Sequel Story: Frank & Jane

That's for sure, Candice! Yes, a second chance would be good for Jane - especially if she's a rich widow! She could then help her aunt Miss Bates, who is not really that old, and considering the age of her mother, will otherwise live a long time in abject poverty...

I, too, have always imagined their marriage would not be happy. I like to think Frank comes to some sort of bad end, leaving Jane a young widow. One hopes she will find happiness the second time around, but without Emma's help. She has not, after all, been shown to be a successful matchmaker!

I always think this will be a very unhappy marriage. Jane Fairfax OUGHT to be a heroine, yet she has (even before the story of Emma opens) hitched her wagon to someone who prefers to play games than treat her with respect. I think pretty early in their marriage, he will be carousing and gambling. It will come out that he did, indeed, murder his aunt in order to have more freedom, and may get caught only in the act of murdering his uncle in order to inherit to cover his gambling debts. In fact, it will probably be Jane who discovers this fact, and is then faced with the quandary of what to do... Naturally, she'll turn to Emma for advice.