A/N: Here's the next chapter! I'm finding I don't have quite as much time to write. My two and a half year old doesn't think he needs to nap anymore. Oh well...

Chapter 11

The day for Mr. Bennet's and Jane's stay in Hunsford arrived. The sun was shining and the flowers in the garden were beginning to bloom. Elizabeth had had the entire house cleaned during the previous week and was anticipating showing her home to her Father and sister. The only disappointment Elizabeth had was the absence of any news regarding her family being expanded.

Mr. Collins did his duty by his wife almost every night since they had been married with no results. Elizabeth knew what signs to look for; missed cycle, soreness in certain parts of her body and even morning sickness. She realized it had only been two months since her marriage, but she knew plenty of couples who were married, and then nine months later a babe was born. Could there possibly be something wrong with her? Or with her husband? She was tempted to call for the physician, but held back.

Mr. and Mrs. Collins were presently in the front sitting room, looking out the window towards the lane. Mr. Bennet's letter indicated they would be arriving around noon, and as the clock struck the noon hour, Elizabeth began to feel anxious. She longed to see Jane again, to speak to her dear sister, see for herself if Jane was truly overcoming her disappointment in Mr. Bingley. She also desired to speak with her Father. She was determined that when he returned home he would tell his family about his ill health, she was even willing to tell Jane about it so that she could make sure it happened.

"My dear," Mr. Collins rose from his chair, "they are here."

Elizabeth rose from her seat and stared out the window. Indeed, a carriage was pulling up to their front gate, Mr. Rush coming up to help with the luggage. She made her way out of the house, followed by Mr. Collins, to greet her Papa and sister. Mr. Bennet exited the carriage first and handed down Jane, both looking in good health.

"Oh, Jane," Elizabeth rushed to her sister and embraced her, holding back the flood of tears that threatened to spill forth.

"Lizzy," Jane laughed, "It is good to see you."

Mr. Bennet chuckled, "Do I not deserve such a reception?" He held his arms out to Elizabeth who entered them gratefully. She breathed in the familiar smells of her Father and smiled.

The guests were led into the house, gave a brief tour of the rooms they passed through as they made their way up the stairs to their own rooms. Mr. Bennet's room was down the hall, dubbed the "guest" room, Mr. Collins had singled it out for special guests. Jane was given a room next to Elizabeth's, smaller in size, but highly functional. Mr. Collins pointed out the shelves in the closet, in much the same way he did for Elizabeth when she first saw them.

"What cunning placement," Jane allowed.

"Please, rest yourselves. Jenny will bring up some water to wash with, and tea, if you wish it." Elizabeth followed Mr. Collins below stairs where they waited for their guests.

In no time at all they were reunited in the sitting room, exchanging news and gossip. Mr. Collins attempted to converse with Mr. Bennet about the latest goings on in London and Parliament. On Elizabeth's recommendation he had purchased a London paper. He had been reluctant at first, declaring he had no time to spare from his ecclesiastical duties to dabble in London "folderol." It wasn't until Lady Catherine gave her stamp of approval, citing the importance of being aware of the shifting times around them that Collins' finally capitulated. As a result Mr. Collins' knowledge of the world expanded and his conversation, though not excellent, was much improved, and Elizabeth would often exchange ideas with him in the evening, usually curtailing his reading from sermons.

Mr. Bennet was surprised by Mr. Collins' improvement and instantly knew the source. He eyed his daughter, delighted she was able to better her situation in such a way. He did his best to keep the conversation going, though Collins was prone to ridiculous conclusions.

Elizabeth and Jane were speaking, though neither ventured to bring up any Bingley, Caroline or Charles. That was a topic best left for private conversation.

Supper was served early that evening, and afterwards Elizabeth recommended her Father and sister retire to their rooms to rest from their travels. Collins expressed his pleasure with their guests to his wife and assured her they would also be invited to dinner at Rosings, to which Elizabeth thought they wouldn't be able to avoid it even if they wished to.

s-S-s

"Jane, are you feeling well?" Elizabeth asked of her sister a week later.

They were sitting on a large blanket, empty plates discarded around them, as they stared out at the vast expanse of fields and woods towards Rosings Park. Elizabeth had hoped to have this enjoyment earlier, but it had rain two days straight and they waited longer for the ground to dry properly. The subject she wished to speak on had not been brought up for they were never alone to do so.

On this day Mr. Bennet expressed a desire to go fishing, to which Mr. Collins felt obliged to accompany him. Elizabeth had already made the plan to picnic with Jane and was pleasantly surprised when the gentlemen were occupied so as not to interfere.

Jane sighed, "I am as well as I can be." Jane cast her eyes about and took a deep breath. "I still feel a pang when I see something which reminds me of him, but that is all. If he truly loved me he would have returned." Jane turned to face Elizabeth, who cast her eyes down.

She had wanted to vilify Caroline Bingley, declare Mr. Bingley did love her, or was well on his way to that end, when Caroline probably convinced him otherwise. How she wished to to say these things, but felt it prudent to remain silent. If Jane truly were recovering from her heartache it would be best to let it rest.

From then on the girls often took their morning stroll together and in no time Jane's smiles and laughter returned. They explored the grounds of Rosings and its surrounding paths. Elizabeth explained who the Principle families in the area were, though admitted to having only met a few of them, and at church, no less. Most of the families were in London for the Season and would not be returning until Summer.

"There is a family that rent some of our land, the woman is older, but we have gotten along well. She has a son who is sixteen and has it in his head to join the army. Mrs. Cosgrove is employing every motherly cunning she can muster into preventing it. He is her only surviving child. I often visit her."

"You find a more pleasant affiliation with a tenants wife than that of Lady Catherine and her daughter?" Jane's eyebrows rose.

Elizabeth laughed, "Indeed I do. Now what have you to say to that?"

"Only that," Jane responded, "you are ever, and most likely will forever remain, my dear sister."

Jane had met Lady Catherine on their first evening over at Rosings. Lady Catherine declared Jane a rather pretty girl with genteel manners, and seemed mystified that she was not already married. She then went on to expound on the virtues of marriage of young women so as to prevent any temptation. To Elizabeth's horror Mr. Bennet often goaded Lady Catherine by expressing a desire to hear more on any of the subjects she brought up, eventually leading her down a twisting path of contradictions; women should marry young to prevent temptation, but men should wait until they can afford a wife and family, regardless of temptations.

"Are not temptations of the flesh just as powerful to men as women?" Mr. Bennet asked.

"Indeed!" Lady Catherine declared, "but men may overcome most discretions, where as women are tarnished by the mere hint of scandal."

"Too true," Mr. Collins added.

"Yes," Mr. Bennet agreed, "too true."

What a happy three weeks they spent in each others company. Elizabeth even took her Father aside one morning while Jane was nursing a headache to converse with him about his illness and their families lack of knowledge of it. She reprimanded him as best she could and told him she would write to Jane if she did not receive notice of his doing so when they arrived home. Other than that it had been blissful, with three more weeks to come.

"Mrs. Collins," Collins said over breakfast one Sunday morning, "we shall not be dining at Rosings this evening. Lady Catherine's nephews have arrived and she intends to stay home to visit with them."

Elizabeth's heart began to beat within her chest. She remembered Lady Catherine mentioning that Mr. Darcy and another of her nephews often visited her during the Easter Holidays. My goodness, was it that time already? Thankfully she had not had another dream since her Father and sister arrived, but she began to worry with him in the neighborhood and their inevitable meetings they would come back with a vengeance.

"Is that so?" She asked, attempting to keep down the food in her stomach.

All around her continued on in a predictable, normal fashion, but Elizabeth began dreading the day she would see Mr. Darcy again. Not for her sake, she tried to convince herself, but for Jane's. Seeing him would bring back all that had happened at Netherfield, and she did not wish her sister to fall back into a melancholy.

Yes, for her sister's sake she dreaded the first meeting.