Chapter 3

Elizabeth had resolved, at first, to not touch the food, but an hour into the journey and her stomach began to greatly protest such a silly notion. Nibbling at the bread, but refusing the wine, Elizabeth was able to appease her stomach while retaining some of her dignity. To think that a man had the thought to create such a basket, a man she was not yet formally engaged to! She felt her cheeks turn red, glancing at the driver, wondering if he could guess at the contents of her mind.

The driver was a wiry farm hand with graying whiskers and bushes of hair poking out beneath his straw hat. He seemed kindly, though spoke not a word the entire ride. Thoughts of her Father had kept Elizabeth from speaking, but now that the silence was growing too thick she wondered if she dared to speak up.

"Fine weather we're having." She said, raising her voice above the sound of the horse's hooves and the wheels turning in the dirt road.

The man gave a nod, and kept driving.

"I am very thankful you were able to take time to drive me." She tried again.

The man gave another nod, and with a quick whack of his whip, convinced the horse to pick up his pace.

Upon reaching Belromney, Elizabeth hopped down and asked the porters at the local Inn if they would carry her trunk inside. The driver called "giddyup" and was off without a farewell nod.

The sun was just starting to make its downward journey and Elizabeth wondered when the next coach would be along. She made her way into the dark building and asked the first gentleman she saw at what time the next coach would be passing through. He informed it would be about an hours worth of time, and if she would like she could freshen up in a room and have something to eat while she waited.

"Yes, thank you." She said, and followed a serving girl up a flight of stairs and into a small room.

Elizabeth took off her hat, gloves and riding cloak and laid them on the bed, and gave them to the girl to be dusted as she was leaving. The hazy mirror above the dresser didn't help much as she determined how the journey affected her features. She took water from the jug and began to rinse off her face, neck and arms, and just as she was drying off the serving girl knocked on the door and entered with a tray of tea things.

"Thank you." She said again, giving the girl a small coin before she left.

Elizabeth felt utterly alone as she sat at the small table and began to drink the weak tea and partake of the cakes. She could feel the onslaught of tears waiting to come forth, yet tried to keep herself from crying. She had to keep her strength for the rest of the journey and crying alone would not help at all.

Finally, after staring out the window for what seemed an eternity, there was another knock on the door alerting her to the arrival of the coach. Elizabeth quickly ran down the stairs where she saw the same Porters carrying her trunk out the door and up onto the top of the coach. The serving made handed her coat, hat and gloves to Elizabeth with a small curtsey.

"I hope your stay was agreeable, Miss." The Inn Keeper said.

"Yes, thank you." Elizabeth reached into her reticule and by passing the note Darcy had given her (I will return it as soon as I see him next,) and handed him another coin.

"Thank you, Miss." He said, and escorted her out to the coach.

Elizabeth was helped into the coach, which was cramped already with two women, a small child and a rather large man. It was going to be a long journey home, Elizabeth thought as she felt the carriage begin to move.

Just after dark Elizabeth arrived in Meryton. She had her trunk taken into the nearby Inn and told the keeper she would have it sent for tomorrow. She made the short journey to her Aunt's house, glad to find her still home.

"Oh, my dear Lizzy!" She exclaimed. "We are so glad you are home. I myself just came from Longbourn, and a sorrier sight I never saw. Your Father is still in poor health and your Mother means to follow closely behind him!"

"Would it be possible, Aunt," Elizabeth interrupted, "to have your carriage readied so I might get home tonight?"

"Well, now," her Aunt said, "I believe we can arrange something. Charles!" She called to her husband, demanding he get up at once and escort poor Lizzy home.

Exhaustion exuded from her body as she sat in the coach with her Uncle. He tried to reassured her about the situation, but Elizabeth didn't want to get any hopes up or expect the very worst until she herself had the full account of the situation. She arrived home, Jane waiting at the door, grabbing Lizzy into a hug and pulling her into the back sitting room where there was some food prepared for her.

Jane informed her their Father was not doing well by any means and that their Mother was held up in her room, moaning and groaning as if she were the one laying on her death bed. It was as Jane was relating the news that the full force of emotions came pouring out of Elizabeth and she began to weep uncontrollably.

"Oh, Lizzy, I am sorry." Jane said, rushing to her sister's aid. "I should have taken you straight to bed. Come, let us go get you ready."

As Elizabeth lay in bed that night for the first time in her life she was unaware of what the future held for her. She had always had a plan for herself and knew what roles her family would fall into that plan, but recent developments had abolished those plans, leaving in their wake a broken mess of dreams never to be fulfilled.

It was with these morbid thoughts that she drifted off into a fitful sleep.