Elizabeth set off for Jane's bed chamber as soon as everyone retired for the evening. She quietly knocked before entering the room. Upon hearing her sister enter, Jane smiled sweetly at Elizabeth.
"Lizzy, I thought you would be tired."
"I would rather speak with you first; I never sleep as well without our late night chats."
"Neither do I!" Jane replied, "I have missed mulling the day over with you since you set off on your travels. I suppose I should cherish these moments; before long this will be your home."
Jane's honest eyes revealed to Elizabeth what she had already suspected, her sister was not herself, she seemed almost morose.
"Jane, are you pleased for me? Do you think I am making the right choice?"
Jane was dumbfounded. She processed Elizabeth's misjudgement for a moment before replying, "Of course, I am elated for you and Mr. Darcy. I have seen for myself the love that you have for one another. Whatever made you think such a thing?"
"Oh sister, you do not seem yourself. You seem troubled. If it is not that, is it Mr. Bingley or perhaps your are worried about father travelling to town?"
The elder Miss. Bennett pondered how she would explain her current mood to Elizabeth, "it is neither."
She paused, searching for the words, "I may be mistaken, but I am sure there is something you are not telling me. You have always confided in me, and I know that you now have Mr. Darcy and his sister, but I worry about you Lizzy. Is it your head? Has the doctor said something, are you unwell?"
A surge of guilt flooded Elizabeth, in her plight to protect her sister, she had caused her nothing but worry and angst. She would have to tell her the truth about the narrowly avoided fate of their youngest sister.
"Jane, I am excessively sorry for making you feel this way. You are right, I have been keeping something from you. However, it is not what you think. It is Lydia."
"Lydia? What do you mean?"
Elizabeth went on to tell her sister everything she knew, except Wickham's dalliance with Miss. Darcy; that was something she would not even share with her dearest sister. Jane listened open mouthed. She gasped, frowned and widened her eyes as Lizzy spoke, but patiently waited for Lizzy to finish.
"Oh Lizzy, what a burden you have carried keeping this to yourself, how you have suffered."
"Do not mind me, please know I was only trying to protect you. As was Mr. Bingley."
"I understand, poor Lydia. Thank goodness for your Mr. Darcy."
Elizabeth turned a slight blush of rose pink at the mention of his name, she missed her betrothed more than she dared to confess.
The sisters relaxed now that their secrets were out in the open. Jane began to brush Lizzy's hair as she had done since they were girls. With the comfort of her sister and the hypnotising crackle of the fire, Elizabeth's eyes began to grow heavy.
"Can I sleep in here?" Lizzy asked, in an almost doze.
"Of course," her sister told her with a caring smile.
The next morning, Elizabeth, who had always been an early riser, woke before her sister. She sneaked out of their room and down to her own chamber to get dressed. For the first time since her fall, her head didn't ache and she was desperate for some fresh air.
As she expected, she was the first of the Pemberley guests up and about. She made her way to the front door to take this early hour as an opportunity to explore the grounds that she would soon be mistress of.
As she gazed at the sheer beauty on the landscape, she began to device a plan in her head. In his letter, Fitzwilliam had asked her to work her magic on Bingley and Jane. Today, she would work on getting them back on track. She could see that there was love in both sets of eyes, they were just too polite and shy to be open about their feelings. She knew the sheer happiness that her own engagement had bought her and Mr. Darcy. She would not be a considerate sister if she did not aid her own sister in her quest for similar joy. But who should she work her spell on first, her sister or Mr. Bingley? Perhaps her aunt could support her on her quest.
From a pure selfish point of view, Elizabeth also knew, that as well as Jane's happiness, her elder sister also getting engaged and travelling home would mean her mother's reaction and interference would be spread between the two sisters, lessening the stress on Elizabeth. As she pictured her mama controlling and taking over every aspect of her wedding, Elizabeth grimaced. She could suddenly see the appeal of Gretna Green.