We were fascinated with the premise of Lovers’ Perjuries, which is, as the subtitle plainly states, the courtship of Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill. What would make a fine, upstanding young gentlewoman like Jane Fairfax agree to a secret engagement with a rather thoughtless fellow like Frank Churchill? What would lead a devil-may-care charmer like Frank Churchill to fall in love with the reserved, accomplished, destined for the governess trade Jane? Though these characters are so important to the story of Emma, we get little of their own story, and Joan Ellen Delman has a great deal of scope for presenting their courtship. Fortunately for the reader, Ms. Delman takes full advantage of this scope and presents a dense, meaty story that is true to the original while maintaining the reader’s interest in the diversion.

Jane Fairfax goes to Weymouth with her guardians, the Campbells, and Miss Campbell’s fiancé, Mr. Dixon; there she meets the charming Frank Churchill. They bond when they meet while independently attempting to assist Frank’s destitute former governess, and Jane finds herself often thinking of Frank while observing a Persuasionish love affair gone wrong among some acquaintances. When Frank is forced to leave Weymouth by his demanding aunt, he declares himself to Jane; she is really in love with him, and, having seen the heartbreaking results of refusing to enter a secret engagement in her friend’s affair, she agrees to her proposal against her better judgment.

Jane returns to Highbury, and Frank follows after a time; misunderstandings ensue from the clandestine nature of their relationship, none of which will be surprising to anyone who has read Emma. After Frank goes to London for a “hair cut,” he writes Jane a saucy note that is slipped among the Irish music that comes with the pianoforte: “What think you of Mr. Broadwood’s handiwork–is not he an excellent barber?” Our heart thrills with Jane’s at the totally inappropriate, totally welcome gift–a true gift of love, as Frank says in Jane’s hearing, knowing that Miss Woodhouse will misunderstand; and Jane knows that Miss Woodhouse will understand, and is distressed, but at the same time is pleased by it, and the reader is sympathetic to her dilemma and to her romance. Jane is in love, and at the same time mortified at the part she must play and the deception of those she loves and those she respects, and Frank’s behavior with Miss Woodhouse does little to help. She is jealous, he thinks she is overreacting, they quarrel and separate, and though we know how it will turn out, we are on tenterhooks anyway; but the ending is as romantic and lovely as that of the main characters of the original novel. And like in Mr. Knightley’s Diary, an unexpected minor character also gets a bit of late-in-life romance, leaving the reader wondering puckishly why Miss Woodhouse never turned her matchmaking talents in that direction.

We very much enjoyed the first, non-Emma part of the book, and expected the book to slow down some once they got to Highbury and the familiar part of the story, but we found ourself more deeply involved the further we read. Ms. Delman does an excellent job of fleshing out Jane and Frank and tells their story with tenderness and humor. It is beautifully written, with an excellent feeling for the period language. Great care is taken in getting all the details right, not only of the period but of the original book, though Ms. Delman does not have the firm, sure touch of Jane Austen with comedy (but then who does?). Lovers’ Perjuries is an absorbing, delightful read, and an excellent companion volume to Emma.