Elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's room. Sarah, her faithful companion, fetched and carried those items required to cool Jane's fever. Working together, the young women felt there were winning the war against the heat emanating of their patient. Around two in the morning, Lizzy could feel a difference on her sister's skin. By three, she knew the worst had passed as Jane settled into a peaceful sleep.

Rising from the bed, Elizabeth stretched her aching muscles from the hunched over position required to tend her sister. Arms high in the air, she found a yawn escaping. Her body tired and craving sleep, Lizzy's mind remained active. She knew going to her bed would not produce slumber, only thoughts she did not wish to consider and memories that would be better left in the past. Looking around, Elizabeth sighted Sarah, who had fallen asleep sometime after midnight. Smiling at the fatigued girl, Lizzy chose to let her rest.

"Do I dare?" she whispered, looking to the wood panelled wall longingly. With a deep sigh, she once again spoke to herself. "If I do not, I shall never rest easy."

Taking the mere stub of a candle from the bedside cabinet, Elizabeth Bennet crept to the servant's door and silently made her way through the portal. Climbing the stairs, Lizzy knew she would find both solace and misery in her intended destination. Careful to ensure no one occupied the room, Elizabeth cracked the door not more than an inch. Waiting several minutes, until her eyes adjusted to the dimness, she searched the area. Only when reassured no one occupied the room, did Lizzy step through the portal.

"How I have wished to visit this chamber for many years," Elizabeth said in a cautiously, quite tone filled with heartache. "I have not had the opportunity. Mama Bennet forcing Jane to travel horseback had more of an effect than she could ever understand. I know Papa would not wish either of us to spend any length of time at Netherfield, for he knows how strong our attachment."

The curtains she'd earlier pushed to the side, remain so, letting some of the moons bright beams into the room. Nothing disturbed the quiet, diffusely lit space. Letting her courage rise, Elizabeth held the candle before her and boldly stepped into the chamber. Even at this late hour, when few would be about and fewer still might challenge her presence, Lizzy felt nervous. She did not wish to be caught in this part of the house and feel the need to make an explanation.

"Where shall I start," she whispered, a sad half frown upon her lips. In the pale moon light, every item appeared an insipid shade of blue-grey, as if sad and lonely. Only the candles warm glow added a measure of welcoming colour, returning the room to its former glory. The remembrances flooded into Lizzy mind.

Letting the servants' door close, she stepped into the middle of the room, vigilantly glancing around. Holding up the candle, Elizabeth's eyes took in every aspect of the chamber. Little had changed in the years since she had last visited. With each article the room boasted, memories came flooding back, and with it, emotions she never thought to feel again.

Lizzy's first memory of this room occurred at five years of age, although she and her sister removed to from Longbourn two years prior to that recollection. Jane, then seven, could remember coming to Netherfield in the months leading up to their mother's fourth confinement. Mary would have been but a babe in the nursery and their mother happy to have her third girl cared for by nursery maids, for she gave little trouble. A toddling three-year-old Elizabeth getting into all kinds of mischief was a different matter entirely. So, against the wishes of their Papa, the eldest Bennet girls had been shipped off to Netherfield post haste.

Mrs. Bennet, sure this child would be the long-anticipated son and heir, had little concern in fostering her daughters. Initially Jane wondered how she had offended her Mama to be removed to Netherfield. Lady Elizabeth, treating the girls as her own, soon replaced their mother in the children's affection with her sound judgement and impeccable manners. Lizzy could not remember a time before Lady Elizabeth became their Mama. Such did not bode well for her future relationship with Mrs. Bennet, which had become tepid at best as the years passed.

Only time cured Lizzy and Jane of any disillusionment in regard to Mrs. Bennet's skills at rearing them as her daughters. They found her manners to be somewhat vulgar, her personality nervous, her ideas ill formed, stemming from a lack of education and refinement. Along with her constant lamentations of not bearing sons, she took every opportunity to introduce her female children into society early and seek husbands in the most inappropriate fashion. Had it not been for Lady Elizabeth, Jane would now be married to a man who had written several lines of very bad poetry to her at the tender age of fifteen.

Turning her attention to wall where a painting once occupied the space above the amore, Lizzy recalled sitting for the artist. He had complained bitterly that the small child would not be still. Mama had simply laughed and told him to do his best. From the moment the picture was complete, it hung in Lady Elizabeth's sleeping chamber, so she could wake to the sight of her girls each morning.

Yet more memories assaulted Elizabeth. Turning to face the bed, an image formed in her mind. Smiling, she recalled that long ago day in June.

"Today," Lady Elizabeth smiled, this being Jane's seventh and Lizzy's fifth birthday, "I have given us all a present. I ordered a new bed to be made. It shall be big enough for all of us. Especially on those night were the thunder and lightning strikes."

The joyful thoughts brought a smile to Elizabeth's lips. Jane hated the noise, while she detested the sky filled with light. On such nights, Jane and Lizzy would scurry up the servants' stair case and jump into Lady Elizabeth's bed. Instead of rebuking the girls for their lack of decorum, she would gather one girl on each side and snuggle them all under the covers. Then she would tell them the story of thunder and lightning.

"Now my little Lizzy, the light is but The Almighty demonstrating his displeasure," Lady Elizabeth said in a whisper.

"Who has displeased God?" she asked in be wonderment.

Each Sunday the party travelled to Longbourn parish to hear services. Afterwards they dined with their Mama and Papa Bennet before returning to Netherfield. Lady Elizabeth ensured the girls knew who gave them life. She also ensured they knew their Christian obligations to the Bennet family. Above all this, she ensured they knew she loved them as a mother ought.

"Have you done your duty to your Mama and God?" Lady Elizabeth asked. The child nodded bringing a smile to the lips of her mother. "Then the lightning will not strike our Netherfield, for I know Jane could not displease anyone."

Always curious, Lizzy demanded, "then who is at fault?"

"Ah, that we are never to know," replied Lady Elizabeth, "for God keeps his own council on such matters. Besides it is not for us mortals to know, lest we lay blame."

"Mr. Brown was struck down by lightening last winter," Lizzy commented, remembering the story. "He was not a bad man."

"We do not to know the transgressions of another against God," Jane offered in a timid voice.

"Quite right," Lady Elizabeth responded. "Thunder and lightning do not visit us very often, which means God is displeased but rarely."

"What of the thunder," Lizzy asked. She always loved these nights and the tales her Mama would tell. Mama's voice, always soft and soothing, calmed both girls and lulled them to sleep.

"Thunder, is but his voice following. Once his displeasure is done, so is the light and sound," she finished. "You know it never lasts long, and once it is done, it is over. It is a lesson we must master, it is our Christian duty. Now, Little Lizzy and Jane-girl, it is time for us to sleep. I shall see you in the morning. For you both have lesson that must be learnt if we are to go to London for the Masters when you are old enough."

A tear slipped down Lizzy's cheek at the memory. The monstrous sized four poster bed still graced the wall opposing the windows. The servants had needed to bring it into the room piece by piece. It took several carpenters more than three days to put it right. The wall behind the bed had been panelled in wood, as Lady Elizabeth adored the look and feel of natural products. After that came the fabrics and seamstresses to make the curtains, bed fittings and cover the furniture. Rich golds, deep reds and other autumnal tones were used to bring the outdoors into the chamber. Even the paper covering two of the walls complemented both the richly polished wood and fabrics used in the bed linens and furnishings.

"Oh," Lizzy cried, tears beginning to fall upon her cheeks as her knees became weak and failed her, "how I miss you."

Another memory forced its way into Lizzy's conscious. Now eight, Lady Elizabeth called her girls into the private sitting room attached to her bed chamber. This clear April day, the sun condescended to shine brightly beyond the corner windows which framed Oakham Mount splendidly. Lizzy would rather be out in the gardens, exploring nature, yet they stood before Lady Elizabeth, shaking with fear. Both expected their world to turn upside down and very soon. Papa Bennet had been most severe on Sunday after service. He wished for Jane and Elizabeth to return to Longbourn and take up permanent residence.

"Elizabeth, can you not stand still?" Lady Elizabeth demanded, yet there was a twinkle in her deep brown eyes.

"I am trying," Lizzy almost whined.

"Yes, you are young lady," the older woman could no longer keep her mirth contained, "you are most trying. How you do try my nerves. Oh, do not look so forlorn, Jane-girl, you shall not be returning to Longbourn while there is breath in my body. Your Mama Bennet has enough trouble containing the three daughters she has. I called for you as we are to go to London after your birthdays and stay two months complete. It is time your childish gowns were used for playing and nothing more. In town, we shall have new clothes made for you and several masters will be at hand to improve your skills at the harp and pianoforte."

Such excitement filled Netherfield Lady Elizabeth ordered her townhouse opened a fortnight early. In town, little fingers were tutored in the correct placement, bodies clothed in the softest fabrics and new playmates found in the nursery. Jane would never know, at least not until her birthday many years in the future, that she had met the man Lady Elizabeth intended for her future husband.

"Oh, Jane," Lizzy said mournfully, "if you do not find happiness with Mr. Bingley soon, you shall be married to a man you have not seen since your fifteenth birthday. I do not care that he is a Viscount and will one day inherit the Earldom Lady Elizabeth's father lost as he could not sire a son."

With these depressing thoughts, returned to Jane's room through the servants' door. Her sister lay comfortably in her bed. Reassured, Lizzy took herself off to the Rose Room. It also stirred many memories. However, fatigue overtook her. Removing her gown and stays, she fell into bed and a fitful sleep.


So we get some of Lizzy's history with Netherfeild, but a number of new questions.