My dearest Sister,

I cannot tell you how exceedingly happy I am! This day has been everything

i could have wished it to be. What with my Charles being the absolute angel that he is and the whole event going perfectly. Oh how I hope you can one day understand such glorious feelings. Oh my dearest Lizzy, that everyday, every moment, could hold such happiness. I must go. Charles says the carriage is arrived to take us to wherever in the world he has planned our honeymoon. I am still trying to make him tell me, but i suppose i shall find out soon enough.

All the love in my heart,

Jane Bingley, it is such a wonder to finally be able to call myself such

Lizzy bit back a barely contained sob, one she had been choking on for the past three weeks. Her sister, dead. Lost in some tragic carriage incident along with Charles merely three weeks ago. Still she could not believe that this could have happened. To lose her sister, her mother, Lydia, and her own freedom in three weeks. Her entire world, gone. The last glimpse of hope torn from her hands; corrupted by the glinting sapphire on her finger.

Mr. Collins of all people was the one to tell the family of the tragedy. He came in the middle of the night banging on their door with some previously subdued passion. "Mr. Bennet! Mrs. Bennet! there has been the most unfortunate of accidents. Your daughter, Jane, has been found dead with her husband, Mr. Bingley, in their carriage four miles from Netherfield.

Shocked by his words, Mrs. Bennett caught her breath as her eyes rolled back into her head. She dropped to the floor, the loud thump halting Mr. Collins' speech for a moment. As she was hoisted to a couch by Mr. Bennet and Kitty, Mr. Collins continued his account with fervor, "They were on their way, apparently, to London where Mr. Bingley had purchased tickets for them to travel to the continent. They were to leave the next day to carry out the duration of their honeymoon. No one has deduced what transpired to have caused such a disheartening event, but Mr. and Mrs. Bingley have been taken back to Netherfield and…"

"Mr. Collins! What more could you possibly have to tell us? Please, give us but a moment and we will be on our way to Netherfield to see what has happened with our own eyes."

Mr. Collins looked agape at Mr. Bennett, who had only just opened the front door. Mr. Bennet ignored him and turned to find Lizzy sitting stunned on the stairs, "Elizabeth, you will accompany me." Glancing up to the top of the staircase he addressed the silhouette, "Mary take care of your mother as well as your other sisters, they seem to be taking the news rather hardly. We will be back as soon as we can."

Mr. Bennett proceeded to grab Lizzy's elbow, propel her towards the door, and grab her coat. Placing it about her shoulders, he took her cold hand, trudged past the still simpering Mr. Collins, and within a few seconds they were on their way.

Lizzy and Mr. Bennet entered Netherfield encountering a much changed atmosphere from that of the previous day's ceremony. The house was eerily silent. A single footman waved them down the hall. There they found Caroline sitting outside a room holding a handkerchief to her eyes, mumbling something about, 'Her poor dear brother entranced by that horrid Bennett girl.' Lizzy briefly glanced down at her before entering the room. Cracking open the heavy door, she met the grief-stricken eyes of Mr. Darcy, as he leaned over the two rather large lumps on a bed covering them with a sheet.

"Elizabeth, my dear, please wait in the hall. I will speak with Mr. Darcy. You need not overcome yourself with this unfortunate sight."

Lizzy caught a sharp breath, covering the sound with a hand. She again let her eyes drift over the two lumps on the bed. She could not look away, riveted to the forms that had once been two people. Two individuals teeming with life, hope, and unparalleled goodness. She was startled as two warm hands wrapped themselves around her shoulder and gently guided her to sit in a plush chair. Eyes still locked on the covered forms, she heard a gentle whisper. "Lizzy, I am so sorry for this loss. You deserve to hear what has happened. Calm yourself here for a moment and I will tell you and your father all that I know."

The hands left her shoulders, and Lizzy felt a frigid chill overcome her. Wrapping her coat tighter about her she forced herself to look anywhere else but the bed as her father knelt to peek under the sheet. Two blue orbs were the first thing she encountered. There she focused her stricken glance; taking in the gaunt face of a man that had just lost his best friend. Lizzy tried to understand how this man could remain so steadfastly faithful. He had lost a friend, one he had fought for, against the eyes of society, the desires of Caroline, and a ridiculous family. Who was this man that was so vain as to call her, "not handsome enough.." yet so giving as to risk everything for the happiness of a dear friend.

His eyes held her captive. The grief there an exact reflection of her own feelings. Clearing his throat he broke eye contact with her to see if Mr. Bennet was ready to hear his account. Noticing the elder man was waiting in the chair at the bedside he had previously occupied Mr. Darcy straightened his posture and began in a rough voice, "Their carriage set off yesterday afternoon, as was planned, towards London. All seemed to be going as it should. Caroline was to head to London with her friends Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley a few hours after the couple had started their journey. The Kingsleys arrived with the news that they had passed a carriage on the road, and they asked one of their footmen to stay behind and see what had happened thinking they could send back more help from Netherfield. The carriage was only a few miles away, and they could do nothing themselves to right the crash. After they arrived they spoke of the carriage they came across asking for some spare servants to see what had happened. I went along with them to see for myself what could be done. Their carriage was completely mangled, the horses apparently had been spooked and had run off the road. The carriage was turned upside down smashed against a tree, the horses gone for the tongue had broken off from the body of the carriage. The horses are still missing. Jane and Charles were pried out of the carriage remains and were taken back to Netherfield as quickly as possible." Mr. Darcy's voice grew fainter, " They were, most unfortunately, dead by the time anyone got to them. The footman that first witnessed the damage said that they were already passed by the time he had arrived." He choked off abruptly trying to compose himself.

Mr. Bennet intervened before he could continue. "Mr. Darcy, I thank you for telling us first hand that which you have seen. This has indeed been the most tragic of days. Pray, let us take a moment to rest before we discuss further that which must be done. I believe that we must rest and attempt to come to terms with what has happened. Lizzy and I would not wish to impose on you and we will return tomorrow morning at a more suitable time to speak of..."

"Mr. Bennet, I insist you stay here. I will send a servant to bring the rest of your family here tomorrow. It is late, I will have rooms prepared for you so that you can have some peace, if but for a moment." Mr. Darcy took in the sight of a distraught Mr. Bennet and an openly weeping Elizabeth. He had never seen such strength crippled. Wishing he could do more to comfort them, but knowing it would be impossible to ease the pain he too was feeling, he turned to collect servants to prepare rooms.

As he was exiting the room, Mr. Darcy saw that Caroline had left her vigilant post beside the door. Pulling in a deep breath he made his way down the deserted hallway.