mr. Knightley rather believed it was an easy excuse for Frank Churchill to avoid family duty where there was so little in return. He only made his triumphant return to Highbury when, as it turned out, it was a benefit to the interest of his own heart. And even in that light, Frank Churchill behaved in a less than gentlemanly manner. He played with the feelings of his closest friends, and fiancee, seemingly for his own entertainment. And that was not the worst of Mr. Knightley’s intelligence of Frank Churchill. He knew that Frank Churchill played foolishly had several debts of honor, yet he behaved as if the hundreds of pounds he owed were trifles, mere misunderstandings! Mr. Knightley sorely regretted the news of the secret betrothal of Jane Fairfax to Frank Churchill upon hearing the news. He believed in his heart that she would find more peace of mind as a governess in a settled estate.
Fortunately, Mrs. George Knightley, formerly Emma Woodhouse, knew none of her husband’s misgivings. Shortly before learning of Miss Fairfax’s engagement to Frank, she had finally a change of heart. For so long, Emma could not bring herself to even consider with true kindness Jane’ plight as a poor orphan, born to a once noble family of the neighborhood of Highbury. For as long as Emma knew, Jane Fairfax was the darling child of all, but to Emma, she was cold, in possession of an impenetrable heart, forever distant. Their personalities were at such odds, that friendship was impossible. The general expectation that Emma should stand by Jane Fairfax the way the entire village embraced her cause, irked her beyond reason. Jane’s grandmamma and aunt, Mrs. and Miss Bates, respectively, were the favorites of Highbury, yet Emma found each of them nearly intolerable. She could not be moved by Colonel Fairfax tragic death that left destitute a widow, a daughter, and a distantly removed cousin, all who had to rely upon the kindness of their neighbors to sustain them after his death. For some reason, as a charmed child of fortune, Emma Woodhouse Knightley could never appreciate the Fairfax-Bates dilemma. It was not until Emma learned of Jane’s secret engagement, and to her horror, that her own callous indifference nearly drove Jane to the Smallridges in the North. She truly felt the error of her ways. Emma longed for Jane’s complete happiness and peace of mind. She wished nothing more for her than joy, of a life with many contented babies, as Emma had just safely been delivered of her own precious George the IV. Jane Fairfax deserved nothing but a life of ease, and peace. It bothered Emma in quiet moments that the true wish for Jane’s utmost joy was nearly marred by her small part in almost unsettling forever Jane’s engagement to Frank Churchill.
After the wedding, and surprisingly brief trip abroad, Mr. and Mrs. Churchill took the best available house in the neighborhood of Highbury. It was at the insistence of Mrs. Eaton, who declared it would never do for her to be separated from her dear Jane again. Frank had inherited handsomely upon the death of his step-mother. In dying, Mrs. Churchill not only released her miserable grip on her step-son, she also freed her husband from his own wretched existence in living with such an unhappy and vengeful woman. Mr. Churchill happily approved of his step-son’s secret engagement, for he wanted nothing more than to be done with the boy. He had forever found him silly, simpering, ingratiating, and lazy. It was no surprise to him that his wife adored the boy enough to leave him her entire fortune, for Frank Churchill knew just where his bread was buttered.
As for the release of his step-son in the marriage to Jane Fairfax, the venerable Mr. Churchill found his own second life: a vibrant young and fertile wife who had over forty thousand, and, as he had never known a moment of tenderness or domestic bliss with the first Mrs. Churchill, a woman who welcomed him each day with a smile.. He had an abundant, steady income from his shipping trade that industriously occupied so many hours away from home while his first wife lived and breathed. Yes, Papa Churchill was more than happy to dispatch Frank to Highbury in order to enjoy a new existence with as few reminders of his previous one as he could manage.
Frank was all to ready to live in the luxury he had long been accustomed with, and wasted little time filling the house with more furniture than it would ever hold. It soon became apparent to Jane that her husband enjoyed extravagant projects, and that his attention waned as quickly as it flared. He moved from one exciting idea to another. As soon as their home was filled, and feeling, to Jane, like a museum, Frank’s interest veered to the hunt. Horses! Hounds! Haberdashery and guns! He was off like a braying mule, yet not before he planted the seed of the next generation. Poor Jane had not a moment’s rest between her wedding, then traveling abroad, then settling her home, only to find herself delivering a scrawny, squawling daughter she called Lettice before they could celebrate one year.
“But of course we couldn’t be happier,” spluttered Aunt Bates to the small gathering of Jane’s intimate friends assembled to praise Jane’s infant of three months. They were gathered in the crowded drawing room: Emma, Harriet Martin, Mrs. Cole, and of course, Augusta Elton.
“Mamma is overjoyed with little Lettice! Why just last night we were talking of so many wonderful events in one year! The engagement, the wedding, this house, and now dear sweet Lettice! What more could we want…”
Miss Bates trailed off as she stole a glance at Jane, in a very rare moment in her life, she was at a loss for words. As if to make up for the awkward pause, she attempted to settle herself back onto the slippery, overstuffed velvet settee that she kept sliding off. Either Aunt Bates was too light, or the cushion was utterly unforgiving and unwilling to permit a body to rest.
“Miss Bates, more tea?” commanded Mrs. Eaton, the ever present figure in the rapid succession of milestones thrust upon Jane Fairfax. Mrs. Eaton had taken charge of the small tea party because Jane appeared to be unable to handle the duties. She could barely smile at her guests, and upon the presentation of the scones and clotted cream, she abruptly excused herself from the room.
“I daresay, good fortune, at times, can overwhelm,” said Mrs. Eaton calmly as she poured, pretending not to notice Jane rushing out, hands covering her mouth, zigging and zagging to avoid tables, chairs, and umbrella stands.
“Oh yes,” gushed Harriet Martin, eager to contribute to the conversation, although not understanding that the topic was to be unspoken, “why I remember feeling the very same way when I was with my Robert. I thank heavens it was easier with Will and Sarah. And with this little one, too!” she said smiling down at her bulging middle.
Augusta rolled her eyes to the ceiling, but held her tongue. If she was alone with just Jane and Harriet, Harriet would have received a good verbal lashing, but in the company of people who mattered, or who might spread unfavorable stories, Augusta Eaton kept silent. She knew her image as a kindly, composed minister’s wife must be upheld in the neighborhood.
Miss Bates, unsuspecting of Harriet’s impeding joy until that very moment, for Harriet always looked burdened with child since her marriage to Robert Martin, smiled broadly and said,
“Congratulations! What happy news, another Martin!”
Miss Bates smile changed to a look of puzzlement as she looked at the door Jane had just rushed out of, then she looked at Mrs. Elton and asked, “Jane? Another? So soon?”
The silence that followed was deafening.
Jane was safely delivered of a second small, homely daughter called Petunia. Upon the arrival of his second daughter, Frank appeared to lose interest in family life.