Thank you all for your kind words on my previous chapters it means so much.

Chapter 4

The peculiar understanding of one Lizzy Bennet

The letter was in front of her. Her life's true meaning and possibilities.

Should she take it?

Her father's room remained the same, although she was sure she had entered a different world to her own.

The books were the same, the smell remained and most importantly her father was stationary with a perplexed look that mirrored her own.

His facial features did not transfer but the clear mannerisms fixated in Lizzy.

The seriousness and sparkle that appeared in the meddlesome eyes and the creases where the lips met from the pure unadulterated laughter that stemmed from their collaborative scheming.

The same, but different.

It all stemmed from the difference.

Different was not something Lizzy was estranged from.

It was a fact, an honest truth.

That she was different from her family.

Should she take it?

It rang again.

Time slowed and she struggled to look at her father's face once more.

Her father.

Should she take it?

If she did, would the sentiment be dissolved?

Concentrating on the curling fibers of the green rug beneath her feet, she moved her toes in a tapping motion.

Should she take it?

Screwing her eyes shut and summoning all her energy, she lifted her head.

Taking this as a sign of readiness, Thomas cleared his thoughts and watchfully spoke.

"My dear, the name that my trusted few concluded upon was Violet Eliza De Bourgh. I don't know who she is, but I believe they are an important clue." Mr Bennet carefully watched his daughters' expression, awaiting a response.

Her lips twisted and her eyes danced. A heaviness was lifted from Thomas and enveloped Lizzy.

She felt as though a cape of constriction had been placed upon her. Restricting her breath and movement. Her head felt as though it was ready to burst.

Slowly she connected the words spoken. One stood out the most. De Bourgh. Her brain ticked over, scouring the nooks and shadowed spots for the answer to her quest. To no avail.

Tentatively Lizzy fought the tightening "I recognise that name, but I can't place it." Elizabeth's mind was working overtime to comprehend the lost information in the labyrinth of her memories.

"De Bourgh of Rosings Park, my dear I do not know your connection, but it is there." Thomas spoke calmly.

The Bennet's were a duo of complex emotions.

The seemed to be quite cold and unfeeling which would be Mrs Bennet's choice of words.

But in actuality, they were empathetic to irritation.

Seeming to take such great care of the people around them and truly understand their pain as if it were their own.

The envelope clearly held some information of great importance.

Lizzy struggled to weigh the responsibility of opening such a thing.

What would the answers reveal? Would it say anything of importance or would reading the contents simply cause pain. She dreaded the infliction of pain on her poor papa.

The one person to truly supports her decisions and victories in life.

But he had offered it freely with consideration. Something to be seen as a gift.

Lizzy picked up the envelope with great care. She needed to know. No matter the cost of the information. Heavy in her hand was the guilt and confusion that attached itself to this mortal object.

The envelope was warn and crisp to the touch like it had been stashed away upon retrieval. The scarlet seal is still intact. The shape was unfamiliar. It almost looked like a pair of butterfly wings.

Lizzy carefully ran her fingers over the shape, willing some familiarity with the object, before slipping her fingernail under the seal and breaking it.

It felt like she was destroying something important.

She drunk in every detail of the design, to draw it later in her findings book. The weight, the colour the shape, and even the smell.

Here goes nothing, she thought pulling out the contents.

With one last look at her concerned father, whose face seemed paler than previously, Lizzy looked.

It was a letter, untouched since the day it was placed there. Attached to which was a dried blue flower with a resemblance to a bluebell and a tiny silver bell.

She placed the delicate items on her father's desk, who also looked at them in curiosity and tried to absorb every detail.

The parchment had an unusual violet hue with a simple black script.

Lizzy's hands began to shake as she read the letter out loud.

"Dear Thomas,

I wish I could be the bearer of pleasanter news my dear dear friend. It appears I know very little of the circumstances of which your little one came to be.

I can tell of the peculiar case of Violet De Bourgh, however.

The younger sister of Sir Lewis De Bourgh. She was a talented and passionate botanist; she did not see the need to participate in the season with the rest of the ton. Despite her brother's insistent behavior. She preferred research over the delicate company the ton provided.

The family was extremely private after the death of her father. She was not introduced or discussed by anyone in the ton. So, she spent her time locked away in her study. What she was fascinated by, I cannot say. But I know that it consumed her.

At 21 she had vanished. Her research along with her.

What I do know is that as an intimate friend of her brother I was privy to more. Her death was announced in the papers and the ton were shocked beyond belief. Not knowing Sir Lewis De Bourgh to have had an eligible sister, now deceased.

But I heard whispers from Rosing's park. Whispers of a growing abdomen and research of information beyond ladylike.

So my friend, that is all I know, from here it will be up to you. I do not know of the linking details, but my gut tells of something strong and otherworldly.

I dearly hope you find the answers you are looking for.

Your friend,

Nicolas Baudin

Ps. Please find included the last remaining research specimen from Violets study and a small bell which she commonly wore on a piece of velvet ribbon around her neck. I do not know the importance of these objects but unfortunately, not much of her remains."

Silence enveloped the room.

The only noise passing between the occupants was the soft breath of thought.

"That's… that's not what I expected." Mr Bennet seemed to slump down into his chair, a behavior very unlike him. His hands reached up to his peppered hair to rest his heavy head.

Lizzy closed her eyes and meditated on the information gifted.

What did this mean?

And most importantly what should she do about it?

Heavy, heavy were her eyes.

Her papa in his exhaustion took the first step and spoke.

"I think my dear one, this is a lot to take in for one day. Perhaps it should be slept upon and thought of tomorrow?" He lifted his head from is hands. Eyes seeming to dart around the room in a searching motion. Sealing on a small wooden box.

Clumsily he stood, taking large strides he collected the artifact.

Delicately he picked up the precious items and placed them inside.

"For safe keeping." He pressed the box into Lizzy's cupped hands.

"My daughter I will always love you, no matter your choices." Catching a stray tear from her cheek with his thumb and softly brushing it away.

"I love you, Papa. Always." She forced a smile and walking out of the study.

Her safe space. Now seemed to dull with grey.

Catching her happiness and placing it in a lockbox.

Her life was not as it seemed.

Her answers were unclear, they lead a path of riddles and confusion.

But the most important question of all.

Who was she?