Jane smiled to herself, as she replayed her dear parents' delight. They were both happy: her father teased and her mother rejoiced. Such was the sights and sounds of a minute or two before. Now she stood alone, yet her heart refused to still. It beat for him, her bearer of felicity.
Thoughts of his self soothed her soul. She sighed; and then felt a light weight settle on one shoulder. Calmly she turned her head. There was her Lizzy, her hand reaching out. Elizabeth let her fingers tickle the edge of her sister's neck. A few small notes of laughter seeped through Jane's lips – the sweet sound that signalled from dream she was awakening. She felt her cheeks ached with smiling.
"Oh Lizzy"
So soon the sisters arms wrapped around each other. Each sighed, looking out into the night. A light silence surrounded them. Elizabeth smiled to herself.
"Jane?
"Yes dear"
"May I call him your Mr Bingley now?"
Jane lowered her head, she couldn't stop her lips from smiling. She giggled once more and, when her eyes rose, they were bright.
"I think you may."
"Good"
When a sizeable shiver slivered down Jane's spine, Elizabeth tightened her hold around her sister.
"Would you like to go inside?"
Jane sighed. With one last look to where her love had gone, she nodded her head, bringing her eyes around again to Elizabeth.
And so with arms around each other, they returned to the warmth of their childhood home.
The house was quiet. Individuals had fled to their own sanctuaries. Only happy murmurings could be heard, as our pair passed by their younger sisters' rooms.
When they reached their own room, they found the housemaid Sarah waiting for them. She curtsied.
"Excuse me, madams, Mrs Bennet told me to wait for you and help you ready for bed."
"Thank you, Sarah." Said Elizabeth. "But I think Jane and I shall get along by ourselves tonight…"
She looked to her sister for agreement. Jane smiled at the young woman.
"Elizabeth is right." She said. "It has been a late night for everyone, why don't you get off to sleep yourself."
"Thank you" Stuttered a smiling Sarah. She curtsied again, but before leaving the room, braved a small word. She addressed Jane.
"Miss Bennet,"
"Yes Sarah"
"I just wanted to say, to say congratulations, on your and Mr Bingley's engagement."
Jane smiled.
"Thank you, Sarah. That is very kind of you to say."
Sarah smiled too. After a little bob, she slipped from the room with a quiet "Sleep well, madams".
The door softly closed on a contented pair. Jane was truly happy and Elizabeth was happy for her sister. They quietly helped each other: removing hairpins, unlacing stays and eventually weaving long plaits secured with little ribbons. And the while most tenderly did they converse.
"You can deny it no longer, my dear, he loves you very much." Teased Elizabeth.
"I cannot." Said Jane, her soft voice still betraying slight surprise. "Oh, Lizzy, he does love me."
Elizabeth smiled back at her.
"Indeed he does."
She gently lifted a brush to her sister's hair, when her afresh her eyes shone. Her wit was enlightened, and so expressed:
"I fear your Mr Bingley is most terribly lovesick, Jane. He might explode with happiness at any moment."
Jane giggled again.
Elizabeth continued.
"And, I am afraid to say it, but I believe you yourself may have caught the Charles…"
Now not even Jane's hands could stifle her laughter, as Elizabeth inflated her speech like an actor.
"…it will cost you a thousand pound! ere a' be cured!"
A merry play her sister has slipped into, a suiting play. So a willing Jane spoke the next line, if between her own smiles.
"I will hold friends with you, Lady."
Elizabeth giggled now. Most gratified was she that was her sister played along with her, even now.
"Do, good friend." She replied.
Their shining eyes met in the mirror, and further lines vanished, replaced by unified long laughter.
When eventually subdued, Elizabeth finished Jane's hair. Settled again, Jane spoke sincerely.
"Lizzy, I hope you find next year's to be a hot January."
Elizabeth sighed with a smile: although comforted by sisterly appreciation, a lover's longing beset her still. With a brave breath, she spoke softly:
"As do I."
Her short words were hopeful.
Jane offered her sister a final hug – silent praise for her dearest sister – which a beholden Elizabeth received, with open arms and with an open heart.
A flame fluttered, as from open lips soon blew the breath which heightened night. Their long day, ended with sisterly sympathy, and closed with silent sleep. Lying together, each were to dream of their love.
Quotes from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.