"I love you, Ashton" I whispered to his sleeping face, being careful so he doesn't hear. Quickly kissing him on the cheek, I run away knowing that he can't know, and he will never know. I'm in love with my bestfriend. "Diana?" Ashton's voice stops me. Tears threaten to fall down, but I push them away. "Yes?" "Could you please call Mel?" He replies. I nod and walk away.

Emma Woodhouse, aged 20 at the start of the novel, is a young, beautiful, witty, and privileged woman in Regency England. She lives on the fictional estate of Hartfield in Surrey in the village of Highbury with her elderly widowed father, a hypochondriac who is excessively concerned for the health and safety of his loved ones. Emma's friend and only critic is the gentlemanly George Knightley, her neighbour from the adjacent estate of Donwell, and the brother of her elder sister Isabella's husband, John. As the novel opens, Emma has just attended the wedding of Miss Taylor, her best friend and former governess. Having introduced Miss Taylor to her future husband, Mr. Weston, Emma takes credit for their marriage, and decides that she rather likes matchmaking.