A/N - Thanks for all the reads and comments - I got swamped with work so haven't had chance to catch up on them yet but can't wait to see what you think (hopefully good things! ;)

Another day, another new chapter. Enjoy! x


"Kitty! Give me that back! Mama! Make her stop, it's so unfair, I-"

The squabbling between her two youngest sisters was interspersed with a weary shout from Mrs Bennet, and the sound of feet thundering over floorboards, slamming doors behind them. With a sigh, Lizzy glanced towards her own bedroom door, wondering if it was about to fly open and admit some unwelcome guest. Returning her attention to her book, she turned a page, but could not bring herself to read any more. Closing it, she laid it aside, flinging herself back on the bed in frustration. She had hardly been able to settle to her reading all day, having spent half the morning out walking, with the promise of a quiet afternoon with her newest acquisition.

"Mary, get out of the way! Why are you lurking in the corridor?" Kitty's shrill voice broke through Elizabeth's thoughts, and she sat up, crossing the room and sliding the door open just in time to see Mary slink back into her own room.

Closing the door quietly, Lizzy retraced her steps.

Of all her sisters, she was quite sure she understood Mary the least. They had never been close, and lately Mary had become increasingly irritating, always quoting from Fordyce or some such, or banging away on the piano when all anybody wanted was peace. She was at least generally quieter and more peaceful than either Lydia or Kitty alone, and doubly so when they were together. But Lizzy felt certain there was more to Mary than she had yet acknowledged. She saw it in the flash of light that appeared in Mary's grey eyes from time to time, or the smile that crept over her features when she was playing the piano unmolested and unaware of her audience.

She has absolutely no sense of humour, though! Lizzy thought, remembering the occasional teasing comment she had shot her sister's way which had been taken for insult and resorted in Mary stomping away and slamming a door. Elizabeth smiled, but it was not an entirely happy one. If Mary took all of Lizzy's words for slights, no wonder she was reluctant to open up to her, and no wonder they were basically strangers, despite living in the same house all their lives.

Feeling suddenly convicted of the way she had acted towards her sister before now, and wondering if it was misunderstanding, rather than some inherent dislike, that had kept them from becoming friends, Lizzy decided she would make one more attempt to bridge the gap of several years. She stood and made for the door, propelling herself into action before she changed her mind.

She knocked on Mary's bedroom door, and waited patiently until she heard her sister's hesitant voice.

"Who is it?"

"Only me!" Lizzy said, cheerfully pushing the door open and striding in. Seeing her sister was sitting upright in a chair, with the wretched but familiar Fordyce closed in her lap, Lizzy took a seat on her bed. "What are you doing?" She nodded towards the closed book. "Reading?"

"Oh," Mary glanced down, colouring slightly. "No. I was going to, but…"

She slid her hands around the book, and picked it up, glancing at it with something that might have been disdain, before laying it down on an end-table with a sigh. "Do you promise not to judge me terribly?"

This surprised Elizabeth, and she sat forward, regarding her sister with interest.

"You are my sister, Mary, you will get no judgment from me," Elizabeth said, seriously. She folded her hands in her lap and waited, expectantly, to be shocked by Mary's serious revelation.

"I am growing rather tired of Fordyce's sermons." This was whispered, as if it were some great and terrible secret, and it shocked Elizabeth so much that she laughed, clapping a hand over her mouth and swallowing her reaction when she saw how Mary recoiled at her reaction.

"I am sorry Mary!" Lizzy said, hurrying to undo the damage. "Forgive me! I was expecting some dreadful confession, and here you speak of not liking Fordyce as if it were a thing to be lamented!" Lizzy crossed, and slid the book into her own hands, opening it at random, and darting a scornful glance over a few words. "I believe you are the only one of us to have ever read it from cover to cover, let alone read any part of it more than once." With derision, Lizzy closed the book and dropped it on Mary's bed with a thump. "Dry, dreary Fordyce! There are so many more interesting things you might read, dear."

This use of "dear" had clearly struck Mary, for she looked up at Lizzy as if she was not quite sure she recognised her.

"I'll tell you what, I have a small collection of books that you are welcome to choose from. In fact, I think I know a perfect novel you might find enjoyable." She leaned forward, waggling her eyebrows comically at her sister. "Though I must warn you, it is altogether more scandalous than Fordyce. There are -" she dropped her voice to a whisper. "Scrapes. Adventures. Moral lessons. And love!"

"Love?" Mary whispered, flushing slightly.

"Oh, it is a pretty little romance. You must not think badly of it."

"Oh, no!" Mary said. "I don't."

This brought Elizabeth up short, and she folded her arms, regarding her sister with interest.

"Do you think - do you think Jane and Mr Bingley will marry?" Mary asked, with an affection of calm disinterest that did not deceive her sister for a moment.

"I hope they might," Lizzy said, carefully. "For she cares for him and I venture to imagine he thinks highly of her."

"He must," Mary said, with a nod. "For Jane is so lovely how could he not?"

"My sentiments entirely!" Lizzy smiled.

"He danced with her often at Meryton, didn't he?" Mary continued. "And he always likes to speak to her when they are in company. Is that how you know he loves her?"

"I would not say I know," Lizzy said. "But he certainly seems to prefer her company to many others."

Mary nodded, frowning slightly as if she were busily processing something but not yet ready to share her thoughts were her sister.

"Come along, I want to show you this novel. I hope you will read it, and then we can talk about it!" Lizzy grinned. "For I have long despaired of sharing books with any other of my sisters and expecting any intelligent conversation afterwards." This small compliment took a moment to register with Mary, but when it did, she lifted her eyes to Elizabeth's with a shy smile.

"In that case, I shall begin it this afternoon!"