Posting a Letter

[janebecomes]

The road was muddy but Jane enjoyed it even more because she could tramp and tramp on her way to mail the letter to Cassandra.

That horrible, snobbish, infuriating Tom Lefroy, she would not give him the satisfaction of anything.

How dare he even dare think that she thought badly of her home, her home, she would decimate him next time they met.

Not that she wished to meet him of course, the lout but next time, oh next time she would be prepared.

Comments

[tom-lefroy.livejournal.com]

"Indeed."

He waves a hand towards the town, very carefully keeping his expression neutral.

"Lead the way, ma'am."

[janebecomes]

That neutral expression is a clever idea because inside Jane does not feel neutral at all.

At least he is not insulting Longminster and she keeps moving towards the Post Office, passing nods and glances with many in town,

"How have you been spending your days in Hampshire, Mister Lefroy? I do hope you have found some things to amuse yourself with."

[tom-lefroy.livejournal.com]

Of course he isn't insulting Longminster. If he were to do that, he would prove right then and there that her assumptions of him are correct.

And he cannot let her get away with such false opinions.

"Indeed, I have," he responds nonchalantly. "I have had the opportunity to catch up on my reading, for one. And I even feel slightly better in health."

(Okay, so the last bit may very well be a lie, but it sounds convincing enough.)

[janebecomes]

"You read? What exactly do you read for pleasure, Mister Lefroy?"

She does her best to stamp on her curiosity, because she should not care at all what he reads though it does slip a little in her voice.

[tom-lefroy.livejournal.com]

"Miss Austen, I admit I am a little surprised by your intonation," he says amusedly. "Of course I read. I hardly have enough time while I am in the city" - due to his other extra-curricular activities, no doubt - "but here, I find myself with little else to do."

He pokes at a clump of mud with his cane haphazardly.

"Mostly prose, some poetry, and a bit of philosophy as well."

[janebecomes]

"Pardon me, Mister Lefroy, I just have a small bit of difficulty imagining you reading for pleasure. Philosophy, do you consider yourself a hedonist then, Mister Lefroy?"

[tom-lefroy.livejournal.com]

"And why is that, Miss Austen?" he asks curiously. "Is your opinion of me so low that you would think me an idiot?"

Really now, Jane.

Of course, Tom has the grace not to look offended in the least. His curiousity however, is plain on his face.

As to her question: "Perhaps. I see nothing wrong with seeking the great pleasures in life. Do you?"

Of course, in reality, this is hardly the case. His life is utterly bound in duty and security - everything else is a mask.

[janebecomes]

"Never an idiot, Mister Lefroy just perhaps choosing to spend your leisure time in other ways."

Henry is after all her brother and tells her things when she asks,

"I was wondering how you expected me to find the great pleasures here in Hampshire so I could experience them."

[tom-lefroy.livejournal.com]

"Surely there are things in Hampshire that give you great pleasure," he responds.

If she is trying to bait him into telling her that Hampshire is the most boring of country places, she is likely to be disappointed.

[janebecomes]

"Oh yes there are, I find great pleasure within the company of my circle of friends and family and in the few books available to me. I just feared that those would not fall under your definition of great experiences."

[tom-lefroy.livejournal.com]

"You assume much of me, Miss Austen."

Indeed, too much. And mostly of the negative variety.

He smirks.

[janebecomes]

"Then correct my assumptions, Mister Lefroy."

[tom-lefroy.livejournal.com]

"Ah. I cannot simply tell you what you ought to think of me," he says. "Getting acquainted with someone requires far more than that."

He nods his head towards the building ahead: the post office.

[janebecomes]

"Quite true, Mister Lefroy, and would you find such a poor student as myself worthy of your time?"

She asks before walking in to post her letter and leave him thinking.

[tom-lefroy.livejournal.com]

For a moment, Tom pauses, trying to think of something appropriate to say. He wonders why Jane would come up with such an assumption, and he wonders if he really would give her the time to get to know her.

"Miss Austen -" he starts, promptly catching up to follow her into the building.