A/N- Dear readers, I'm back and extremely apologetic for the long delay. I hope you all find this chapter worth the wait. Thanks to Libby Bennet for helping me get rid of some very embarrassing typos :)
The next morning, Lizzy was shaken awake by a very determined Jane at the crack of dawn, and despite her reluctance, the younger girl finally had to allow herself to be hauled out of bed.
'What is it, Jane?', she asked, yawning.
'You need to get dressed, Lizzy', replied Jane calmly.
'Get dressed? Jane, is something wrong? Why are you waking me up so early? Are you well?', questioned Lizzy, shaking off her sleepiness and sounding agitated with Jane's uncharacteristic antics.
Then her eyes widened.
'Jane! Are you wearing your favourite blue morning dress?', she shrieked, in a manner remarkably like her mother.
'Hush! Be quiet, Lizzy. You will wake everyone up', admonished Jane.
Lizzy rubbed her eyes, looking at her sister suspiciously.
'What on the earth are you up to, Jane?'
'We talked about this yesterday, Lizzy. I am taking flowers to Mr Bingley', reminded Jane .
'At this hour? Jane, much as he loves you, surely you don't expect the poor man to receive you so early?', questioned Lizzy.
'Don't be silly, Lizzy. There is no question of anyone receiving visitors so early and I wouldn't dream of disturbing Charles so while he is unwell.'
'Yet you think nothing of disturbing me', muttered Lizzy, obviously disgruntled.
'You're not unwell', pointed out Jane.
'Of course I am', insisted Lizzy.
Jane raised an eyebrow skeptically.
'I'm ailed by separation from my love!', said Lizzy, flinging her arm dramatically.
'Well, that's where you're heading, so stop complaining and hurry', insisted Jane.
Lizzy looked at her sister blankly.
'I thought you said we aren't going to Netherfield?'
'Not right now.'
Lizzy sat on her bed, her eyes beginning to droop again.
'Jane. Is there nothing I can say to persuade you to let me sleep?', she asked pleadingly, not even wondering what her sister was planning.
'No', said Jane pulling her sister up again, deaf to her entreaties.
An hour later, the eldest two Bennet sisters were dressed and sneaking out of the house without anyone knowing, save their maid Hannah who Jane had sworn to secrecy.
'It is unfair, you know', commented Lizzy, 'Leaving Hannah like that. What if Mama asks her where we are? And why does she know what you're planning and I don't?'
'Because she doesn't whine as much as you do', retorted Jane playfully.
Lizzy rolled her eyes, smiling at Jane's high spirits.
'Well, I'm wide awake now, so you may as well tell me where we are heading.'
'To the woods, of course. You aren't as sharp as always today, Lizzy', Jane teased.
'I believe the shock of my prim and proper sister sneaking out of the house to pick flowers at the crack of dawn has temporarily dulled my wits.'
Jane stopped suddenly.
'Lizzy, surely you don't think I'm being very improper?'
'Certainly not, for people like me. For an angel like you, I fear you have reached the pinnacle of rebellion. But why all this secrecy?'
Jane blushed.
'I am afraid I was somewhat too enthusiastic this morning.'
'Indeed, I do recall that', said Lizzy wryly.
'I supposed that Mama and Papa might think I was being too forward by taking flowers for Mr Bingley, and not allow us to go, but if it appeared that we merely went for a walk, it would raise no suspicions when we bring back some flowers and the suggestion that we take them to Mr Bingley could arise naturally, perhaps from Mama herself. But if she knows that we went out so early and not merely for a small stroll, as I intend her to think, she may be suspicious.'
'Why, Jane, I can barely recognise you anymore. Love has made you too good at scheming', applauded Lizzy, privately thinking that their mother would approve thoroughly of Jane's actions if she were to know of them.
By the time the girls returned with the flowers, everyone at Longbourn was awake, but they had not yet been missed and they made it to the breakfast table unquestioned.
At the table, of course, conversation was all about the previous evening. Mrs Bennet was curious about Mr Bingley's absence, and was unhappy to have had no chance to converse with Miss Darcy.
'Jane, do you know why Mr Bingley did not attend the gathering yesterday?', she questioned her eldest daughter eagerly.
'I believe he is unwell, Mama', replied Jane calmly.
'Unwell! Why, whatever could be the matter with him?', she asked indignantly. Blessed with good health herself, Mrs Bennet had always been unsympathetic towards those less fortunate, and was worried that Mr Bingley's illness was merely an excuse.
'Boredom, my dear. Clearly, our little gatherings hold no more attraction for him', said her husband, his eyes twinkling.
'Mr Bennet! How can you possibly be so unkind! He is going to marry my Jane and settle at Netherfield forever! Did he not agree to court her?', she shrieked.
Elizabeth looked at Jane, amused by this display and confident that Jane would soon get her way.
Mr Bennet shrugged, enjoying his wife's discomfort.
'Courtship is not marriage, Mrs Bennet. Why, a man may change his mind anytime without damaging anyone's reputation.'
'Mr Bennet! You take pleasure in aggravating me. Have you no consideration for my poor nerves?', asked the afflicted lady.
'Jane! You must visit Mr Bingley! You cannot permit him to be bored of you!', she continued.
Jane blushed, and seeing that she had reached the end of her scheming skills, Lizzy came to her rescue.
'Of course, Mama', she soothed, 'Jane and I will call at the Bingleys in an hour or two to enquire after Mr Bingley's health. Jane, don't you think Mr Bingley will like the flowers we picked before breakfast, to remind him of you till he gets better?'
'Yes! You must certainly do that!', cried out Mrs Bennet, slightly relieved.
No one noticed the conspiratorial smiles Jane and Elizabeth exchanged.
A/N- I was initially planning to include the visit in this chapter, but then I got carried away. I realize that this Jane seems very OOC and that some of you may be disappointed with this chapter, but I felt it went well with the rest of the story, so I kept this part in. Do let me know what you think about this, and I'll try my best to get the next chapter done sooner.
