Hello, I am sorry for the delay, RL aka school got in the way.

Jen, thank you for your help! ;)

Enjoy!

Chapter Twelve

(Note: This chapter takes place right after Christmas with Elizabeth preparing for her trip to London. She remembers what happened in the last months – before AND after the Netherfield Ball)

Elizabeth

Elizabeth carefully folded the last dress she was taking with her and looked around for some other items to pack. She could not see anything. Hm, I suppose I am ready then. She plopped down on the bed and closed her eyes, thinking. A lot of things, both good and bad had happened in the last month. Month, it has been so long since I last saw- She stopped. It did not do well to dwell on this forbidden topic. And yet, she could not help but remember.

Flashback

Elizabeth was not sure how she got home that fateful day. She could hardly see anything through her tears, she just followed her instincts. When she arrived in the garden, she carefully snuck under the trees and through the back door and went upstairs where she locked herself in her room. She was very grateful that she did not share it with any of her sisters. Elizabeth was an early riser and while she went on her adventures in the morning, her sisters preferred to sleep in.

She remained in her room the entire night, not sleeping, just tossing around, her mind running frantically. At dawn, Elizabeth finally made peace with herself and decided to put the matter to rest. She would not jump to conclusions, she told to herself. Maybe, just maybe, he was talking about somebody else. She would observe and then make a judgement, even though she knew deep in her heart that she was just grasping at straws.

After a few more days, when Elizabeth felt she was once again able to control her emotions, she ventured into her father's library and carefully explained that she had overheard a few soldiers boasting who would be the first to get the young Bennet sisters. As expected, Mr Bennet was furious but decided against telling his wife to spare her nerves. Instead he assigned a footman to discreetly keep an eye on his daughters.

End of the Flashback

Elizabeth suddenly started to laugh. Oh, how worried she was about her sisters and yet, they surprised her.

Second flashback

Elizabeth was tiptoeing quietly downstairs with the intention of disappearing before her mother got a hold of her and started another interrogation about the letters from Miss Darcy. She was really not in the mood to discuss anything related to the name Darcy.

She nearly fell down when her two youngest sisters rushed past her. Kitty was in high dungeon, her face red from anger and flashes spitting out of her eyes. "How dare he! Who does he thinks he is?" She was repeating again and again while she marched into her father's study.

Lydia was hot on her heels, practically vibrating with excitement in anticipation of the show she was certain she would witness.

"Papa!" Kitty called in the tattle-tale voice she usually used after an argument with her younger sister. However, this time it seemed that Lydia was blameless, because nobody in their right mind would go near the enraged Kitty if they were the object of her anger.

Elizabeth could not resist and slipped inside her father's room just when Lydia was closing the door. She looked at her elder sister mischievously and gestured at her to be quiet. They both stayed back and just observed Kitty who was pacing back and forth in front of her father's table.

He was studying her calmly, his hands clasped under his chin. "Now, Kitty, why do you not sit down and tell me what has brought you into this state of distress." He could not help himself and added, "You are far too young to already have your mother's nerves."

"You certainly have to call him out." Kitty came to stop right in front of her father when she announced resolutely.

"Of whom are you speaking?" Mr Bennet sounded baffled. "Why? What have you done?"

"I?" Kitty's anger started to burn with a new flame. "I?" She repeated disbelievingly. "That-that scoundrel wanted me to elope with him!"

At these words, Mr Bennet's attention was caught and he perked up. "Sit down and tell me everything."

With that she did. Once Kitty opened her mouth, she would not be stopped until she got everything out. Telling how she started receiving small gifts from her secret gentleman admirer, she was sure that it had to be either Mr Bingley or Mr Darcy. Flowers and letters filled with poetry waited for her almost every day. Occasionally, there would also be a sweet which was the way into Kitty's heart since she absolutely adored chocolate, a rare treat.

Kitty pictured a rich life for herself, full of luxury in the arms of a loving handsome husband. And what a laugh, should it prove to be Mr Bingley. She would have snatched him right under Jane's nose.

She went on about the place of their first meeting with excitement, her stomach full of butterflies. Imagine her disappointment when her lover showed up and proved to be Mr Denny. At first, she hoped he was just a messenger. But when he fell to his knees and proposed with a flowery speech, suggesting that they would need to elope in Gretna Green because her parents would certainly not allow her to marry a poor soldier – a romantic speech indeed, she finally understood that her wealthy gentleman never existed.

Denny, so sure of his victory, was anticipating a joyous cry and Kitty jumping up and down with excitement. He certainly did not expect a scene where Kitty threw his flowers on him and stomped away, muttering angrily about scoundrels.

While Mr Bennet was very glad that the scheme did not work, he was still worried that Kitty only refused to follow through because he was a poor soldier. He had no doubt, had he been a wealthy gentleman, she would not have refused. He decided to attempt a closer relationship with his youngest daughters for their sake and also for that of his family.

End of the flashback

Elizabeth giggled. The thought of an enraged Kitty cursing Denny into the darkest pit of hell always managed to make her smile. She loved her family. They all were a bit unique, but together, they made a perfect mix of sense and insanity, sobriety and laughter.

It was her family who helped her through her first days of disappointment by Mr Darcy. Although her sisters did not know what burdened her, they felt something was amiss and set out to cheer her up.

Lydia and Kitty dragged her shopping with them, excitedly recommending different ribbons which would complement her hair for the Netherfield Ball. When they arrived home, they brought the chessboard from their father's study to her room and demanded to be taught the basics of the game. It was not fully altruistic on their side, because they realized they could impress gentleman with their skills. But still, they did it for Elizabeth.

Mary was quite busy, preparing for her wedding, enjoying her short time as her mother's favourite daughter. Oh my daughter! Married to Mr Collins! What a handsome fellow. I shall go distracted. She bore it with patience, which Elizabeth admired. Even though Mary had her hands full, she still found a bit of time for her older sister, offering her a listening ear. When Elizabeth admitted she could not possibly confide the whole truth to her, she was hoping to use Jane's shoulder to cry on. As it turned out, Mary, out of all her sisters, was the one who received the most information in the end. Elizabeth reluctantly confessed that she believed herself in love with unavailable man. She truly did not expect Mary's reply. "Is he married or engaged? No? Well, then anything else should not be an obstacle. Go and make sure he is available." Who knew Mary was so decisive. Elizabeth took her advice to heart and decided to observe Mr Darcy in London.

Jane, her dearest sister, had been in a deep state of melancholy since Mr Bingley's abrupt removal from Netherfield Park. Elizabeth frowned, remembering his hasty goodbye. When he was handing the Bennets into their carriage after the ball, he casually mentioned that he needed to depart for Town on business in a few days, and that he would probably close Netherfield for winter. Oh, Mrs Bennet, the season in Town is something quite fascinating, I cannot wait for it. And that was it—no more sickly sweet eyes for Jane, no more flattering.

With just a few sentences, he shattered all of Jane's rosy dreams. He had his fun and it was time to move on, Elizabeth thought grimly. At least he stopped before my mother started with wedding planning. And it was only because she was busy with Mary. God bless her for her timely wedding. Elizabeth chuckled, almost forgetting how horrified she was when she first heard about the affair.

Looking back, she could not disagree with herself more. Mary made a good choice. Mr Collins suited Mary perfectly as she was forced to admit after frequent chaperoning the couple. They had common interests; they were already planning how to help find a few widows in his parish well paid employment where they could take their children with them. After a while, she noticed how often Mary blushed when Mr Collins kissed her hand. Yes, they were on the road to falling in love.

Third Flashback

Mary's wedding went off without a hitch. Mary looked radiant, she was glowing with happiness. Elizabeth stood up with her, her childhood friend Mr Lucas serving as Mr Collins's groomsman. It was truly a beautiful wedding. Even after a month, everyone still talked about it, how Mrs Bennet presented the best wedding breakfast in the last ten years. It was no surprise. Mama had been waiting for that moment her whole life.

Though Elizabeth let go of her worries on that day, laughing and dancing with other young people, the same could not be said for Jane. For the last month, she spent most of her time in her room, looking gloomily out of the window, reading romance novels and crying.

All her sisters tried to comfort her, just as they were helping Elizabeth. However, Jane did not appreciate their concern. She locked herself in her room, not admitting anybody, only her maid with a tray.

Elizabeth grew very concerned about her sister and went to her father with her worry. However, he just waved his hand dismissively. "Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of, and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions."

Although Elizabeth did not agree at first, she came to see over the month that her father may have been right. Apart from sighing and living in self-pity, Jane did little to rectify the situation. When her Aunt Gardiner offered to invite her alongside with Elizabeth, confident that they would certainly meet Mr Bingley again, Jane refused. "If he loved me, Lizzy, he would come for me. I am not chasing him—it is a man's place."

"Bu-but Jane," Elizabeth protested most emphatically. "If you really love him, you have to let go of your pride. And besides, this is not chasing, you are just increasing your chances of meeting him again."

"No, Lizzy. Let me be. My heart is broken and it shall never be repaired." She sighed dramatically, falling on her bed, turning her back to Elizabeth.

It occurred to Elizabeth that her words sounded like those from a romance novel. "Janie, please-"

"No!" Jane was suddenly angry. "He abandoned me. I should have been Mrs Bingley by now. Instead, it is Marry getting married today. I am the oldest sister."

"Certainly, you cannot begrudge Mary's happiness, Jane!" Elizabeth was appalled.

"I-," she sighed, "of course not, but this does not change the fact that it should have been me, the beautiful bride on the arm of her prince."

In the end, Elizabeth had to agree with her father. Jane enjoyed her unhappiness, being all dramatic, but more for the loss of status than for the loss of the groom. Maybe it was for the best. She was just infatuated. As soon as their rose coloured glasses fell, so would their marriage.

End of the flashback

Kitty peeked into Elizabeth's room. "So Lizzy, are you ready for our adventure in Town?"

After Jane's refusal, Aunt Gardiner decided to take Kitty in her place so that Elizabeth would not be all alone with her ragamuffin young cousins. They were certainly handful, and the more people to look after them, the better. The girls could at least take short breaks while taking turns.

"Yes, Kitty, I am all ready." She placed her letters from Miss Darcy, or Georgiana how she insisted, in her reticule, so she could reread them in the carriage.

She received her first letter from Georgiana shortly before the Netherfield Ball. It was very tentative, but still a polite letter, expressing her desire for friend at the recommendation of her excellent brother. Elizabeth replied with a much longer and playful letter, describing everything from her sisters to their household and to her childhood.

Georgiana replied enthusiastically and over three missives, they became the best of friends. Elizabeth could not wait to meet her face to face. Is she as handsome as her brother? Ah, her brother. I could not think of one without the other.

Elizabeth gave a lot of thought to Mr Darcy in the last month. She still held the hope that Wickham's words were just one big misunderstanding. However, she could not help herself, remembering all the little clues which she should have noticed earlier. She did not tempt him. She was perfectly sure that he never looked at her or any other woman with the smallest hint of desire. He ran from Mrs Robbins. Oh Lizzy, you should be happy for it. You have been eating yourself with jealousy since you knew of Mrs Robbins's attempt on seducing him. However, what were the rumours about him she mentioned – that he does not prefer women? And what about his father, Mr George Darcy? He is "the George" Papa knew. Could be hereditary? Stop it Lizzy, let it be, you will see in London.

Elizabeth and Kitty waved to their mother and Lydia until their carriage disappeared behind the bend. Jane did not venture out of her rooms to say goodbye.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.

Next update should be normal again - in two weeks, hopefully no more interruptions.

Please review! ;)