Chapter Ninety-Three
It was over, and Meryton was suddenly a much quieter place.
The new Viscount. and Viscountess Worthing had departed for Derbyshire; Lady Catherine had journeyed alone to Rosings Park; the Earl and Countess had returned to London with an excited Anne de Bourgh, who promised to write to Elizabeth faithfully.
Only Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley remained at Netherfield Park with Mr. Darcy, the Bingleys and the Hursts.
At Longbourn, though, the excitement was just beginning.
It was only three weeks until Jane’s wedding!
Mr. Bennet was determined not to repeat his past mistakes, and he instructed his wife to spend as little money on the wedding as was possible without shaming the family.
The recent terror of possibly having to let servants go or even lease out Longbourn was still fresh in Mrs. Bennet’s mind, and so she did not protest or, at least, not overmuch.
Jane was to wear one of her London gowns; Elizabeth, who would stand up with her, would wear the same green dress that she had worn for Charlotte’s wedding, but would put a light cream overlay on the skirt so that it would appear different.
Kitty and Lydia were tasked with finding greenery for the bridal bouquet.
Elizabeth spent a good deal of time staring out the window, until Jane finally noticed. “Lizzy, what is it?”
Elizabeth started. “Oh! Why, nothing. I suppose I am just thinking about Charlotte… and Anne…and…”
“No, that is not it,” Jane said, decidedly. “Recall that you have never been able to lie to me. Now, out with it!”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I hardly know what to make of it, but Miss Darcy told me that her brother is in love with me!”
“What?!”
“You heard me.”
“I recall, ages ago, that you told me that your fingers had touched when you handed him his teacup,” Jane began, now smiling widely.
“I recall what I said, Jane,” Elizabeth said, closing her eyes.
“And you said that he almost ran away from you and did not speak another word to you all night!” Jane finished triumphantly. “Oh, Lizzy! Perhaps he really is in love with you!”
“But he will not acknowledge it,” Elizabeth whispered. She told Jane everything that Georgiana had said about the letter being a mistake, and he not being someone who would ever give in to such romantic nonsense.
When she was done, Jane sat silently, with a perplexed expression. Finally, her brow cleared and she said, “Well, I will tell you what I will do, Lizzy. I will speak with Charles about it.”
“Oh, no! Jane! Please do not! I would be mortified to think that people were speaking of it!”
But Jane was adamant. Elizabeth had deliberately left Meryton so that Jane could marry the man she loved; Jane would do what she could in return.