The past weeks had taught James a valuable lesson about the important things in his life, and, incredibly, he realised that the thing he felt the most satisfied about was the knowledge that he was now bound to die in the house he had lived in as a boy. As strange as the thought sounded, it made him the happiest man alive.

Edward Knight’s situation was far more complex, but he, too, was contemplating the loss of his house. His issue arose from a brewer from Alton, named Mr Baverstock, who challenged Edward’s right to inherit his Chawton estate.

When the gossipy Chawton villagers got wind of it, the situation became embarrassing, and the Austen ladies felt themselves being watched when they walked down the street. Mostly, the residents of Chawton were working-class, and it entertained them to think of their grand squire losing his home. There was some kind of irresistible satisfaction in seeing a brewer win a victory over someone from the privileged class.