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And, silence as the audience waited for who knohat--a better ending line? A better play? Colonel Andrews cleared his throat, and Jane inclined her head in a hurried curtsy

"Oh," Aunt Saffronia said and started the applause

The audience clapped enthusiastically and arhyth

Jane squinted past the laood look at the audience, now that the play was over and stage fright couldn’t prickle her Aunt Saffronia, bea for all the world like a proud schoolmarm Matilda, bored, and a few other servants, equally bored

And Martin He was in the back, and the roo the spectacle from his eyes, she sa ridiculous that little play had been, and how all of Pened exclairl daydreams

Jane leaned away from Mr Nobley

"Well, my dears, what a show Quite professional!" Aunt Saffronia said, rushing their little stage Mrs Wattlesbrook was right behind her A barrage of coulfed the cast, and Jane smiled and nodded and s behind Mrs Wattlesbrook, gesturing to Jane Such a tall nored him

"Uh, Miss Erstwhile?" he said quietly He was shy He was embarrassed He sounded a little desperate

Aunt Saffronia was plunging the profound intricacies of the script Mrs Wattlesbrook half-turned to glare at Martin

"Miss Erstwhile?" he said again, sounding a little braver

Jane aze dead on Martin blinked, sain What did he have to do with her? She was trying--for Carolyn, for herself, for her darling Mr Darcy, she was trying to live this, and Martin’s presence had the effect of shining a light on how shallow it all was, besides reuy who had tossed her aside She was having a grand ti the punch She turned her shoulder to him and addressed Mr Nobley

"Thank you, sir Thus far the highlight oflove to you"

Mr Nobley bowed in acknowledght she detected Martin sort of sluht, all," Jane said, and etaway to her room

…where she lay on her bed, stared at her canopy, and wished that encounter didn’t stick to her still, that she could just scrape it off her shoe What would Martin have said if she’d let his never end well

Wait, there had been soe of her memory ah yes, Mr Nobley had been about to kiss her She closed her eyes and held to that reat drearay of dawn

Boyfriend 12

Tad Harrison, AGE THIRTY-FIVE

She’d broken down and purchased the Pride and Prejudice DVDs by now (much to the lament of her video rental storec bottoot serious They were engaged after a year, adopted a dog together, even picked out future baby nas don’t feel quite right," he’d say cryptically ‘Not just yet But soon"

After another year and soht, hoping that with a little distance he’d be ready to commit She waited five months for hi around