A/N The divine Miss Austen has assisted in finding a detour around an incipient writer's block; her words have been italicized.

On their way to Rosings the two Fitzwilliam family coaches passed the stage coach transporting Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Miss Maria Lucas from Hunsford to London. After a stay of a few days with the Gardiners the two young ladies, now accompanied by Miss Jane Bennet, made their way to Longbourn.

The reception of the two eldest Bennet sisters and their young friend at home was most kind. Mrs. Bennet rejoiced to see Jane in undiminished beauty; and more than once during dinner did Mr. Bennet say voluntarily to Elizabeth: "I am glad you are come back, Lizzy."

Their party in the dining-room was large, for almost all the Lucases came to meet Maria and hear the news; and various were the subjects that occupied them and their expression so boisterous, and went on so far into the evening that it was the next morning before Jane and Elizabeth could steal away for a walk and exchange confidences regarding their respective putative lovers.

Elizabeth's impatience to acquaint Jane with what had happened could no longer be overcome; and at length, resolving to suppress every particular in which her sister was concerned, and preparing her to be surprised, she related to her … the chief of the scene between Mr. Darcy and herself.

Jane's reaction to Elizabeth's revelations concerning Mr. Darcy, and his proposal, and his letter, and Mr. Wickham, and his wickedness, was, to anyone familiar with her innate belief in the goodness of her fellow human beings, predictable.

Mr. Darcy, in Jane's eyes, was a good gentleman, whose essential goodness was often masked by his phlegmatic manner; and the fact that he loved Elizabeth to the point he was prepared to offer for her, notwithstanding his sentiments [were delivered] in a manner so little suited to recommend them, was proof in her mind of such goodness. If anything, Elizabeth's recital left her feeling sympathetic to the gentleman.

Elizabeth had made it clear that she would still have refused Mr. Darcy even if he had made his proposal as a besotted lover would have been expected to, but Jane thought that she had detected an ember of something, she would not call it affection, not yet, in Elizabeth's feelings towards Mr. Darcy. Perhaps when Mr. Bingley returned to Netherfield, when, not if, he would bring Mr. Darcy along with him. Then that ember might flicker into something bigger. Jane did not say anything of this to Elizabeth; she knew her sister would scoff at the idea she felt anything for Mr. Darcy – no, she would wait and see, and if things came to pass as she thought they might, she would at least have the satisfaction of saying to herself, that 'I told you so'.

That Mr. Wickham was wicked, and no gentleman, Jane only concluded after having extended him the benefit of every doubt, even when no such doubt existed. Even then she argued that perhaps he is now, perhaps, sorry for what he has done, and anxious to re-establish a character. We must not make him desperate."

Given that they were not at liberty to make public Mr. Darcy's disclosures regarding Mr. Wickham the sisters agreed that they would do what they could to protect their younger sisters from Mr. Wickham's depredations.

The tumult of Elizabeth's mind was allayed by this conversation. She had got rid of two of the secrets which had weighed on her for a fortnight, and was certain of a willing listener in Jane, whenever she might wish to talk again of either. But there was still something lurking behind, of which prudence forbade the disclosure. She dared not relate the other half of Mr. Darcy's letter [regarding Mr. Bingley], nor explain to her sister how sincerely she had been valued by [Mr. Bingley].

Compelled by some reciprocal compulsion to share a confidence Jane surprised Elizabeth by bringing up Mr. Bingley.

"A few days after Easter Mr. Bingley called on me at Gracechurch Street."

Seeing that Jane continued in an unhappy state Elizabeth surmised that the call had not gone well. "And?" she prompted.

"I sent him away." Tears welled up in Jane's eyes. "I sent him away without even giving him a chance to say his piece." She started to cry in earnest. "I was so rude to him. I abused him so. I called him such names, I called him a cad, and a seducer …"

"Did he touch you …"

"No, no … yes, just in a proper manner. He is not a seducer, I just called him that because I wanted to hurt him. I was so angry at him."

Elizabeth pulled her sister into a hug. When Jane had regained her composure, dried her tears, and blew her nose, Elizabeth asked "And what did Mr. Bingley do?"

"He left."

"And now what?"

"When he comes back to Netherfield, I will apologize to him, I will hear him out, and then everything will be settled between us. It will then be publicly seen that, on both sides, we meet only as common and indifferent acquaintance."

Elizabeth looked askance at her sister. Yes, very indifferent indeed," said Elizabeth, laughingly. "Oh, Jane, take care."

"My dear Lizzy, you cannot think me so weak, as to be in danger now?"

"I think you are in very great danger of making him as much in love with you as ever."

-}{-

Jane confessing to a tantrum on par with her own refusal of Mr. Darcy's proposal bothered Elizabeth. It bothered her because she could not recall Jane ever having lost her temper. No matter how egregious the offence against her, no matter how grievous the injury to her, Jane always turned the other cheek. Always. Yet Jane had said she had abused Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth thought that perhaps that abuse had been so subtle and understated that Mr. Bingley had not even known he had been abused.

Elizabeth also wondered at Jane's certainty that Mr. Bingley would be returning to Netherfield. Her discussions with Mr. Darcy had led her to believe that Mr. Bingley had quit the place for good.

But to live in ignorance on such … point[s] was impossible; or at least it was impossible not to try for information... She could not bear such suspense; and hastily seizing a sheet of paper, wrote a short letter to her aunt, to request an explanation of what [Jane] had dropt, if it were compatible with the secrecy which had been intended.

Elizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving an answer to her letter as soon as she possibly could.

Mrs. Gardiner apologized for the brevity of her response but her youngest, Sam, being ill, was having a moment. She confirmed that Jane had delivered an awesome set down of Mr. Bingley – imagine an avenging angel bringing the wrath of God to a mortal. Mr. Bingley had been very much affected; he had left Gracechurch Street looking very much beaten down. As for his return to Netherfield, she had assured Jane that, since Mr. Bingley had six months left in his lease, he was bound to return at some point – she hoped that she would not prove to be a false seer.

Jane's confession, as corroborated by Mrs. Gardiner's letter, changed Elizabeth's perception of her older sister. Before, if you wronged Jane, and you had any conscience at all, you should have felt shame. Which confirmed Elizabeth's belief that Mr. Bingley's duplicitous sisters had no conscience at all [her internal jury was still out with respect to Mr. Darcy, whom after all, had presented a credible defence of his conduct that might possibly acquit him]. But now that the image of an angelic Jane wielding a terrible swift sword had been implanted in her mind, Elizabeth thought that if you wronged Jane, perhaps you should feel fear.