Chapter 21:

Elizabeth could not remember much from the ride to London. She held onto Jane's letter, which specifically told her parents to not come into London for the burial. She was merely informing them and they should not worry. Elizabeth knew Mr. Bailey was a responsible man and she had not doubt that he would have arranged for Jane to be taken care of, but she imagined that if this was a sudden death, then he might have not had the ability to do so. The thought of Jane moving in back with their parents was dreadful and though she was unofficially engaged for less then half a day, she knew at that moment she would ask Mr. Darcy to allow Jane to stay with them. She did not know if she had just pull over him but she would use whatever pull she did have to secure the happiness, or at the least preserve her from the torture of living with their parents.

If Mr. Darcy had communicated with Elizabeth during this time, he would have assured her that he would care for her whole family and that she not need worry—but they barely said to each other more than a few words in their hasty departure to London.

Jane's letter did not explicit include an invitation to Lizzy, but Elizabeth knew that could not not go. This was her dearest sister. And if this had not been a love match, Elizabeth knew that Jane cared for her husband and this change would be difficult, even without strong affection.

Lizzy literally jumped off the carriage when it pulled up to Bailey's modest residence in Cheapside. Mr. Darcy squeezed Lizzy's hand in support as she stepped out of the carriage and she smiled at him graciously and then ran up the short steps, eager to see Jane.

"Jane!" exclaimed Lizzy, entering the drawing room, with her coat and bonnet still on.

"Lizzy!" said Jane, her face gaunt and pale, though her eyes sparkled when she saw her beloved sister, "I am so happy you came!" she said, allowed her sister to swallow her in a deep hug, where both sisters cried into each other's arms. Mr. Darcy looked away to give them privacy, though neither noticed that he was there in such an intimate moment.

"Oh Jane!" exclaimed Lizzy, finally pulling away from the hug, "I came as fast as I heard."

"I did not want you to feel pressured to come—I know papa does not always have a carriage available and I knew you would take a coach if need be" she explained, wanting her sister to understand that she did not ask in her letter as to not inconvenience her.

"Well luckily for me, Mr. Darcy was in town and he lent me his carriage" said Elizabeth, remembering Mr. Darcy and turning around to look for him, half expecting them to still be outside. She made eye contact and gave him a small smile, before turning her attention back to her sister. "I would have come on foot if I had no other choice—I would never leave you at this moment" said Elizabeth seriously, holding onto both of Jane's hands, "I am sorry I was not a good sister before—but I will be from now on."

Jane's delicate face became wet with tears as Lizzy spoke, finally letting go of the pain from years ago where the sisters thought and acted differently than they would have today.

"I am a horrible hostess" said Jane, now smiling and wiping off her tears, "Please do sit down, Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy."

"Thank you" said Mr. Darcy awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. He remembered how awkward and painful it was to mourn for a loved one—having lost his two parents and most recently his cousin. He never knew what he ought to say nor what he would have wanted other to say. He personally would have preferred to be alone, away from prying eyes and sorrowful stares. So he kept himself at a distance from the mourning Mrs. Bailey, being there more as support for Elizabeth.

"When did everything happen?" asked Lizzy, once they were sitting. Jane was about to respond and a maid came in to bring in tea and biscuits, she waited for her to leave and spoke.

"We knew it was a matter of time, Lizzy" said Jane softly, "I did not know how to tell you when you were here—I did not think it was the right time."

"So you were ready?" asked Lizzy.

"I do not think one is ever ready to lose someone...specially someone as dear to me as he was. He saved me Lizzy" said Jane, letting out a sob. She wrapped her black shawl closer to her—feeling a sudden chill from speaking of him. "I know mama and papa are worried but they need not be. Mr. Bailey left me everything—I am well taken care of."

"I do not understand" said Elizabeth, feeling there were parts of the story that she did not know for there were gaps in her understanding.

"He has given me a chance at another life" said Jane, tears streaming down her beautiful face once again, "You see I do not have to marry, I do not have to leave my home, he has taken care of everything, all of the legal papers, he did more for me than my own father" said Jane, holding back sobs. Lizzy reach for her hands and held them with hers.

"I understand why he did not want children—he knew from early on in our marriage that he would not live long….yet, I still wish we had had a child, for then I would have a piece of him with me forever" said Jane mournfully.

"Oh Jane" said Lizzy, her own eyes wet with tears, "I did not know you loved him so."

"Very much" said Jane, "More than I think he knew."

"I am sure that he knew and also care for you very much, Jane" said Lizzy, sweetly.

"He did" said Jane softly, closing her eyes, as if remembering a sweet moment between them, "I am very glad you have come" she said after regaining her composure, "And you too, Mr. Darcy. I thank you for bringing my sister."

"We are to be family now, please do call me Fitzwilliam" he said softly. Elizabeth could have cried at that moment but instead she looked at him sweetly and Jane, looking at the both of them, likewise smile.

"If that is the case, then please call me Jane" she said, smiling widely.

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yay! I updated again!