She could not bring herself to actually make the promise, but mustered an encouraging smile, nonetheless. She glanced over her shoulder to find Papa being pursued by Kitty and Mary at his heels, demanding questions and for one brief moment, Elizabeth could almost mistake Mary for Lydia for the way she and Kitty seemed so very in synchronization in their pursuit for information.
"Papa!"
"You cannot think to simply leave us."
"She is our sister too!"
Elizabeth relinquished her hold on her mother to come to her father's aid, giving them each a worried look. "We haven't the slightest clue where she might be, and you are safest at home," she said, rather severely, and was met with the discontent looks of her two younger sisters. "Kitty, Mary," she pleaded. "Honestly, after we find Jane, we shall take her to see Bingley and then we will bring her back immediately," she assured, hoping that would quell their protests.
Kitty crossed her arms, looking rather petulant, although Mary seemed to be coming around to the matter of sense.
"Lizzy," Mr. Bennet beckoned, sounding far too calm for Elizabeth's liking.
Elizabeth took a deep breath, compartmentalizing all her thoughts quickly. "Mary," she began, bringing her into a hug. "We will have you over to Pemberly to study the library and the pianofortes, I promise," she remarked. "As soon as everything has settled." She offered a nervous smile. Grasping Kitty's forearms lightly, she smiled, knowing exactly what she wanted to hear. "And then, eventually, there shall be a ball."
That seemed to please her, and Elizabeth moved on to Mrs. Bennet, regarding her quietly. They could not rush this moment and Elizabeth was greatly aware of this information. Elizabeth exhaled very slowly, feeling as though she released some pain in that moment, but not enough; not nearly enough.
"You fetch my Jane," Mrs. Bennet said, more firm than she had been before. It seemed her nerves had settled, even though she still clutched at her embroidered handkerchief with a grip so tight that had it been a hand in Mrs. Bennet's palm, it would have been bruised to the deepest shade of blue and purple.
Elizabeth felt a heavy weight upon her back and she nodded.
"You bring her back, Lizzy," Mrs. Bennet continued, faltering only mildly. "You bring her back to me so that I may keep her safe from any future harm."
"I will," Elizabeth promised. "Mama, I promise you I will."
She turned and quickly boarded the carriage with Mr. Bennet, sitting opposite of him as they began to move, the wind pushing through Elizabeth's hastily pinned-up hair and she tugged her coat tighter about herself to ward off the chill of the wind about them. She did avoid looking right at Mr. Bennet, for she was not sure if she could manage a conversation at the current moment.
"Where do we go first?" she finally asked, when the silence was far too overbearing.
Mr. Bennet was watching the countryside roll past. "We are going to your Uncle's. Perhaps he will be able to help fetch my wayward girl." Elizabeth finally caught his eye and they both underwent a moment of avoiding each other's gaze. "And how is Mr. Bingley faring in Jane's absence?" he asked casually, as if simply striking up any old conversation.
Elizabeth shot her father an incredulous look. "Hardly able to function, Papa," she remarked, rather tersely. "He adores Jane, and you know that."
Mr. Bennet pursed his lips together. "Whether he adores her enough to find her before we do remains to be seen," he said, and Elizabeth turned her attention away once more, not in the mood for her Papa's jests, not today. "But rest assured, one of us will find her."
Jane's wrists had been tied up by Mr. Townsend and the silhouetted woman hours ago and she sat in a simple room, with a basin of water and a platter of food set out for her. She struggled to sit up, eyeing the door warily when it was opened and Mr. Townsend entered, heading to her. "We've brought you a Doctor, Mrs. Bingley. Now, I would not recommend that you do or say anything silly," he advised, as though reassuring her.
He unknotted her wrists. She stared at him with as much loathing as Jane could muster for someone she had previously trusted so dearly. He didn't even seem to notice.
"If you do cause a mess, then I shall be forced to harm your husband," he said, with deep regret in his voice. "Now, I don't think either of us wants it to come to that, dear. Isn't that right?" Jane felt the same icy fear that had become her constant companion gnawing at her and she nodded, just the once. She could not be the cause of harm to Charles; she would never live with herself.
He released her and turned over his shoulder. "Doctor, she's quite decent, now."
As the Doctor entered the room, Jane and Mr. Townsend exchanged a long and heated look, neither of them quite pleased with the other.
"Mrs. Bingley, good day," the Doctor greeted – he appeared an older man, quite friendly – and he smiled as though he could see nothing amiss whatsoever.
Mr. Townsend lingered by the door. "I will be right outside," he warned. "Doctor, I will have a summary of your discussion after?"
"Of course, yes," the Doctor agreed pleasantly, as Mr. Townsend closed the door and left Jane to be studied and prodded. She was instructed to lie down and she closed her eyes tightly, the idea running through her mind of delivering a message somehow, but this Doctor would surely tell Mr. Townsend what had occurred.
Her breaths were short and she was in quite a state of distress, hardly paying attention.
"Hm."
Jane opened her eyes and regarded the Doctor, who appeared to be making notes, inspecting her carefully. "Yes, Doctor? Is something amiss?"
"It seems that your man has been mistaken," he chuckled. "Have you been quite tired as of late, Mrs. Bingley? Perhaps your chest has experienced soreness? Or perhaps, attending the washroom with more frequency?"
Jane had not wanted to complain, not of the first and second, and she nodded, almost skittishly. Was she with child then, or not? Mr. Townsend had implied two months, but it was not true, was it? "Several months ago," she spoke. "I had been quite nauseous," she remarked. "Is that part and parcel of this?"
"I believe," the Doctor remarked, hands now removed from Jane's stomach, "that you had merely suffered indigestion. Perhaps a case of ill food." He offered a smile. "Congratulations, Mrs. Bingley, you are four weeks along." He stood, offering her a sympathetic smile. "There may be nausea, but you must only keep yourself in good health and it shall pass."
Jane felt as though the world was moving all about her and she might fall, so she grasped the sheets beneath her tightly. "Doctor…" she spoke urgently, as he moved towards the door. "Doctor, please, if you would…"
"Yes, Mrs. Bingley?"
He would harm Charles, if she said anything, if she did anything. The fear paralysed Jane and though she direly wished to speak and to send warning, or good news, or any news, she did not know where she was and could not do anything but incite harm.
"Thank you," she finally offered, soft and sincere as she hung her head, unwilling to risk Charles' safety, not when she was in such an unknowing position. She would protect herself and her child as best she could until she better knew what to do.
Someone would find her, she knew. Somehow.
tbc
I've got my bag of tricks left to go. Thank you to everyone for reading and for reviewing because it definitely just makes my day! After this story is completed, I'll either have a sequel or a modern day AU, but it all depends on how very much exams will kill me.