a london visit, and the guests arrive

[tom_lefroy]

"My nephew has devised a plan of metropolitan amusement."

A cheerful laugh.

"Pleasure is, as you would say - madame - his forte."

Jane's cousin, Madame la Comtesse, joins in obligingly.

Behind them, Tom finds Jane's fingers.

The touch is light, like butterflies wings.

*

It had been far too long since Tom last saw her face.

The instant the door opened and Miss Austen and her company had arrived, Tom remembered that night beneath the stars, hidden in the shadows of trees.

Letters hadn't been near enough to bridge the gap between them.

And now ... how foolish he feels, how stupid those words seem - useless to convey just how much he missed being in her presence.

Once they are directed towards their rooms, Tom's uncle, the Judge, leaves them to the afternoon, promising a most satisfying dinner in his company, but he had a couple of pressing engagements he simply couldn't ignore.

"You must forgive me, Madame," he says.

"Of course, sir. I would not dream of inconveniencing you."

Henry Austen makes excuses to help the Comtesse with her luggage, leaving Tom quite alone with Miss Austen in the hallway by the stairs.

Suddenly he feels like a school-boy, almost shy and most certainly tongue-tied.

"Ah - Miss Austen," he says, "shall I help you with your things?"

Comments

[janebecomes]

Jane feels as if she's swallowed butterflies as the judge seems to be focusing more on the Comtesse than her.

To tell the truth, she doesn't mind and when Tom provides them with a moment alone, she says and yearns to reach for his hand, for him again,

"Yes, I would appreciate that.