The sun was shining brightly the day the Bingley party arrived. All members of the party were greeted warmly by the Darcy family.
"It is so good to see all of you," Elizabeth said before she turned to Jane, "Oh Jane, how I've missed you," she told her as they shared an affectionate embrace.
"I have so much to tell you," Jane smiled as she took her sister's hands.
"You must be exhausted from travel. Mrs. Reynolds will take you to your room. If you wish to rest for a few hours, there will be plenty of time for us to talk later."
"No! Lizzy. I wish to spend the afternoon with you. I will change and then we shall have tea."
After Jane changed clothes, she was escorted into Lizzy's sitting room where she found her sister sitting alone. She was engrossed in a book and did not notice her sister enter. Jane stopped to watch for a moment before she alerted her that she was here. Lizzy was glowing. Pemberley had been excellent for her. She had never seen Lizzy so happy and it appeared that she had found a good friend in Georgiana Darcy.
"Lizzy, where is Georgiana?"
"Oh Jane," she looked up from her book, "I did not hear you come in. Georgiana wished to give us time to catch up in private. Since Caroline is resting, she thought it best to busy herself elsewhere." She rang for tea as they began to chat.
"She did not have to do that," Jane said as she took a seat beside her sister.
"It is true; she did not, but I am glad she did. You must tell me everything."
Jane smiled brightly, "I must confess that there is something I did leave out of my letters. Charles and I are searching for an estate near by!"
"I know, Fitzwilliam told me," Lizzy said with a grin, "There are no secrets between me and my husband. I am so pleased. I am certain that you will love the north."
"It has been lovely from what we've seen so far. I must admit that I will miss being close to home, even if mama sometimes taxes my nerves. It is a great consolation that you will be close."
"I could never imagine being so close to home, as much as I miss papa. It will be delightful having you within a day's distance. I cannot wait to give you a tour of the grounds tomorrow. I may be biased but I believe that Pemberley is the most beautiful place in all the world."
"Oh Lizzy, I am so happy that you are happy. You are positively glowing. Marriage suits you well," she told her.
"Marriage suits you well, too. Look at us, we are both deliriously happy. We are so fortunate to have married such close friends. Our children will have constant playmates in their cousins."
"Have you thought much of children?" Jane asked, looking down at her tea she stirred in the sugar.
"Of course. I must confess that sometimes, it consumes my every thought," she looked down and tried to hide the smile that was overtaking her face, "And it will occupy my thoughts for some time still. Jane, I am with child."
"What happy news! Congratulations", she said squeezing her sister's hand.
"Thank you Jane, I am so unbelievably happy."
"When do you expect the child?"
"Sometime in early autumn," she grinned, "Jane you are the only person I have told other than Fitzwilliam and my maid."
"When do you plan to tell everyone?"
"Fitzwilliam and I are going to tell everyone at dinner. And then tomorrow I will write home and share the news. Do you think Mary and Kitty would like to come visit during my confinement?"
"Oh, Lizzy, there is something I forgot to mention. Mary has a suitor."'
"Mary?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. They had all, wrongly, assumed that Mary would never marry, instead becoming a governess. "Who is the gentleman?"
"He is one of our Uncle Phillips' clerks. He is not a rich man, but he is very kind to Mary. I believe her to be in love."
"I had no idea," Lizzy said, a shocked expression on her face, "I am all astonishment. I am very pleased for Mary. She deserves such happiness."
"I agree, but it has been hard for Kitty. Without Lydia she is very lonely, but her behavior is much improved. She did not expect to be the last unmarried Bennet sister. Mama, too, is shocked, which makes it all the worse for Kitty. I believe she would benefit greatly from a visit to Pemberley."
"Then it is settled, I shall have you and Kitty and Georgiana. Do you believe Mary will be soon married?"
"I must confess that I do. In fact, I would not be surprised if we received news of an engagement in the coming weeks."
"It is such a happy time. Jane I hope to see you settled in an estate near-by by the summertime."
Jane smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. She was happy for her sisters, she truly was, but she was jealous of Lizzy's good fortune. To be expecting so soon into a marriage was a blessing. Though she was perfectly happy in her marriage, she longed to fulfill her marital duty and carry on the Bingley line. Mama had lacked subtly in her hints about producing an heir and it was very trying.
"Jane?" Lizzy asked, "are you feeling alright? All the color has drained from your face."
"No, Lizzy. I am fine. Do not worry about me. I was just thinking about how nice it would be to be settled into an estate before your child comes."
Lizzy nodded but did not entirely believe her sister. She changed the subject to decorating and the latest fashions from London. The sisters chatted amiably, as they did before their marriages, until it was time to change for dinner.
"Look at the time, we must change," Lizzy said rising from her seat. She ran a hand over the stomach to smooth her dress, "It would not do to give Miss. Bingley another excuse to find me an inadequate mistress of Pemberley."