Chapter 16

Elizabeth stood up from the pew after services had come to an end. Holding on to Anna's hand, she followed Will out of the church. Walking down the steps, she made her way over to the shade tree, and gave Jane a smile.

"I am going to go and find Bingley. I will hopefully be back with some good news." Will picked up Anna, gave his wife a kiss on the cheek, and walked in to the crowd.

Jane turned to her sister, "Who is Bingley?"

"He is the doctor in town. Him and Will have been friends since childhood. I think you would like him Jane." She linked arms with her sister and led her over to Mrs. Reynolds.

"Hello there my dear. I haven't seen you since last Sunday. Where have you been hiding?"

Elizabeth placed a kiss on the older woman's cheek. "We have been busy at the farm. I would like to introduce you to my sister Jane. Jane this is Mrs. Reynolds. She lives on the homestead next to ours."

"It's a pleasure to meet one of Elizabeth's sisters. How long are you staying to visit?"

Jane grasped the older woman's hand in her own and gave it a brief squeeze. "Elizabeth has told me about you. I will only be visiting for a few weeks."

"I look forward to talking to you more while you are here. I am sorry, but I really must be going. We have company coming over later and I must find my husband. I will see you two young ladies later." She gave each of them a quick hug, before walking off to find her husband.

Elizabeth linked her arm with her sister and turned her to where she had last spotted Will. Walking along, she noticed many of the town folks staring at them curiously. Jane leaned her head close to Elizabeth and asked, "Why are so many people staring at us?"

"Pemberly doesn't get many people that stay in town and they are just curious about who you are. It was the same way when I first came. You are very pretty Jane and I am certain there will be young men in town coming to talk to you."

Jane shook her head and her blond curls danced under her bonnet. "Elizabeth, I didn't come here in hopes of finding a suitor or a husband. I came to visit you and get away from suitors for a while."

"I am sorry, Jane. I won't talk about suitors or husbands if you don't want to." She stopped a few feet from where her husband was talking to Doctor Bingley.

He looked up at that moment and caught her watching. Giving her a small smile, he motioned for her to come over. Elizabeth pulled Jane over to the two gentlemen. "Good afternoon, Doctor Bingley. Will you be going us for a picnic today?"

Bingley glanced their way and gave Elizabeth nod. "I have to check on Mrs. Whittle, but after I am done, I will meet you out there." Tipping his hat to them, he casted a quick glanced at the young lady by Elizabeth, before hurrying off to his waiting buggy.

Will turned to the ladies and shifted Anna to his other hip. "Shall we get going?"

Elizabeth nodded and followed him to the wagon. He helped Jane and Anna in to the back of the wagon, before lifting Elizabeth up on the seat. Grabbing the reins, he climbed in to the wagon, and turned the horses away from the church.

Clucking to the geldings, Will turned them to the trail leading to the pond, and they set off. Elizabeth shifted on the seat and grabbed the bag of taffy from under the seat. Glancing inside, she found there were still three pieces left.

Taking one out, she turned slightly in her seat, and looked at Jane. Holding one of the pieces of taffy, she waved it in front of her face. "Jane, would you like a piece of taffy?"

"You know taffy is my favorite candy." She grabbed the piece from her sister and bit it in half.

Anna looked up at the bag of taffy Elizabeth was holding and held out her hand. Elizabeth chuckled at the little girl and gave her half of one piece. Anna stuffed it in her mouth and gave Elizabeth a smile.

Turning back around, she stared ahead, and set the bag in her lap. Will eyed the bag sitting in her lap and reached to grab it. She saw what he was doing and grabbed his wrist. Glancing up at him, she saw a childish look over take his face.

"Can I have a piece Beth?" He had never been able to resist the treat.

She placed a small kiss on his knuckles, before opening the bag, and taking out the other half of Anna's piece. Popping it in to her mouth, she started chewing.

His face fell when he realized he wasn't getting a piece, and turned back to watch the horses. After a few moments, he felt a hand on his knee. Glancing down at her, he saw her holding the other piece. Taking it from her, he popped it in to his mouth, and savored the sweet taffy.

Jane watched her sister interact with her husband and smiled. She could see that her worries about her sister were for naught. Looking at the two of them together, Jane could see that they were truly happy and seemed to really care for each other.

Looking out the back of the wagon, she watched the trees slowly grow thicker. The grass was blowing in the wind and she lifted her head to let it cool her face. A few minutes later, Jane felt the wagon slowly come to stop, and saw that they were in a small meadow.

It was surrounded by a grove of trees, with tall grass, wild flowers, and a large pond. Standing to her feet, he let Will help her out of the wagon, and grabbed the blanket from the back. Walking over to her sister, she saw she had the picnic basket. "Where would you like to have the picnic?"

Elizabeth looked around, before spotting the perfect spot under a large oak tree. Pointing to it, she led her sister over there, and helped her spread out the blanket. Sitting down beside her sister, she helped her take out their lunch.

Hearing hoof beats coming towards them, Jane looked up, and saw a large bay gelding racing towards them. The horse came closer and she recognized the rider as Doctor Bingley. As he stopped the horse by the wagon, she continued to look at him. He wasn't handsome, but his features were pleasant to look at. He was the same height as Will, but with light brown hair, and brown eyes.

She glanced away when she realized she was staring at him. Grabbing the bowl of fruit out of the basket, Jane set it on the blanket. Elizabeth finished putting the rest of the food out and looked over to where the gentlemen were talking. Will had Anna on his hip and the little girl had her arms around his neck.

They finished talking and strolled over to them. Sitting down, Elizabeth handed them each a plate of food. Will grabbed his plate and turned to his friend. "Bingley, I would like to introduce you to Elizabeth's sister Jane Bennet. Jane this is Charles Bingley."

Jane gave him a smile, but he only nodded in return. Glancing at his friend in surprise, Will looked up at Elizabeth, and found her frowning. Shrugging his shoulders, he started eating his lunch.

Anna had her plate balanced on her lap, while she sat in his lap. She happily dug in to her food and watched the grownups with sparkling eyes. A while later, Will and Bingley finished their meal, and walked to the wagon; grabbed their fishing poles, and headed to the pond.

Will walked beside his friend and pondered his cold reception of Elizabeth's sister. Usually Bingley was happy to meet a new young lady to talk to. Casting his pole in to the water, he turned to his friend. "Why did you greet Jane so coldly?"

Bingley glanced over at the two ladies lounging under the tree; Anna napping between them. "She is pretty I must confess, but she doesn't belong here."

"What do you mean she doesn't belong here?"

"I have seen women like her before. She belongs back east where there isn't hard work like out here. We have tough winters and summers. Miss Bennet wouldn't last the rest of her life out here."

"Elizabeth is out here and she is handling it fine," Will said to his friend. To him, Bingley wasn't making any sense.

"Your wife is a special young lady. She would have to be, to be able to handle you, and not get scared away. All I am saying is that, she deserves to have a husband who can take care of her and give her anything she wants. I know that man is not me." He said and turned back to stare at the pond.

Will looked over to where his wife was talking to her sister. Jane looked like she wouldn't be able to handle it out here, but he had seen determination in her eyes when she wanted to help with chores this morning.

He had shown Elizabeth when she first came how to collect eggs from the chickens and this morning he had found her showing Jane how to do the same this. He had sighed when he saw what they were doing because he was sure that Jane would run out of the hen house. But, a few minutes later, he saw her come back out with a basket full of fresh eggs, and a large smile on her face.

Turning his attention to his friend, he thought that maybe Bingley needed to look deeper in to the young lady, before setting his mind against something.