By the break of dawn, Fulwar had breathed his last, and Cassandra, with compassion in her heart, offered her support to a weeping Isabella in making any necessary arrangements. As the scene shifts to the funeral, an event restricted solely to male attendees, the women gaze longingly from the rectory window. Among them stood Mary Austen (portrayed by Jessica Hynes), Eliza's sister, Isabella's aunt, and also the sister-in-law to Cassandra and Jane, having married their brother. Nearby, Mr. Lidderdale is seen conversing with Isabella's sister Beth (played by Clare Foster) outside.
Isabella then receives an unwelcome visit from the slick vicar, Mr. Dundas (Thomas Coombes), who is set to become the next incumbent of the rectory. He expresses his thrill upon discovering Cassandra's relation to Jane Austen, professing himself a great admirer. However, his enthusiasm wanes when Cassandra realizes he is not as well-versed in Jane's work as he pretends to be. He further suggests that a biography should uncover the "true" Jane, to which Cassandra curtly responds that all one needs to know is encapsulated in her novels.
Isabella is taken aback when Dr. Dundas announces his intention to move his family in within a fortnight, necessitating her swift departure. Cassandra attempts to intervene on her behalf, but to no success. She then volunteers to stay as long as necessary to assist Isabella with the relocation.
Once Mr. Dundas has departed, Mary raises the possibility of penning a biography on her late husband James, also a writer, perhaps including a fleeting mention of Jane. She believes her talented son could undertake the task and vows to tend to her sister Eliza's private correspondence, which she believes holds myriad "treasures," given the frequency of their letters with Jane.
An anxious Cassandra strives to discourage Mary, but her efforts prove futile. Sneaking upstairs, she searches Eliza's former chamber for the letters, eventually uncovering them in a chest. With a cautious glance around, she slips them out to read, her curiosity piqued.Cassandra's eyes scan over a letter, sparking a vivid flashback to the year 1797. In this nostalgic scene, the youthful Jane (played by Patsy Ferran) and Cassy (portrayed by Synnøve Karlsen) embark on a journey to Kintbury, eager to visit Eliza (Madeleine Walker) and Fulwar, accompanied by their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Austen (Kevin McNally and Phyllis Logan).
Upon their arrival, the scene takes a romantic turn as Fulwar's dashing brother Tom (embodied by Calam Lynch), a curate who has harbored a secret admiration for Cassy for years, pops the question. With a heart full of joy, she eagerly accepts his hand in marriage. When she shares the news with Jane and Eliza, Jane teasingly remarks that Cassy is deserting her, prompting Cassy to seek reassurance.
Cutting back to 1830, Dinah eagerly urges Cassandra to return home, but she steadfastly refuses, determined to ensure Isabella is comfortably settled with her sisters.
The narrative then weaves through more flashbacks, capturing the moment when the families convene. Fulwar announces Tom and Cassy's engagement, but to Cassy's utter astonishment, he also reveals that Tom has a patron, Lord Craven, who has entrusted Tom with the task of joining him on an expedition to the West Indies. Unaware of this arrangement, Cassy is taken aback, but Tom assures her that this endeavor is for their shared future, as Lord Craven promises to secure them their own vicarage, ensuring a prosperous life together. However, Tom must depart within two weeks and will be gone for an entire year.
Confiding in Jane, Cassy expresses her concerns. Jane gently reminds her that love often comes with sacrifices and that Tom is striving to secure their fortune. She reassures Cassy that all will turn out well.
Later, as Tom and Cassy wander into the local church, dreaming of the family they hope to build, Tom reveals that he has made a will, leaving the bulk of his money to Cassy, who has pledged her heart to him. He insists that if he does not return, she should not feel bound to his memory and should be free to marry another. Cassy, with a solemn promise before God, vows never to wed anyone else.Back in 1830, Isabella's heart sank at the prospect of leaving her cherished home sooner than anticipated, the only sanctuary she had ever known, and facing an uncertain future all alone. Cassandra, however, sought to comfort her, reminding her that she would be surrounded by her sisters and that it was her father's dying wish. Yet, Isabella longed to prioritize her own emotions for once, amidst a whirlwind of conflicting sentiments.
As the Austens' past unfurled through flashbacks, they were nestled once more in the warmth of their rectory in Steventon, Hampshire. Excitement buzzed through the air as preparations for Cassandra and Tom's wedding gathered pace. Mrs. Austen's heart swelled with pride and joy upon learning of Tom's proposal, yet a trace of worry creased her brow as she pondered over the fate of "poor Jane." Mr. Austen, ever the protector, stood firmly by his daughters' side, asserting that each possessed unique brilliance and that any gentleman would consider himself fortunate to have either.
Meanwhile, their niece Anna (Vivien Battley), the orphan daughter of their widowed brother James (Patrick Knowles), seemed in desperate need of a nurturing stepmother. Mrs. Austen suggested Eliza's sister Mary as a potential match, a notion met with Jane's reservations about Mary's suitability. Cassandra, eager for universal bliss, embraced the idea despite Jane's qualms.
At the local ball, the anxious Mary (Liv Hill) made her entrance, her heart set on capturing James' affection but plagued by fears of competition and her own perceived lack of elegance. Jane's doubts lingered, yet Cassandra, undeterred, plunged headlong into her matchmaking endeavors, urging James to bestow some attention upon Mary. And, lo and behold, their union soon blossomed into marriage!
Cassandra, herself, eagerly anticipated Tom's return, while Jane could not shake the melancholy of impending separation. Cassandra assured her that though physically apart, their bond would remain unbreakable, reminding her that such transitions were common among sisters. But, as Jane gently countered, they were far from "most sisters."
Switching back to 1830, Cassandra informed the still-skeptical Dinah of her initiation to clear Eliza's room, time slipping through their fingers. Dinah, in turn, revealed that Mary's arrival was imminent...
This revised narrative aims to infuse the story with heightened emotion and vivid imagery, enhancing the reader's immersion in the Austen family's world.
In a poignant flashback, we eavesdrop on a letter penned by youthful Mary to Eliza, as her memories flood back to the harrowing dash she and her spouse, James, undertook to Steventon, duty-bound and burdened with heart-wrenching news for the Austen family. Our deepest apprehensions, along with Cassy's, materialize with cruel clarity as Mary, unsparingly, conveys to the distraught Cassy that Tom has succumbed to yellow fever and been consigned to the ocean's depths in an unmarked grave. She justifies Tom's omission to inform Lord Craven of his engagement, asserting he would have been disallowed and his渴望 to serve was unyielding. Jane vehemently contests this narrative.
Mary, in her missive to Eliza, portrays Cassy as descending into hysteria, a stark contrast to the composed and dignified demeanor we witness in her response. Shifting scenes to 1830, Cassandra, tears streaming down her cheeks as she reads Mary's letter, seethes with anger at Mary's disdainful remarks about being entangled in the Austens' 'dramatics.' Catching sight of the elder Mary in the garden, Cassandra harbors bitter resentment, murmuring to herself that Mary has deceived her. Swiftly, she conceals the remaining letters beneath a mattress, slipped Mary's solitary missive into her pocket, clutching it as a testament to betrayal.
