“Do you? I have no doubt. Nature gave you understanding, Miss Taylor gave you principles. My interference was quite as likely to do harm as good. It was very natural for you to feel that it was done in a disagreeable manner. I doted on you, faults and all, because I have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least.”
“I am sure you were of use to me,” cried Emma. “I was very often influenced rightly by you—more often than I would admit at the time. I am very sure you did me good.”
“My dear Emma, you have always called me Mr. Knightley. It is so very formal. Can you not call me George now?”
“Impossible! I can never call you anything but Mr. Knightley. I shall promise not to equal Mrs. Elton by calling you Mr. K., and I shall promise—” She added presently, laughing and blushing, “I shall promise to call you George only once—at the altar.”
Emma was sad that she could not correct the worst of all her follies—her relationship with Harriet. She realised she should have written more often to Harriet while she was in London.
Isabella’s letters kept Emma informed about her friend, who had been in low spirits upon first arriving but soon cheered up and found pleasure playing with Isabella’s children. Harriet decided to extend her visit to a month, which pleased Emma.
Soon after, Mr. Knightley produced a letter from his brother John, who responded to the news of their engagement.
“John rejoices in my happiness,” said Mr. Knightley, “and has a most brotherly affection for you and great admiration of your courage in battle. He hopes that, in time, you will grow worthy of my affection.”
“He is a sensible man,” replied Emma. “I honour his sincerity. Had he said anything different, I would not have believed him.”
Emma turned her thoughts to the duty of informing her father of their engagement. She must speak cheerfully about it and not make it a subject of misery to him.
With all the courage she could command, she prepared Mr. Woodhouse for something strange. Then she said that if his consent and approval could be obtained, since it was a plan to promote the happiness of all, she and Mr. Knightley meant to marry. Hartfield would receive the addition of Mr. Knightley’s company whom he loved, next to his daughters and Mrs. Weston, best in the world.
Poor man! At first it was a considerable shock to him, and he tried earnestly to dissuade Emma from it. She was reminded, more than once, of having always said she would never marry. He assured her that it would be a great deal better for her to remain single and spoke of how Isabella and Miss Taylor had left him.
But it would not do. Emma hung about him affectionately and smiled and said it must be so. She pointed out that, with Isabella and Mrs. Weston, their marriages took them from Hartfield, but Emma was not leaving Hartfield. She would be always there, and her father would be a great deal happier for having Mr. Knightley always at hand.
Emma was assisted in her pleadings by Mr. Knightley, Mrs. Weston, and letters from Isabella—assuring him that it would be for his happiness. He began to think that, perhaps in another year or two, it might not be so very bad if the marriage did take place.
The news of the engagement was a surprise wherever it spread. Mr. Weston went to Highbury the next morning and told Jane Fairfax the news. Was she not to become his eldest daughter? He must tell her. And Miss Bates being present, it passed, of course, to Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Perry, and Mrs. Elton immediately afterwards.
In general, it was a very well-approved match, except in one house—the vicarage. Mr. Elton cared little about it. He only hoped that “the young lady’s pride would now be contented” and observed that “she had always meant to catch Knightley if she could” but admitted that “finally Knightley would have the sustenance he desperately lacked.”
But Mrs. Elton very much disapproved.
“Poor Knightley! Poor fellow! Sad business for him. I am extremely concerned, for though he is very eccentric, he has a thousand good qualities. How could he be so taken in? No more outings to Donwell—there would be a Mrs. Knightley to throw cold water on everything. Extremely disagreeable! On the other hand, she may become one of us—there may be hope for her, after all!”
Chapter 54
Time passed on, and soon Harriet would arrive from London. Emma was worried about her return when, one morning, Mr. Knightley came in and said, “I have something to tell you, Emma—some news.”
“Good or bad?” said she quickly, looking at him.
“I do not know whether you will call it good or bad. It is news about Harriet Smith.”
Emma’s cheeks flushed at the name, and she felt afraid of something, though she knew not what.
“Harriet Smith has accepted Robert Martin’s proposal of marriage.”
Emma gave a start and her eyes, in eager gaze, said, “No, this is impossible!”
“It is so, indeed,” continued Mr. Knightley. “I have it from Robert Martin himself. He left me not half an hour ago.”
“I cannot believe it! It seems an impossibility!”
Emma could not conceal all her exquisite feelings of delight. “Well now, tell me everything. I never was more surprised, I assure you. How is it possible?”
“It is a very simple story. Mr. Martin went to London on business three days ago, and I asked him to take some papers to John, who invited him to a family party. Mr. Martin could not resist; he found an opportunity to propose to Harriet. She made him, by her acceptance, as happy as he is deserving.
“He returned by yesterday’s coach and was with me this morning. I must say that Robert Martin’s heart seemed very overflowing,” despite the fact, thought he, that it never beat. And his eyes would soon turn from black to bright red, feasting on Harriet’s plumpness.
“I am perfectly excited,” replied Emma with the brightest smiles, “and most sincerely wish them happy.”
“You have changed greatly since we talked on this subject before.”
“I hope so—for at that time I was a fool.”
“And I am changed also,” admitted Mr. Knightley, “for I am now very willing to acknowledge all Harriet’s good qualities. You see, some time ago Robert Martin approached me for my advice: Should he risk asking Miss Smith a second time for her hand in marriage? And so I made an effort to get better acquainted with her. I often talked to her a good deal. You must have seen that I did.
“Sometimes, I thought you suspected that I had affections for Harriet, which was never the case. From all my observations, I was convinced of her being an amiable girl, with very good notions, very good principles, and a wicked swing of her wooden stake. Much of this, I have no doubt, she may thank you for.”
“Me!” cried Emma, shaking her head. “Ah! Poor Harriet!” She stopped herself, however, and quietly allowed herself a little more praise than she deserved.
Mr. Knightley added, “And I have abandoned my foolish notion that the wild vampires followed Harriet’s scent to our parties. The scent they most likely followed was that of tasty aristocratic blood.”
Mr. Woodhouse entered the room and began speaking with Mr. Knightley. Emma left them so she could be alone for a while.
Her spirits were dancing and singing—she talked to herself and laughed and reflected. One could only imagine the joy, the gratitude, the exquisite delight of her feelings. With the news of Harriet’s engagement, Emma was really in danger of becoming too happy for words.
What had she to wish for now? Nothing more than to grow more worthy of Mr. Knightley, whose intentions and judgement had always been so superior to her own. Nothing, but that the lessons of her past folly might teach her humility and circumspection in the future.
She was very serious in her thankfulness and in her resolutions, and yet there was no preventing a laugh. She must laugh with joy at the resolution of Harriet’s situation. Now there would be pleasure in Harriet’s returning. It would be a great pleasure to know M
r. Robert Martin.
***
In high spirits, Emma and Mr. Woodhouse visited the Westons. To their surprise, Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax arrived to pay a visit also.
Emma was extremely glad to see Frank Churchill, but there was some awkwardness on each side. When Mr. Weston brought baby Anna into the room, there was no longer a lack of animation or of courage and opportunity for Frank Churchill to draw Emma aside and say, “I have to thank you, Miss Woodhouse, for a very kind forgiving message in one of Mrs. Weston’s letters. I trust time has not made you less willing to pardon. I trust you do not retract what you said.”
“No, indeed,” cried Emma, most happy to begin, “not in the least. I am particularly glad to see you and shake hands with you and to give you joy in person.”
He thanked her with all his heart and continued some time to speak with serious feeling of his gratitude and happiness.
“Jane is looking well, do you not think?” said he, turning his hungry black eyes towards his fiancée.
Then he returned his attention to Emma. “You truly had no idea about our attachment?”
“I never had the smallest idea, I assure you,” replied Emma.
“Ah! By the by,” he said, “let me offer you my congratulations. I assure you that I have heard the news of your own attachment to Mr. Knightley with the warmest interest and satisfaction.”
Emma added, “We are similar in our engagements—we have each found someone so much superior to ourselves.”
“True, true,” he answered, warmly. Then he added, “No, not true on your side. You can have no superior, but most true on mine. Is Jane not an angel in every gesture? Observe the turn of her throat.” My fangs, he thought, can scarcely wait until our nuptial night.
“Very beautiful, indeed,” replied Emma, and she spoke so kindly that Frank gratefully burst out, “How delighted I am to see you again! And to see you in such excellent looks! I would not have missed this meeting for the world.”
Emma and Mr. Woodhouse shortly left the Westons and, during the carriage ride home, she felt happy for Frank and Jane. But comparing Mr. Churchill and Mr. Knightley, she felt she was engaged to the gentleman with superior character. Her thoughts regarding his worth completed the happiness of this most happy day.
Chapter 55
A few days later, Harriet returned from London and, within an hour of visiting at Hartfield, convinced Emma that Mr. Robert Martin had thoroughly replaced Mr. Knightley and was now the source of all her happiness.
Emma gave Harriet her most sincere congratulations on her engagement, and Harriet returned her congratulations to Emma.
Harriet admitted that she had been silly, presumptuous, and self-deceived regarding Mr. Knightley. Thus, she was left without a care for the past and with the fullest excitement for the present and future with Robert Martin.
The fact was, as Emma could now acknowledge, that Harriet had always liked Robert Martin and that his continuing to love her had been irresistible.
Harriet’s father was revealed to be a tradesman, rich enough to afford his daughter a comfortable life but certainly not the blood of gentility which Emma had formerly imagined! Harriet’s father generously approved of his daughter’s engagement.
As Emma became acquainted with Robert Martin, who was now introduced at Hartfield, she fully acknowledged his worth for her little friend Harriet.
Emma had no doubt of Harriet’s happiness, and in the home he offered there would be security, stability, and improvement. She would be among those who loved her and would be respectable and happy. And Emma admitted that Harriet was the luckiest creature in the world, after herself.
***
That September, Emma attended the wedding—Harriet’s hand bestowed on Robert Martin, with Mr. Elton presiding over the ceremony. Several days later, Emma was pleased to see how happy Robert and Harriet looked—with matching bright red eyes.
Jane Fairfax had left Highbury and was back in the comforts of her beloved home with the Campbells. In November, she and Frank Churchill were to be married.
Emma and Mr. Knightley had decided to marry in October while John and Isabella visited at Hartfield. But Mr. Woodhouse was miserable at the thought of losing Emma. She could not bear to see him suffering and decided to postpone the wedding.
In this state of suspense, a fortunate thing occurred. Mrs. Weston’s poultry yard was robbed one night of all her turkeys. Other poultry yards in the neighbourhood also suffered. Clearly, a pilferer was about.
Mr. Woodhouse became very nervous and feared that, without the protection of Mr. Knightley, he would be under wretched alarm every night of his life.
The result of this distress was that, with a much more voluntary, cheerful consent than his daughter had ever hoped for, Emma was able to fix her wedding day—and Mr. Elton was called on to join the hands of Mr. Knightley and Miss Woodhouse.
The wedding was very simple, without finery or parade. Mr. Elton sent shocks of joy through Emma and Mr. Knightley as he joined their hands in holy matrimony.
Mrs. Elton thought the wedding was extremely shabby, very inferior to her own.
But, in spite of these deficiencies, the wishes, the hopes, the confidence, and the predictions of the small band of true friends who witnessed the ceremony were fully answered in the perfect happiness of the union.
As the joyous ceremony concluded, the watchful eyes inside the church were joined by watchful eyes outside—a hundred wild, ragged vampires, some sucking the blood of turkeys while most awaited the more savoury fare of aristocratic blood.
Acknowledgements
My first thanks are to Jane Austen, who believed she had created, in Emma, “a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” It became, instead, a masterpiece. My retelling of Emma, aside from the vampire humor, is an attempt to make this delightful novel accessible to modern readers, especially young adults.
I wish to thank my loving wife, Peggy, for her many years of staunch and unwavering support of my effort to launch a second career in writing. I also wish to thank my children—Brad, Seton, and Meg—for their love and faith in me. I especially thank Meg for introducing me to the world of vampires, which helped inspire this book.
I would be nowhere without my glorious agent, Jill Grosjean. Appropriately called the “patron saint of first-time novelists” by one of her New York Times bestselling authors, she believed in me when I did not, and with tireless persistence and encouragement found the very best home for my book.
Sourcebooks Landmark is an extraordinary publishing house with extraordinary people. I wish to thank, above all, my editor, Deb Werksman. She saw the potential in my book and then, with encouragement and compassion, inspired and challenged me to elevate it to its full potential. Emma and the Vampires would, quite simply, not be the book it is without her. Thanks as well to my Associate Editor Susie Benton for the time, attention, and care she devoted to my book, my Production Editor Sarah Ryan and her excellent copyediting staff, and my Publicity Manager Liz Kelsch for her exceptional efforts in promoting the book.
About the Author
After a career on Wall Street as a research analyst, Wayne Josephson decided to pursue his long-delayed desire to write. He was a screenwriter for several years before realizing his true passion was fiction. His love of the classics led to the creation of Emma and the Vampires. Wayne resides in Virginia with his wife and three children.
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