01x01 - Episode 1

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BIRDSONG

No, Miss Betty, that is
Miss Harriet's breakfast.

Where are your manners?

A letter for you, Miss Austen... Oh.

..from Kintbury. Kintbury?

ISABELLA: "My dear Cassandra,
I am writing to inform you

"that my father, Fulwar, has only
a short time left with us."

It's the Reverend Fowle.

He's dying.

ISABELLA: "I know this sad news
will concern you deeply,

"but he is in the best of hands

"and there is no need to
inconvenience yourself

"with thoughts of
coming to Kintbury."

Nancy, my trunk.

Where are you going, Ma'am?

To Kintbury, of course.

ISABELLA: "My late mother, Eliza,
spoke so fondly of the happy times

"you and your sister,
Jane, spent here.

"I am sure you will wish
to be of assistance now,

"but, please, I must implore you,
do not vex yourself by making

"the long and arduous
journey to Kintbury."

I don't like the look of
the sky, Ma'am.

Maybe you should wait.
Out of the question, Nancy.

I have urgent business
to attend to at Kintbury.

There are certain items there
of a personal nature

that belong here.
Now, look after the goats.

Don't overfeed them.

ISABELLA: "I will, of course, write
again when the sad time comes."

THUNDER RUMBLES

THUNDER RUMBLES

DOORBELL RINGS

DOG BARKS

DOORBELL RINGS

Ring again!

Someone will answer eventually.

Keep ringing!

HE RINGS DOORBELL

DOG BARKS

Ma'am, you'll catch your death.
I shall be fine.

Oh, at last!
What is all the commotion?

There's a man dying in here!

Please forgive
the lateness of my arrival.

I am here to assist
Miss Isabella Fowle.

Cassandra?

Did you not get my letter?

Yes, of course.
That's why I'm here.

We weren't expecting you, at all.

Please, forgive me, Isabella.

Time is our enemy.

Your poor father. This is my,
my last duty to your dear mother.

Oh, come inside.
It's wild out there. Oh, yes.

Ah... What about her trunk?
We'll leave it here, in the hall.

We'll take care of it.

Ah...

How long is she staying, Miss?

I don't know, Dinah.

Oh!

Oh!

DOOR CLOSES
We'll put her in the blue room.

God save us, Miss.

As if we don't have
enough on our plate!

Come along, then, my dear.

We must take you out
of these wet clothes.

Oh, thank you, thank you, my dear.

I know my demeanour
may not suggest it,

but I hope that I'm still
capable of untying a ribbon.

If you will forgive me,
I really must get back to my father.

Dinah will see you to your room.
If you don't mind,

I would like to see
Fulwar now, if I may?

Very well.

You may look in on him, briefly.

Mr Lidderdale, our surgeon, will not
want my father disturbed for long.

Mr Lidderdale, we have a visitor.

Miss Cassandra Austen,
a dear family friend.

She will not linger long.

Mr Lidderdale.

Miss Austen.

How is he?

Much the same, Miss Fowle.

He's been in and out of sleep.

I've given him something
for the pain.

He should rest better now.

Fulwar...

..it's Cassandra.

Cassandra Austen.

Cassie.

Oh, my apologies,
I cannot greet you as befits you.

Worry not.

Isabella served you well...

..and I am here now to assist her.

Good.

Isabella? Papa.

Send the surgeon away.

I have no more need of him.

Then I shall take my leave for now.

Try to rest, Reverend Fowle. Rest?

Where I'm going,
I'll get plenty of rest.

I will show you out, Mr Lidderdale.

There is no need, Miss Fowle.
I insist.

Cassie.

Now you're here,
you must do something for me.

You promise me?

What? Isabella...

..must live with her sisters.

You promise me?

Worry not.

There is no greater comfort
in this world than a sister.

Come now, Miss.

Master needs rest.

I'll show you to your room.

MR LIDDERDALE:
I'll return tomorrow, Miss Fowle.

But if your father worsens
in the night, you must send for me.

I will. Thank you.

How long...

..until...?

Death, like birth,
dictates its own course...

..but it should not be
much longer, Isabe...

..Miss Fowle.

Till tomorrow, Mr Lidderdale.

If you'd let Miss Isabella
know you were coming, Ma'am,

we'd have prepared a
more welcoming room.

My weary bones will rest
wherever they are put, Dinah.

DOOR OPENS

DOOR CLOSES

SHE SIGHS

DOG GROWLS

Sh!

Can I help you, Ma'am?

Oh, Dinah!

I'm sorry. I...

I quite lost my bearings
for a moment.

Were you looking for something
in particular, Ma'am?

Do you know? I can't remember
why I came out in the first place.

Must be tiredness, Ma'am.

Best get back to bed.

You're down at
the other end, remember? Huh...

BIRDSONG

DUCKS QUACK

ISABELLA SOBS

Oh, Isabella, I am so sorry.

The end was peaceful, at least.

If you'll excuse me,
I have the arrangements to make.

Of course.

If there's anything I can do...

BELL TOLLS

I'm surprised your sisters
could not stay longer.

Surely it would have been
the ideal opportunity

for the three of you to
converse, would it not?

Isabella?

It appears my sister, Beth,

has more important
business elsewhere.

Oh...

I, for one, am grateful

we women were not allowed
to stand by the graveside.

Our grief laid bare
for all to witness.

MR DUNDAS CLEARS THROAT

Uh, Miss Fowle,
my heartfelt condolences.

Thank you, Mr Dundas.

Uh, may I introduce my aunt,
Mary Austen, and our dear friend,

Miss Cassandra Austen?

Mr Dundas is to be
Kintbury's new vicar.

A position
I'm deeply honoured to fill.

Austen? Are you perhaps some
relation to Miss Jane Austen,

the great lady novelist?

I am delighted to say I am.

She is...was my sister.

And my sister-in-law.

Oh, I am her greatest admirer!

You cannot imagine my despair
when she was taken from us so early.

Then allow me to say how sorry I am
for your great personal loss.

Most kind, most kind.

I've read all her works.

What is the one
with the clergyman...?

Well, they all have...
Mansfield House!

That's the one.

It's my favourite of all.

The thing about your sister, Miss
Austen - and, sadly, so few people

seem to grasp this -
is that her understanding of people

of a certain...milieu was
so profound as to be almost unique.

That is indeed true.

It strikes me as a great shame
there has not been more public

acknowledgement of her genius.

In my view, she warrants
a substantial biography.

One, perhaps, where we might
discover the real Jane Austen.

Everything one needs to know about
Jane Austen is to be found

within the pages of her novels.

There is nothing more.

Oh, come, Cassandra.

You know that is
most certainly not true.

My sister-in-law
exaggerates somewhat.

There is nothing more to learn.

If you say so, my dear.

If you'll excuse me,
I must prepare my father's study

for the reading of his will.

Before you go, Miss Fowle...

Ahem.

..I wish to inform you that my wife
and I will be taking up residence

in the vicarage in a fortnight.

A fortnight?

I trust it will be more than
enough time to make arrangements

for the removals? No. It...

That's too soon.

The retiring family are always
granted two months, Mr Dundas.

That's the custom.

As old as the church.

That would be appropriate in
the case of a family, Miss Austen,

but there's no family
in this instance, only my own.

And my wife is due to give birth to
our fourth child within the month.

It's only right
she should be settled first.

And besides, I'm keen to get on
and do my best for the parish.

ISABELLA SOBS

I fear Isabella will need some
assistance with the removals.

SHE SIGHS

She will be completely at sea,
if left to her own devices.

Well, I am happy to stay
for as long as she needs me.

Well, that is a weight from my mind.

I can supervise, of course,
but I have other family commitments

which take up a great deal of my
time. You, on the other hand...

Do not.

Oh, that Mr Dundas...

..is quite insufferable.

His remarks did make me ponder,

perhaps there is a biography
to be written.

About Jane?

Not just Jane, but my late husband,

James Austen, too. He was a gifted
writer himself, as well you know.

Jane's writing would be
a part of it, of course.

But who would pen this great opus,
Mary, now that both

the Austen writers
have departed this earth?

I mean, my son,
James Edward, springs to mind.

He seems to have inherited
his father's great gift.

I must instruct Isabella

not to remove any of my sister's
private correspondence.

I will take care of that.

There's sure to be letters in
Eliza's room that will cast up

all manner of treasure.

After all, Jane and Eliza
corresponded vigorously.

As did you and Eliza, if I recall.

Surely you do not intend
to do this now, my dear.

After all, the day has been
trying enough.

That is true. That is true.

Yes, it's been
something of an ordeal.

I will return refreshed and tackle
Eliza's correspondence tomorrow.

SHE SIGHS

How is Miss Isabella now, Dinah?

She's gone for a walk, ma'am.

Says the fresh air will do her good.

She did not attend her father's
will reading, then?

That's men's business,
ma'am, or so they say.

DOOR SHUTS

WHISPERS: Where are Jane's letters?

DOOR OPENS
DOG BARKS

Molly, get that dog out of
the master's bedroom,

and let her outside.

MUFFLED DOG BARKS
DOOR SHUTS

WHISPERS: Jane.

JANE: "My dearest Eliza,

"we will be with you
in Kintbury shortly.

"You and Fulwar should
prepare yourselves for a house

"full of Austens."

Cassie! Eliza!

"Mother and Father
will journey with us.

"Crossing the border from
Hampshire into Berkshire

"can be most treacherous,
as you know."

EXCITED CHATTER

"As ever, Cassie is the calm
at the heart of us all,

"but I know she cannot wait

"to see Fulwar's brother, Tom."

You look radiant, Cassie.

Here he comes.

Hush, Jane.

My dear Cassie.

Er, may I...beg your indulgence

and request to speak alone with you?

Alone, Tom Fowle?

What conversation
could be so important

it requires a private assignation?

Well... Pay my sister no heed, Tom.

She sees drama in every encounter.

My-my dear Cassie...

..you-you know
what I'm about to say.

Do I? You must.

Well, even so, I'd dearly
love to hear you say it.

I will do my utmost
to...find the words.

Cassandra Austen...

..I have loved you since...

..since...

Well, I-I cannot quite
remember, but...

THEY CHUCKLE

Erm, but you are

the only woman I-I could...

..I can ever, erm...

..contemplate sharing my life with.

So... Yes.

Yes, yes, yes!

Finally! I told you he would.

You did! I'm always correct
in these matters.

You are.

Well, you said "yes", of course?

I said yes.

SHE SQUEALS
THEY LAUGH

As much as I delight in your
rejoicing, I cannot breathe!

Oh... Cassie, you are
abandoning me to our parents.

You, my own sister.

What is to become of me?
I'm hardly going far.

I'll be here in Berkshire and
you'll be in the next little county.

You'll see just as much of me.
You say that now,

but wait till you have
a husband and children. No, Jane.

She's teasing you, dearest.

We'll be sisters.

The three of us. Four!

Eliza, how can you forget
your own sister, Mary?

Yes, how could you
forget Mary, Eliza?

Come now, dear sisters, let us
go and demonstrate how canasta

should be played - and won.

Jane...

..we cannot play cards without you.

Is Miss Isabella back yet, Dinah?

Not yet, ma'am,
but she won't be much longer.

You'll be off soon, then?

There's nothing
left for you here now.

Not so, Dinah.

If Miss Isabella is to vacate
the vicarage within a fortnight,

I am needed here more than ever.

I am resolved to ensure she
is settled with her sisters.

I believe that the interests
of our landowners must be

protected at all times.
I am sure you are right...

Thank you, dear Eliza,
I've been waiting for that.

..Rule of the King must be defended,
even if it means...

WHISPERS: Tom seems rather subdued,
considering your news.

Perhaps it's because he's with
his brother and can't get a word in.

You have a fine pair of sea legs,
young Frank Austen.

I'm sure you'll make your
family exceedingly proud.

Though I do believe
you're soon to have some competition

in your seafaring adventures.

Is this not so, Tom? Please, Fulwar,
I'd rather you did not.

GLASS CLINKS

Dear friends and family,

I have some glad tidings to impart.

My brother Tom has found himself
the most suitable wife

in our dear Cassie here.

They are to be married,

and we Fowles could not be
more delighted.

Not only is Cassie an accomplished
and gifted young woman,

she is our dearest friend.

A toast - to Tom and Cassie.

May their union be a happy one.

ALL: To Tom and Cassie!

But the celebrations
do not end there,

for Tom has also
secured himself a patron.

It is the most esteemed Lord Craven.

And His Lordship has asked our
very own curate to accompany him

on a great adventure.

An expedition to the
Windward Islands...

DELIGHTED GASPS
..in the West Indies, no less.

So, another toast - to Tom and
all his seafaring adventures.

To Tom!
ALL: To Tom!

TOM: You're shivering.

Here.

My dear Cassie, I know
it'll be hard, for both of us.

I... I am doing this for us.

For our future.

Lord Craven has promised me
my own parish, on our return.

My own parish, Cassie.

Our very own vicarage.

It's long been our dream,
so what harm is one more year?

A year? Oh, well, we could not
be married for at least a year.

Besides, he's offered
to pay me handsomely.

Beyond anything I could make here.

We shall be set, my love, for life.

Just one year.

Did you not think to discuss this
with me first?

Well, he...he pressed me.

And I knew you would agree.

As we agree in all things.

My ship leaves from Portsmouth
in a fortnight.

We have till then.

Oh, Jane.

I was happy with my
home-loving curate.

I do not crave a swashbuckling hero.

You and I have read enough novels
to know that entitled lords,

no matter how personable,

cannot always be trusted.

Then we must hope this lord
is a man of his word.

Tom is only doing this to secure
your future, my dearest.

You are marrying for love,
and that is a joy.

Love comes at a price.

Neither of you has a fortune,
so he must make one.

All will be well.

I know it.

A year will be over
before we know it.

And you must visit Kintbury often
while I'm away.

This is your home now.

I can make myself useful,
helping Eliza with the children.

It will be good preparation
for when we have our own.

How many children shall we have?

Four. No, five.

No, six, it cannot be an odd number.

What shall we call them?

Jane, if our first-born is a girl.

Fulwar, if it's a boy.

Really? Seems an awfully
serious name for a little boy.

Well, he will be a man one day.

My darling,
you know I will be happy,

whatever they are called.

But...

..there are things I must
say to you before I leave,

in case I do not return.

No. You will come back.

Let us not discuss this.
Cassie, we must.

I have made a will and left you
the bulk of my money.

Do not say it.
I want you to have it.

You have pledged yourself to me,

therefore, you should
be cared for, if I...

..if I do not...

No. We are betrothed,
th-that is my choice.

It'll give you a little security.

Cassie, I want you to promise me
this bequest will not

make you beholden to my memory.

If you cannot marry me,

you must feel free to marry another.

I promise you, Tom...

..faithfully, here before God...

..that I will never marry
any other man but you.

TEARFULLY: Today has been
more difficult than I could ever

have imagined.

SHE SIGHS

To first lose your dearest mother
and now, your father, too.

And I'm sure Mr Dundas' sudden
announcement today did not help.

It was quite unexpected.

Well, at least now,
your father's will has been read,

and you can proceed
with the removals.

It would appear so.

We Fowles have lived in this
house for three generations.

Handed down from father to son.

Now, I must leave the only home
I've ever known.

TEARFULLY: I will be on my own
for the first time ever.

No, Isabella,
you will not be on your own.

You will be with your sisters.

That is not fully decided yet.

Your father wanted you
to live with them.

He was very clear about his wishes.

I know what his wishes were.

His feelings were very
strong on the matter,

but his feelings were
strong on all matters.

I have never once done anything
to displease him,

but what of my own feelings?

What of those?

Oh, they are your sisters.

There is no closer bond.

For this, you should be grateful.

Grateful? Yes.

And your comfort will be enhanced,

in the knowledge that you are living

according to your father's
dying wish.

I find myself strangely tired now.

Quite ready for bed.

DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS

JANE: "My dear Eliza.

"You must find it in your heart
to forgive the t*rd

"of my reply to your letter."

Aren't these pretty, Jane?
Yes, Mama.

"We have arrived back at Steventon.

"But the truth is, our once peaceful
rectory has been consumed

"by such a riot of celebration
that it's hard to find

"a quiet place in which to write."

I prefer it there...

"There is so much joy
and delight about,

"as to make me feel
quite sick and wicked."

Mama? Have a look at this!

"I cannot quite remember
how we passed our time in the days

"before my sister's engagement.

DOOR OPENS

Jane!

Oh! What do you think?

Beautiful - both Cassie
and the veil.

I can only hope it is still
in fashion by the time

she walks down the aisle.

Come along, Mama,
let us leave Jane in peace.

Of course, we always knew
they were the most perfect match.

We just didn't know if Tom
would ever get round to asking.

Well, he's a man of caution, Mama.

I wouldn't have him any other way.

Well, he'd never find
a better peach to pick than you.

Such an accomplished young lady
as my eldest daughter

would be an asset to any man.

But poor Jane, we're not sure
what's going to become of her.

Mama! Jane is in the room.

I-I'm merely saying that while
you have a surfeit of competence,

my dear Cassandra,

your dear sister here is-is less...

"Useful"? I think that is the word
you are searching for, Mama.

Come, come, Mrs Austen,

we are blessed with
two brilliant daughters.

Even if that brilliance manifests
itself differently in each.

Any man would be lucky
to have either.

Thank you for that glowing
testimonial, Papa,

but Mama is right.

Cassie is the peach,

and Tom Fowle
is the luckiest man alive.

Now, husband,
I wish to show you something.

JANE CHUCKLES

"If there is one drawback
to this perfect arrangement,

"it's that I will somehow
have to live without her.

"I am not ready to let
my beloved sister go."

She's finished. Oh!

This silk is perfect, Cassie.

Perhaps you should store it away,
Mama, to prevent it spoiling

before Cassie wears it.

I am of the firm belief, Jane,

that it is better to
be prepared than not.

Mama's right, Jane.
I want everything to be ready.

So, Anna, who shall we make first?

The bride. Ah! Ooh, will it be me?

No. Well, who, then?

Father's bride.

Would you like my son
to marry again, Anna?

Then it shall be so.

Why have one wedding
when we can have two? Yes!

Your aunts and I
will find him someone.

That's a splendid idea!

Cassie. Why not?

I want everyone to be
as happy as I am.

Even you, my darling Jane.

I refuse to be involved with
your matrimonial schemings.

What about Eliza's sister,
Mary Lloyd?

For brother James? Mother!

I-I can't think of anyone better.
Can you, Cassie?

No-one.

She would be perfect.

It shall be done.
We must make two brides now, Anna.

You must ask your Aunt Jane
for more paper.

"Yes, Eliza, my mother is up to
her old matchmaking tricks again.

"She's intent to match our brother,
James, with your sister, Mary."

What do you think of this, Anna?

"From my mother, this kind of
plotting is to be expected,

"but it is Cassie's part in it
that's far more surprising.

"I can only put that down
to her elevated status

"as an engaged woman.

"Luckily, no attempts
have been made to match me,

"so I can happily pursue my fated
role as an irascible spinster...

"..if Cassie will allow it."

Honestly, Cassie, you and Mother
are like women possessed.

What's come over you?

Where is my sister?

Nothing's come over me.

I'm Cassie Austen,
soon to be Cassie Fowle,

the happiest woman in the world.
And if I'm to be this happy,

then I want everyone around me
to be happy, too.

Happiness isn't like a cold.
You can't just pass it on.

Are you cross with me? Not cross.

Surprised.

Mary Lloyd and James?

Even you must have doubts
on that count. His eyes follow her

everywhere when he's in her company.
That's not love. What is it, then?

Polite curiosity.

You're supposed to be
the romantic one.

No, the only problem we might
have... What we? ..is that

brother James is not
without his admirers.

Miss Harrison, for one. Well, that's
a mystery, too. How can a widower

of such indifferent humour have
so much choice? Because he's a man.

I'm sorry if you disapprove,
Jane, but whatever happens,

James must marry again.

That poor child needs a mother.
Mary, though?

Are you sure Miss Harrison
will not be there?

You know how your brother
admires her, Cassie.

Nonsense. She towers over him.

No man wants a wife
that is taller than he is.

Besides, I've heard that
she's out of the country.

Dear sister, he will have eyes
for you,

and you alone. Isn't that so, Jane?

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA PLAYS

"The county ball is to be
the setting for the advancement

"of this romantic plot.

"I must admit, I have something
approaching sympathy

"for the single man.

"I wonder how my brother James
would feel to know he is

"the object of such
lively speculation,

"and how closely the feminine eyes
of Basingstoke

"are soon to be trained upon him."

I knew it, your brother
has not looked at me once.

Not since the moment we arrived.
He's simply talking with friends.

It's not entirely unreasonable
of him to be sociable.

It is, after all, a social event.

I should never have got my hopes up.

Why would a man like
James Austen look at me?

TEARFULLY: Cassie, I wish I was
as elegant as you are.

I have never seen you look
as elegant as you do tonight, Mary.

In fact, I would go
so far as to say that

you are positively glowing.
Dear sister, that pale blue

does become you so.
I wish I could find a colour

that suited my complexion so well.

You could wear any colour, my
dearest Eliza, not just blue.

I, for one, do not intend
to spend the whole evening

staring at my brother's back.

Come along, Cassie,

let's take a turn round the room.

Dance with me?

Oh, no, Miss Harrison has come!

Cassie, you said she was out of
the country! I'm sunk!

Nonsense.

We shall make sure my brother
knows that you are here. No!

Cassie... why don't
you and I sit here for a moment?

..do you think this is wise?
James is perfectly content

to dancing with Miss Harrison.

He might seem it, but he does not
know how much more contented

he might be if he danced with Mary.
You are sounding

suspiciously like Mama. Would it not
be better to allow James

to decide his own fate?

That, he will do, with a helping
hand from his beloved sisters.

I'm not convinced Mary Lloyd
is his ideal match.

The Lloyd sisters are
our dearest friends.

Eliza, yes, but not Mary.

Why must you always be
so critical of her?

Mary lacks confidence -
once married, she will bloom.

Oh, this is a disaster.

WHISPERS: Come along.

Beautiful.

Ca...

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA STOPS

Brother.

An enjoyable evening, is it not?

Yes.

It seems to be a success.

I saw you dancing.
You really are rather good.

Oh, do you think so? Yes.

Miss Mary Lloyd and I
were remarking on that very fact.

WHISPERS: It might be polite of you
to pay her some attention,

especially as she admires you so.

Ah.

Miss Lloyd.

Mr Austen.

Would you care to have
this next dance?

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA RESUMES
SHE GIGGLES

"Of course, I wish Mary and James
the greatest happiness, Eliza,

"but I cannot help but worry
that our dear niece Anna

"might be forgotten in
all this plotting."

Plotting?! Wha...?

I wasn't plotting.

I was thinking only of Anna!

BELLS RING

LAUGHTER

"I know Mary is your sister, Eliza,

"but I do find it difficult
to imagine her embracing motherhood.

"Perhaps she will surprise us all."

Cassie, would you like to
hear the latest chapter?

It's finished.

Is it the ball? Mm-hm.

Oh, at last!

JANE GIGGLES

Does Mary Bennet
have to be called Mary?

She's so perfectly dreadful.
It will not go down well

when our sister-in-law, Mary,
discovers it.

She won't discover it. She has
rather limited literary taste.

If it wasn't written by James,
then it cannot be any good.

SHE CHUCKLES

"It is a delight to see
my Cassie in such high spirits.

"She has waited one whole year
for her beloved to come home."

Who are you writing to? Eliza.

She must be as excited
to see Tom as we are.

SHE SIGHS

I have such butterflies.

"I will admit to some butterflies
of my own, Eliza,

"for it is at this point
Cassie and I must separate,

"and I will take up the position of
solitary daughter.

"I cannot welcome it,
but I suppose I must bear it."

Jane?

You and I will always be sisters,

even when I'm Mrs Fowle.

You are saddled with me forever.

It will be strange at first,

but...it is something that
most sisters must go through.

"Most sisters".

Is that how you think of us?

I mistakenly assumed myself
of greater significance.

Jane, you know... Of course I know.

We are not most sisters.

CHUCKLING

We were not most sisters.

Oh!

Excuse me, ma'am.

I-I was just setting the grate.

There's no rest for the wicked.

Er, leave it. It's...

It's fine for now.

I have started clearing
Mrs Fowle's room.

There's so little time now.

If you say so, ma'am.

Oh, Mrs Mary Austen
is expected soon, ma'am.

DOOR SHUTS

Mary.

MARY: "My dear Eliza.

"We left for Steventon
as soon as your letter arrived.

"Though I did not relish
the task before me,

"I felt compelled to undertake it
with forbearance.

"In truth, I felt equal to it.

"For I am a married woman now,

"with a husband by my side,

"and I am family.

"An Austen, too.

"When we were in the hall,

"I could hear Cassie and
Jane upstairs, laughing."

MUFFLED LAUGHTER

"They were to be found
where they always are,

"alone, together.

"A secret sisterhood of two.

"Their door shut
on the rest of the world."

"And even Lydia was too much
fatigued to utter more than

"the occasional exclamation of,
'Lord, how tired I am!',

"accompanied by a violent yawn."

"They do seem to laugh
an unusual amount.

"What can be so amusing
so much of the time?

"I used to not mind it, but lately,

"I've found it a source of
great irritation."

KNOCKING ON DOOR
LAUGHTER STOPS

Mama never knocks.

"As soon as Cassie saw my face,
she knew the purpose of my visit.

"I judged it best to
speak with her alone,

"without her sister."

Jane, could you leave us?

No, I'm going nowhere.

Please, Jane.

Cassandra...

We have bad tidings
to impart, Cassie.

You must prepare yourself.

"I came straight to the point.

"Tom was dead, of yellow fever,

"and these past two months,
had lain buried at sea."

Cassie, my dear...

..there is something else
that we must tell you.

Something you must know.

You must not blame Lord Craven
for taking Tom from you.

He had no knowledge of
your engagement.

Tom had kept it from him,

knowing full well he would never
have taken a betrothed man abroad.

His desire to go was
of such intensity...

Cassie, do not believe her!

It is true. Tell her, James.

It was Tom's own decision.

"Cassandra's reaction
was quite desperate.

"She fell to the floor,
in a fit of the hysterics.

"I have never heard wailing like it.

"She was inconsolable."

What?

"She could not speak a word."

I'm sure that must have been
very hard for you both, so...

..thank you.

"How dull and sordid is
this business of grief?

"Is it always to be my lot,
to have to deal with the dramas

"of my new sisters?
It is not a position I relish.

"But when bad things happen,
the truth must be told."

SHE SOBS

SHE SIGHS

WHISPERING: You lied.

SHE SNIFFLES

Did you find any letters from Jane?

Not a single one.

The children are quite
wild with excitement.

But your sister
is about to lose her home.

Isabella is a grown woman.

The Austens of Hampshire

are embarking on the first of
their great holiday schemes.

Wasn't there a gentleman
we both met in Sidmouth?

How romantic,
to fall in love by the sea!

I have no idea what your
Aunt Mary is talking about.