Chapter Five
In the morning, Eden found herself in a formal looking garden. It looked out onto the rustic parkland. From over the crest of a hill, a horse galloped towards her. She watched the horse, a faint smile on her face. She wished she could gallop freely like the rider.
The smile dropped when the rider pulled the horse to a halt. Eden made eye contact with Mr. Darcy. His hair was wet, flattened against his head, face soaked in sweat as he looked at her. He seemed like a mysterious—Eden hated herself for saying it—but he looked like a mysterious and beautiful boy.
Their eyes stayed on each other, then Eden turned and walked away. She shakily brushed hair behind her ear, realizing how underdressed he had seen her in. With that in mind, she hurried back to Jane's room where her sister was already sitting up.
"Jane, do you think you might feel well enough to leave today?" Jane nodded, noting her sister's unease.
"Are you feeling well, Eden?"
Eden nodded, feeling overwhelmed.
"Everything is quite all right, my darling sister." She ducked behind the curtain, changing into her dress. Thankfully the servants had managed to get all the mud off it. She glanced at herself in the mirror, frowning at her flushed cheeks. She couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or if it was from an oncoming illness.
Someone knocked on the door and she moved to answer it. She found Lizzie positively grinning.
"Lizzie!" exclaimed Eden. She threw her arms around her twin, hugging her tightly.
"Have you come to collect us?" Jane asked as Lizzie hurried to her side.
"Yes… along with the others." All three women let out a collective groan. The rest of the Bennet family was truly insufferable. "Mama was asking after you, Eden. I told her that I would send you down."
"Ah… I guess I ought to go then."
Hurrying from the room, Eden gasped when she tripped on the last step of the stairs, falling into someone's waiting arms. She quickly pulled away from her savior.
"I apologize, sir," she said. She looked up, staring into Mr. Darcy's eyes. She flushed an even brighter pink and hastily ducked her head. "I am so sorry, Mr. Mr. Darcy. I had no intention…"
"The last step is loose," Mr. Darcy interrupted. "I shall have someone repair it." He nodded stiffly at her, then walked away.
She did not see him again until they were leaving. He stood with Mr. Bingley and Caroline as they all bid their farewells. Eden gave her a faint curtsy.
"Thank you, for such stimulating company. It has been most instructive."
"Not at all," Caroline said. "The pleasure is all mine."
Lastly, she looked to Mr. Darcy.
"Mr. Darcy," she murmured quietly.
"Miss Bennet," he said. He gave her a small bow. Before Mr. Bingley could help her into the carriage, he took her hand, helping her in. She blushed when their hands touched and could not meet his eyes, but she did happen to see his hand, which flexed then curled into a fist when they parted.
As the carriage pulled away. Mrs. Bennet spoke her mind.
"What a high and mighty man that Mr. Darcy is, quite eaten up with pride." Lizzie went to speak but paused when she saw Eden's face. Her sister was staring out the window, a dazed expression on her face. She was touching her hand lightly, tracing an unidentifiable pattern.
Eden was drawn out of her musing when the carriage came to an abrupt stop. Her eyes narrowed on the company of Militia that crossed in front of them. Lydia swooned at the sight of them.
"I can't believe it! They're close enough to touch!" Kitty blushed childishly.
"I think one of them just winked at me."
"Oh! See! The blonde! Oh, be still my beating heart."
Rolling her eyes, Eden spoke to the coachman.
"Thomas, can't you drive around them?" Her younger sisters started protesting as the carriage started rolling again.
"You never want us to be happy, Eden," Lydia whined.
"You'll understand when you're older," Eden mumbled. "Or when you have children of your own."
"I'd want them to be happy," Lydia pouted. "And the sooner my daughters married, the happier I'd be."
Sighing, Eden rested her head against the window, staring out again. She kept replaying the image of Mr. Darcy riding up the crest of the hill that morning. The image stayed in her head as the carriage pulled up to Longbourn.
As the Bennet girls came into the house, Lydia started gushing about the militia, eagerly sharing what she saw with Mr. Bennet. Her father nodded slowly, then turned to Mrs. Bennet.
"I hope, my dear, that you have ordered a good dinner today, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party." He held up a letter. "It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins." That silenced everyone.
They had never met Mr. Collins. For his father had been estranged from Mr. Bennet, but because he was the only male heir to Longbourn, Mr. Collins was entitled to the very house they lived. It was an unfair world in which they lived, unfair for women, that is.
Lizzie drew Eden off to the side as the rest of their family went to prepare for their guests.
"Eden… did something happen at Netherfield?"
"No. Nothing detrimental or dangerous. I'm just tired."
"Are you feeling poorly?" Lizzie asked worriedly.
When they had been children, Eden had been sickly. She had been very small as a babe which was partially due to being a twin, but she never seemed to be able to completely get over the sickly composure she used to have.
"No, I just need to rest. Wake me for dinner?" Lizzie nodded and Eden slipped away to the quiet and comfort of their room.
As soon as Eden was alone, she collapsed onto the bed. Her whole body was suddenly exhausted. She had gotten hardly any sleep at Netherfield, too worried for Jane and too anxious about her surroundings. It was as if her body was shutting down on her. She curled up under the blankets, falling asleep within minutes.
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