A/N: Good morning!
This is my first time writing in English, and my second story.
I'm looking for a beta (preferably, but not necessarily, English speaking native). I will post the rest of the story soon.
Take care.
Disclaimer:
The story-line is mine. The rest of things are not. Is that enough of a disclaimer? I hope so.
Perhaps not unexpectedly, Jane was the first to go.
It was due to the rain. Jane arrived at Netherfield not too soaked. Bingley's sisters were contented (if not happy) to hear her announced, until she appeared dripping their carpets. After some towels, some drying, a borrowed dress and a conversation slightly cordial, the sisters offered Jane their carriage to go back to her house.
"It is not that we would not want you to invite you for the night." Miss Bingley said "But that your family would worry if you do not arrive there before night falls. I'm so glad we brought the second carriage. It is a little older and not as confortable, but it should do quite well for a short journey of three miles."
Therefore, after another set of farewells and wishes for a next reunion, Jane stepped into the carriage. It is slightly less comfortable than the one at home, and Jane is happy to be going back home after having spent the evening with friendly acquittances, even if she has not been able to see the person she was most interested in.
However, the rain has made the roads muddy, and the mud has made them treacherous. Less than a mile from home, when they have already crossed Meryton, one of the wheels got stuck, and the horses cannot pull it out. The coachman gets down to see the problem, and just as he is going to inform Miss Bennet of the situation, there is thunder and lighting, the horses rear and the carriage moves to one side only to swing and fall heavily on the other side, which causes the wheel to break. The coachman immediately looks in the interior, where his passenger is unsettled, but physically unharmed. He explains to her the situation, telling her that he is going to take one of the horses and ride to Longbourn in the rain so they can bring another carriage.
Jane, seeing the logic and decorum of this plan, does not object or try to stop the man, but she is unsettled all the same. The minutes pass, and she is still seated in the carriage, feeling cold and alone. The only sounds are the rain, the thunder, and sometimes a whining. She feels the cold creeping into her bones. She is afraid, but tries not to be.
As fast as possible, but still some time later, the Longbourn carriage arrives. Jane is just happy to move. She wishes well to the men who stay to take care of the other carriage and the horse.
Once at home, her mother bemoans the fact that she was not invited to stay for the night. Jane explains her the circumstances to the best of her ability, but her mother is still displeased. Jane keeps hearing her mother complain until she almost faints over her supper. Her mother stops babbling only to send her upstairs with her sister Elizabeth, and then keeps lamenting herself over lost opportunities.
Falling on the bed is the most wonderful feeling, and even if Elizabeth wants to talk about her stay in Netherfield, she is unable to, for she is sleeping soundly after barely a minute. Elizabeth lets her sleep alone so she would not be awoken next morning when Elizabeth goes in her morning walk.
Next morning at breakfast, Jane is not at the table. Mrs Bennet sends a maid to inquire whether she is coming down or not. The problem is that the maid comes back running and screaming. "Miss Jane is not waking!" She screams.
There is a minute of silence, and then all the chairs move at the same time. Mr Bennet is at the door in a second, only preceded by his daughter Elizabeth. They rush upstairs to Jane's room. Inside, the curtains are open, but the rest is as Elizabeth remembers the last night. Jane had not moved. Elizabeth goes to Jane's sides a touches her. She is cold. Colder than cold. She looks for breath and finds it, but it is barely there. His father touches her wrists and find a pulse, but once again, it is barely there. Mrs Bennet arrives weeping. The apothecary, Mr Jones, is called, but when he checks the patient, he sakes his head and advices them to call for the priest.
All the family cry. Jane could only be saved by a miracle, but it does not matter how much they pray, the miracle does not happen and she passes away shortly after the priest has blessed her. All her family is in the room when she breathes her last, and as swiftly as that, Jane Bennet is no more.
There are cries and yells and accusations. At the end, Mrs Bennet falls and all her daughters (her living daughters) go to her and she hugs them as tight as she can as they all cry. Her husband watches for a minute before he too joins her in hugging the daughters that still breath.
Before the day is out, word has spread that Miss Bennet is dead. Everybody mourns the kind and most beautiful lady of the area. Jane's funeral is held two days forward. It is as any other funeral, but for the family, it is heart breaking. The hollow in their chests cannot be filled or sealed, at least not right now.
The family goes into mourning. Their cousin's visit is postponed, as deemed appropriate. For a while, their days and their lives are bleak. However, life goes on, and with the spring, new hopes arrive.