A/N: I had a question arrive relating to chapter 18:

"This sentence , 'I wonder why he thought Miss Lydia's room was the one Miss Bennet was sleeping in.' Are the names of the sisters interchanged her. Please chk"

No, they're not interchanged. He was looking for Jane's room and ended up in Lydia's. So he thought Lydia's room was Jane's.

20th November

Mr Bingley, sitting at his desk, looked up from the note he'd just received from Longbourn.

'It gets worse, Darcy.'

Mr Darcy, sitting beside the fire and reading a newspaper, looked up. 'What does?'

'This note is from Mr Bennet. It appears Mrs Bennet also has the smallpox.'

'Damn! That family did not need another disaster.'

'No, indeed. I will offer to have her moved here of course. Her daughters will no doubt wish to care for her. My sister will be displeased though.'

Mr Darcy nodded, full aware they were both currently hiding in Bingley's study, away from Miss Bingley's displeasure, Colonel Fitzwilliam having made good his escape by riding into Meryton to visit with Colonel Forster.

'I must inform Miss Bennet of the situation, and will have a room prepared in case it is required.' Mr Bingley scribbled a reply to Mr Bennet's note and rang a bell for a footman.

Handing to note to the footman who answered the call, he said, 'Take this immediately to Longbourn, John, and wait for a reply. Oh, and before you leave, please ask Mrs Nicholls and Miss Bennet to join me.'

After the footman had left, Mr Bingley continued, 'Darcy, one other matter. I spoke with the doctor earlier. He examined Mr Collins, as he was most insistent that he be seen after hearing about Miss Lydia's illness.'

Darcy nodded. 'It was to be expected.'

'The doctor again offered him a vaccination - he told me they can be effective at preventing smallpox if the patient is very recently exposed – but Mr Collins refused. He is convinced his status as a clergyman will mean he will not be infected. Apparently, Lady Catherine's words are law as far as he is concerned and this is what she told him.'

Mr Darcy rolled his eyes. 'Well then, on his head be it. Why did he want to see the doctor, if not for vaccination?'

'He wanted to ask whether Miss Lydia was likely to have much facial scarring and whether she was attractive. He is unbelievably stupid, is he not?'

'I wonder…' Mr Darcy rose, his brow creased in thought, then he moved toward to door. 'I will leave you to speak with Miss Bennet in private.'

Mr Bingley had finished asking Mrs Nicholls to prepare a room close to the Miss Bennets rooms for a possible visitor, when Jane appeared. Mr Bingley nodded a dismissal to his housekeeper and stepped forward to greet her.

'Mr Bingley, I was told you wanted to speak with me?'

'My dear Jane, please come and sit.' He took her hand and led her to a sofa, seating her before taking the seat next to her. 'I have some news that might distress you.'

'Oh, is it about Lydia?'

'No, it is from your father at Longbourn.' He took both her hands and squeezed them gently. 'He writes to say that Mrs Bennet... your mother, has the smallpox.'

Jane sat silently for some seconds, her eyes looking at their clasped hands. Then a tear trickled down one of her cheeks. Mr Bingley raised a hand and used a thumb to wipe the tear away.

'I am so sorry. I have written to suggest your father bring your mother here. I have already had a room readied, close to yours, ready for her arrival, should he agree.'

She nodded, eyes downcast. 'She refused the vaccination, you know. I wished she hadn't, at the time, but it was probably too late anyway. Lizzy informed me that vaccination must occur soon after the initial infection to be useful in preventing the illness. Mamma must have been infected around the same time as Lydia.'

'How is Miss Lydia?'

'She's been sleeping much of the time. We decided not to mention what happened with Mr Collins unless she did, and she has not yet spoken of it. We are not sure how much she remembers. Lizzy told me that Lydia said she felt pain in her…' Jane flushed, and whispered something he did not hear, '…but Lizzy told her it was probably due to the smallpox.'

'That is probably for the best.'

'Yes indeed. I must admit that I dread her speaking of it to me. I would not know what to say and I just know she would guess something was wrong.' She sat silently for a moment, then looked up at him. 'You are so kind to us in all our troubles.'

'I would do all this and more for you. I look forward to the day when we marry.'

Jane blushed and looked down once more. 'As do I.'

He raised her chin. 'Can I speak with your father and request the banns be read this coming Sunday?'

She gazed into his eyes. 'I would like that.'

They leaned toward each other, gazing deeply into each other's eyes. Jane's lips parted slightly, and her eyes widened, as he cupped her cheek and ran a thumb lightly across her lower lip.

'Oh, Jane…' he murmured, before closing the gap, his lips meeting hers, and eliciting a small moan from his betrothed.

She melted into his embrace, and he moved a hand to gently cup the back of her head and ran his tongue lightly along the small gap between her lips. Her mouth opened to him and he deepened the kiss. Her hands clutched his upper arms as if they were her only support in the world, before sliding up to wrap around his neck, fingers sliding through his hair. Their tongues touched, he moaned deep in his throat, and they were lost to everything but the new sensations they had awoken in each other.

Sometime later, a rosy lipped Jane returned upstairs to find her sister. Elizabeth had just left Lydia asleep and was returning to her own room when Jane arrived.

'Jane, there you are,' said Lizzy, smiling slightly at the sight of her less than serene sister and her pink, swollen lips. 'I was wondering where you were gone.'

'Charles… Mr Bingley asked to speak with me.' Jane blushed as she said his name, leaving her sister with her own, rather accurate, interpretation as to how much talking their discussion had entailed.

Elizabeth took Jane's hand and drew her into her bedchamber. 'Did he have anything interesting to say?'

'A few things. He wanted to know if the banns could be read on Sunday.'

'Oh Jane! That's wonderful. I hope you agreed.'

'Oh, yes. As long as Papa says it is alright.'

'He will, I am sure. Mamma will be thrilled.'

Jane's face fell. 'Mamma was what he wanted to speak with me about, actually. We should prepare for her arrival, assuming Papa agrees. Oh, Lizzy. Mamma has the smallpox now, as well.'

Elizabeth sat down suddenly, as if her knees had given way, and the colour drained from her face. She groped blindly for Jane's hand. 'No…'

Jane lost her composure at her sister's reaction, her face showing remorse. 'I am sorry. I did not mean to shock you.'

'No, Jane.' She squeezed her sister's hand. 'I am well. I was just not expecting to hear that, so soon after your own good news. Poor papa must be as shocked as we are.'

'Mr Bingley has offered to have mamma here, as he did with Lydia. He is having a room prepared for her.'

'I did wonder why the maids were busy with one of the unoccupied rooms nearby. Still, papa may decide that she is better off at home. Everyone there has been vaccinated now, after all. He may also think she is better kept separate from Lydia in case… in case she finds out what happened last night. You know mamma cannot keep secrets well.'

'I had not thought of that. You are right. Oh, but the Doctor is here.'

'It is only a short trip to Longbourn, should he be needed there, and I am sure Mr Bingley will be only too happy to provide a carriage or horse, if it is required.'

'If papa does decide to keep mamma at home, maybe I should also return. Mary spends so much time with her studying and has no experience of nursing, and Mrs Hill will need help with the household. What are your thoughts?'

'Loath as I am to have you return and leave your Mr Bingley, it would make sense to leave me here with Lydia and for you to return home. Especially as you are now engaged and should, for propriety's sake, not be under the same roof as your betrothed. Not to mention that Mr Collins is also here. I do not trust that man. Now that Longbourn has the smallpox, and you are vaccinated, there is no excuse to keep you here.'

'I agree.'

'Besides, it will give Mr Bingley an excuse to exercise more. He has been kept indoors more than is healthy, recently,' said Elizabeth with a cheeky grin.

Mr Bennet did decide to have his wife remain at home, instead requesting that his eldest return home. He also wrote to Mrs Philips and requested the return of his second youngest daughter.

Despite his desire to keep his betrothed under his roof, Mr Bingley was pleased to escort Miss Bennet back to her home as he wanted an urgent word with her father.

Jane immediately went up to see her mother and Mr Bingley requested a private audience with Mr Bennet.

Mr Bennet was reading in his library when Mr Bingley was shown in. 'Ah, Bingley. Can I assume you have returned my daughter to me?'

'I have indeed, sir. She is now with her mother.'

'Pray take a seat. Would you care for a drink?' Mr Bennet gestured to the brandy decanter.

'No, I thank you.' He hesitated, and then ploughed on. 'Now that Jane is returned to your home, I was hoping we could arrange for the calling of the banns for this coming Sunday.'

Mr Bennet lips twitched. 'That anxious to be married, are you?'

'If I have learned one thing from this whole smallpox issue, it is that life can be extinguished before you would expect. I want to marry Jane, and the sooner we can wed, the happier I will be. Jane is in agreement with this, just so long as you give your permission.'

'In that case, I will send a note to the vicar. With Mrs Bennet indisposed for some weeks to come, it will no doubt need to be a quiet wedding…' He hesitated for a moment, then brightened. 'Do you know what that means? No talk of lace!'

Mr Bingley remained at Longbourn for dinner that evening, much to the displeasure of Miss Bingley. Elizabeth missed her elder sister's company but hoped that her mother was comforted by news of the engagement and Jane's presence.

Mr Bingley arrived back while tea was being served in the Drawing Room.

'Oh Charles, you're back. We missed you at dinner,' called Miss Bingley. 'Did you really need to stay there after dropping Miss Bennet at home?'

'I had some business with Mr Bennet, and once that was over, he invited me to remain for dinner. It seemed only polite to accept.'

'Have you any word on my mother, sir?' asked Elizabeth.

Mr Bingley turned to her with a smile. 'Jane asked me to assure you that she was comfortable and sleeping, when I left. She knew you would be anxious.'

Elizabeth smiled in return, 'I thank you.'

'I have other news, too.' Mr Bingley's smile increased. 'Mr Bennet gave permission for the banns to be called this Sunday. Jane and I hope to be married as soon as possible.'

Elizabeth shot a look at Miss Bingley, who was wearing an incredulous look.

'But Charles, Louisa is sick. You can't marry before she has recovered, surely?'

'As I told Mr Bennet, this crisis has proven one thing to me. Life is too short to wait on better times that may not come. I want to start my new life, my family, as soon as may be.'

Elizabeth stepped forward, with a smile. 'Well, I will welcome my new brother with an open and joyful heart.'

'Thank you, Miss Elizabeth.'