Third chapter! I have to get this story at least halfway up before school starts. Uuuugh, schoooool. shudder

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is really just a formality; you all should know by now that I don't seem to own anything...well, maybe a few stories. Anyway.

-Sanded Silk-


Elizabeth didn't have to work at Glorya's Coffee Nook on Thursday mornings, so she was able to stay home with her family for breakfast.

"Lord, how I love winter break," She sighed as she luxuriously speared a honey-drenched waffle.

"Don't we all?" Jane replied.

"Oh, hush," Lydia huffed crossly. "You're in college; your winter break is a whole week-and-a-half longer than ours."

Jane opened her mouth, then closed it. Smiled.

Mr. Bennet, who was sorting through the morning mail, suddenly tossed an envelope at Jane. "From a Bingley."

"Bingley!" The rest of the family jumped to its feet and crowded around Jane as she struggled to open the envelope without dropping it into her oatmeal.

"What does it say?" "Lydia, get off my foot!"

"It..." Jane scanned over it quickly. "Caroline's invited me to dine with her." The whole family cheered half-heartedly. No one'd forgotten Caroline's cold greeting at the party.

Jane's face fell a millimeter. "Charles will be out on business."

"What?" Mrs. Bennet looked scandalized. "Well that doesn't make any sense."

Jane recovered immediately. "Well, I suppose I should get ready. She wants me to go as soon as I receive the letter."

As Jane got up from the table and ran for her room, Mrs. Bennet stared at the sky for a moment.

"No car for Jane," She announced abruptly. "She'll walk. Just three miles. It's quite nothing."

Mr. Bennet followed her gaze up to the sky. "But my dear, it's about to sleet!"

"Oh yes," Mrs. Bennet said, smiling. "I know."

-o-o-o-o-o-

Elizabeth stared at the email on her computer screen.

"Mom?"

Mrs. Bennet appeared at her doorway. "Yes?"

"Did you make Jane walk to Charles's house?"

"Why yes, I did. Why?"

"When you knew there would be sleet?"

"Yes...?"

Elizabeth read from the screen. "'Lizzy: I seem to have caught a cold. I can't even walk three miles home, that's how bad it is. Fortunately Caroline is willing to let me stay at her house until I am well enough to leave. I can't help but to wonder if this was the reason why Mom made me walk despite the very obvious stormclouds looming overhead when I left? Anyhow, just wanted to let you know. Except for a headache and a sore throat, and a bit of a fever, there's nothing much wrong with me. I should be back on my feet before you know it. See you soon, Jane."

Mrs. Bennet's face lit up visibly. "Really? Oh this is good news indeed! Plenty of time for Jane and Charles—"

"How could you do this? Make Jane catch a terrible cold just because you want her to hitch up with Bingley and leech off his money?"

"Lizzy—"

"Do you know how ridiculous you are? I'm leaving right now."

"But where are you—?"

"To visit Jane!"

"But Lizzy, you must let Jane have time alone with—"

"With Bingley?"

"Yes, of course!"

Elizabeth stared at her mother for a long moment, then cocked her head. "Jane's wellbeing is the very last of your priorities right now, isn't it?"

"Well, I..." Mrs. Bennet shrugged, her mouth opening and closing.

Elizabeth nodded. "I see." After another moment of silence, Elizabeth walked around her mother to the front hall.

As Elizabeth was slipping her feet into her boots, Mr. Bennet cut through the hall and stopped when he saw Elizabeth. "Lizzy? Are you leaving?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"To visit Jane."

"What's wrong with Jane?"

Elizabeth looked up from zipping her coat. "She didn't e-mail you?"

"No. Has something happened?"

"Oh. Well," Elizabeth said as she finished zipping the coat up to her chin, "Jane's forced to stay at the Bingley's because she caught a cold while walking in the pouring sleet."

Mr. Bennet nodded slowly. "All going according to your mother's plan, isn't it?" He said, with not a bit of humor.

Elizabeth spat out an affirmative as she shoved her hands into her gloves.

"Well, if it seems you'll have to stay overnight, or if Jane takes a turn for the worse, don't hesitate to call. I'll send someone over with more clothes."

"More clothes!" Elizabeth slapped a gloved hand to her mouth. "I should get Jane some clothes! Well duh—thank you, Daddy—" Elizabeth kicked off her boots and ran to fill a bag with random articles of clothing from Jane's closet. Ready at last to leave, Elizabeth peered outside, judged it safe enough to walk, and set out.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Caroline and Will were in the dining room—Will reading over his letters, and Caroline watching him read his letters—when Elizabeth was shown by a maid into the room.

Caroline took one look, and couldn't help curling her lip in disgust. No wonder—Elizabeth's clothes were spattered with melted snow and dark road salt, and her windblown hair made her look like a ghost off a moor. Will gaped, then remembered his manners and stood.

"Miss Elizabeth."

"Hello." She let out a little nervous laugh. "Please, just Lizzy. Sorry for just dropping in, but I would like to see my sister."

"She's upstairs. The maid will show you to her room."

"Oh." Elizabeth looked around for a moment, then back at Will. "Thank you," she said, bobbing out a sad excuse of a curtsy. Will tilted his head with a slightly confused expression as she walked out, and his expression did not go unnoticed by Caroline.

Caroline leaned over the table, staring at him earnestly. "Did you see her clothes? Completely covered in sludge. Positively mediaeval."

Will murmured something inaudible, still staring after Elizabeth.

Caroline pushed on. "And her hair—I think if it weren't for her hat, she'd appear to be electrocuted. She must have walked, like her idiot sister."

Will looked at Caroline for a moment, then sat down and returned with difficulty to his letter. Caroline watched him shrewdly, and couldn't help but wonder whether she'd gotten through to him or not.

Elizabeth knocked on Jane's door gently before entering. Jane looked up, and her mouth fell open when Elizabeth tip-toed into the room, a mass of curly dark hair and spattered clothing.

Jane tried to sit up. "Lizzy! You here?"

"Of course. Someone had to bring you a change of clothes."

"But you didn't have to—did you walk?"

"Of course! It's not sleeting anymore, you know."

"Yes, but one would think you'd learn a lesson from my walking here—"

"It was nothing. Though you should have seen Caroline's face. She was absolutely disgusted by me. It was wonderful." Elizabeth giggled at the memory of Caroline's delicately-turned lip. Jane smiled.

"And Will didn't bother you?"

"He was actually very civil. He looked at me strangely, though. I'm not sure what to make of it."

"What do you mean?"

"When I walked in, it looked like..." Elizabeth stopped, and grappled for words. "It looked as if I'd caught him off guard, or something. He didn't look disgusted like Caroline, he looked...something else? Oh, well. Whatever it was, I'm sure it wasn't anything important."

"You don't supposed he could have taken an interest in you?"

"An interest? In me? With that fox of a Caroline clinging to his arm? I don't think so. And didn't you hear what he said about me at the party?"

"He was probably in a bad mood, or he was shy—"

"That man is the most arrogant, most disdainful creature to have ever prowled the earth."

"Lizzy, you..." Jane broke off, not knowing what to say. She did agree with Elizabeth, after all. Slowly, she lowered herself back into bed, and smiled at her sister.

"It was really nice of you to come visit me."

Elizabeth looked relieved by the change of subject. The thought of Will interested in her—she involuntarily shuddered. He was very good-looking—very good-looking—but alas, his personality didn't match with his looks at all.

"It was nothing, Jane. Like I said, change of clothes. Caroline didn't insist on you wearing any of her things, did she?"

"Actually, these are her spare pajamas."

"Oooh. Then I insist you take a shower before you wear your own pajamas."

Elizabeth scarcely sat down on the bed before a knock sounded at the door, and a sheepish Charles stuck his head into the room.

"Elizabeth! My sister told me you were here. I'm glad to see you again."

"The pleasure's all mine, Charles." Elizabeth got up to shake his hand. "Thank you so much for taking care of Jane. She's even more comfortable here than she would be at home."

"Oh, no, it's a pleasure.—I mean, no, it's not a pleasure that she's ill, it's just—a pleasure—that she's here. Um..." When he came in, Jane had drawn her blankets over herself despite the all-concealing pajamas. As his eyes searched her face, she blushed, and tried to fight the smile tugging at her face.

Elizabeth looked between the two, quite pleased. "Charles, do you by any chance have a library I can rifle through?"

"Of course! There is one on the third floor, to the right of the staircase. Do you want me to show it to you?"

"No thank you, I should be able to find it if it's that straight-forward. And—er—I am sure that you, your sister, and your friend have other engagements throughout the week, so could I intrude upon your privacy and stay here at your home? I'd like to be able to take care of my sister."

Mr. Bingley nodded, unhesitant. "I was going to offer for you to stay! I'll have a room prepared for you. Thank you for offering to stay."

"Oh no," Elizabeth said, horrified. "Not overnight, I meant just for the afternoon! I could never impose—"

"It wouldn't be an imposition at all, believe me, Elizabeth. Half this house is empty and it feels so lonesome with just the three of us staying here. Besides, I was worrying that I wouldn't be able to stay near Jane every day." He paused, and his face flushed. "Of course, I meant, just to take care of her—"

"Yes, Charles. Thank you for offering to let me stay. I would be grateful if I could—but you don't think it will bother your sister and Will?"

"They are usually in the sitting room all day. Sometimes Will goes out for a walk, but neither of them come into this part of the house too often. You will be in no one's way, I assure you."

"Then..." Elizabeth looked at Jane, who was smiling despite herself. "Then I'll just call my parents, and tell them." Elizabeth smiled as Charles left the room, still blushing. As he closed the door, Elizabeth reached over and poked Jane, who pulled her blanket over her face, giggling.

"Well, I'll go off to the library and leave you in peace. Or do you want me to bring back something?"


A/N: Not off to a bad start, I guess. Third chapter up and running.

Thanks to the people who reviewed: Avanell, Uppsalingen, wannbehermy, and RedRose102! I don't care if you just have a few words to say, or if you want to rant your guts out—I just love hearing back from you guys. =D

SO REVIEW!

-Sanded Silk-