Chapter 23:
It was the morning after. Elizabeth woke up, hoping with all her might that the previous day was not merely a dream. It took all her will power not to run down, with her harry potter pajamas and bunny slippers, to greet William and be with him. But propriety won, as it always did, and she hurried to change and go down to breakfast. She left Jane sleeping, she thought she needed it.
Down at the breakfast table was William, sitting coffee in hand and reading the papers. Apparently, there was something which really bothered him.
"What is it dear?" she asked, sitting next to him.
"Hey! Good morning!" he greeted her with a kiss. She nodded at the papers, and he was compelled to answer. "Nothing, love."
"Come on, it can't be nothing… I HATE the tabloids!!" she grunted as she saw what it was all about. Apparently, someone has found out about Jane and Bingley, and there was a 3-pge spread, including a timeline on their relationship, comments from friends and a poll! about whether they would get back together or not.
"Well… one thing is true; these journalists work real fast. Just don't let Jane see it, it would break her heart… especially that 80 of "Not" voters…No way!"
"What?" he asked, rather disinterested.
"Listen to this: "Another interesting fact which has reached our ears-" attached to a cone the size of this entire country no doubt! "- is that our glorious Prince has, once again, disappointed his nation in obtaining them a Princess,"
"What?!"
"Yes, and it goes on, but I don't have the stomach to read it to you, here, hold" she passed the paper to him. As they silently continued with their breakfast, and numerous cups of coffee, Elizabeth remembered what she was going to speak to William about. She waited until he finished reading all the news and could have his undivided attention.
"Will… We need to talk about something."
"Yes, I suppose it would be a shame to spend our life without a topic of conversation… what do you propose then?"
"Come on, this is serious. It's about… Jane."
"Oh…"
"Listen, I do not judge you for… anyway, now you can make it right… right?" she asked. It was a sensitive topic; she knew he felt ashamed of his actions, but it had to be discussed.
"Of course! I have already called Charles and asked him to meet me. The moment you two are safely moved in, the whole business will be solved."
"No. Please, Will, this is more important to me. Jane comes first! Besides, who knows how long it will take us to find an apartment…"
"All right love. Jane comes first." He gave her a small kiss, and she smiled. Problem solved! "And, about the apartment… you never said I couldn't help in choosing it. You already have one waiting, I called some people who knew some people." He grinned. How adorable he is when he smiles! And, he is right… no harm done with a little help from him…
At that moment, Jane was coming down, proud and trying to hide evidence of her early morning crying.
"Good morning Lizzy… morning William…" she tried to sound cheerful, but… her acting talent was about at the level of her singing.
"Jane! We were discussing with Will that perhaps we should cut the trip short and all head back to London?"
"Yes, that is a very good idea… though I hope it is not because of me, because I really wouldn't mind staying, the scenery is beautiful!"
"No, dear Jane, we must g back. We all want to." She answered. They continued their breakfast in silence, though in a completely different atmosphere than before. After it, the three went to pack their bags and pay their bill (which, fortunately for Lizzie, was on the house… if not, she did not know how she would've managed her share without William's help) and finally embarked on the drive back home.
"This trip really hasn't turned out as we have planned… has it?" Jane said suddenly, in a weak voice as if she were voicing her thoughts more to herself.
"no… it really hasn't…" Elizabeth, who was now sitting at the front seat next to William looked at him, in adoration. "But don't worry Jane, everything will be all right soon, you will see. This can't end like this, it just can't!"
"Thank you for your concern, Lizzy, really, but… I'm fine. I mean… it's not like his move was unreasonable… what he ever saw in me I will never know…"
"Will, please stop at this gas station, I need to slap my sister back to reality!" William dutifully stopped and Elizabeth dragged her sister out of the car, while William waited patiently.
"JANE BENNET, you will stop this nonsense at once! If Bingley can't see the wonderful angel you are, than he does not deserve you! Never, ever think again that you are not worth him, because you are thrice the man he will ever be! …well, woman…"
"Lizzy, I don't know what you are on about. There is no need for a scandal, please just let's get back to the car!" Jane was so cold, so distant, so… So much like you, 8 years ago… I can't let the same thing happen to her, not Jane!
"Jane, I know what you are going through, and trust me this is not the way to handle things!"
"Oh, Lizzy, forgive me for saying, but you have no idea… I really love him! He really was the one… and he doesn't want me…" Jane as good as cried, but kept her composure. "I love you, Lizzy, but you can't even imagine how much it hurts."
"Jane… Jane, dear Jane! If you only knew…"
"Knew what, Lizzy?"
"This is going to be a long story… wait, I'll tell Will to switch off the motor." With the authorization of William to disclose their story for the first time to a third party, she started her tale. She told her about how they met, and how she hated him, but how he made her love hi not long after. She talked about the concert night, the starbucks evenings and the rendezvous in the park… she told her everything, almost moment to moment, and she listened horrified.
"Jane, I am so sorry. I know I should've told you then, but… I was so young!" Lizzy cried with her sister.
"Yes… yes you were… I wish you would've told me!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry for distancing myself, and for being so cold and cruel and… oh Jane!"
"Lizzy, I had no idea… How it must've pained you to see him so many times, with Charles and me… and him! What does he say to all this… and how… ?" she had so many questions, her ace look so bemused, that Elizabeth couldn't but laugh.
"We are all right. Yesterday… Yesterday was a beautiful day" she grinned, and Jane hugged her tight.
"I am so glad to have you back, Lizzy!" she took a deep sigh, and said in a serious tone
"You see, Jane, I do know what it is… how it feels and how tempting it is to just not care… But you will end up as bitter and idiotic as me, Jane. And I don't want to lose you again..!"
"You won't, Lizzy, I promise!"
Crying session over, they sat back into the car, Lizzy holding Jane in her arms, giving her protection while she slept through their ride.
"Will?" Lizzy called the driver in a whisper, receiving a grumble.
"I just… wanted to thank you for the Global warming act…"
"You saw that, didn't you?"
"Well, it was difficult not to… made the headlines for months, I think."
"Yes, well… was an unexpected move for the time. You were right, it turned out…" at this point, William's phone stared ringing.
"Could you please pick that up? I don't want to risk getting caught driving and talking.."
"Sure, where is it? Ah, found it! Hello, Prince William's phone?"
"Who is it?"
"Elizabeth Bennett, who's asking?"
"The Queen, Miss Bennett, you should recognize voices better. And I demand to speak to my son, please!"
"Uhm, Will, it's your mother."
"Too late to say I'm away I suppose?"
"Too fishy. Here" she said passing the phone to him.
"Good morning mother, how are you?"
……..
"Yes, I understand, but-"
……..
"Mother!"
……..
"Could we discuss this when I am not driving please?"
……..
"Good bye Mother." He said, throwing the phone on the neighboring seat. "Unbelievable!"
"What is it?"
"Nothing… just… Caroline is busy trying to ruin my life again."
"I'm sorry."
"Whatever for? I brought it on myself." After a slight pause he added "And I really hope I won't have to spend the rest of my life hearing "I'm sorry" from you.."
"You have so little faith in me? I should hope I wouldn't have a reason to apologize so often…"
"We're almost there. I'll leave you at a cinema-, that will give me time to talk to Bingley and you may not need to move out in the end."
"Thank you, that is very considerate. But what should we watch, I wonder? Wall-e?"
"Or kung-fu panda, another highly recommendable choice." They joked.
"All right. But, seriously… don't call-off the apartment you found us just yet; I don't want to burden Bingley… especially now with Caroline and all…"
"Don't worry about her, it will be solved in a matter of days. But, you wish is my command, the apartment will remain reserved for you."
"thanks"
"Mhm…" muttered Jane
"Good morning, sleeping beauty! Will here has decided to drop us out for some Wall-E –ing, you up for it?"
"Uh… sure… what?" her brain was, obviously, still asleep.
"Here we are! Lizzy, I'll pick you up in 2 hours, have fun!"
"Yeah, you too." And with that, they left. Needless to say, they did not watch Wall-E, but spent their 4 hours waiting for William talking, and truly catching up. When William arrived, Jane was almost back to being herself, cheerful and even laughing at some of Lizzy's, very bad, jokes.
"Jane… I got something for you, go check in the car."
"Oh, William, you didn't have to!" Jane answered.
"Actually… I really did. I'm sorry. I am truly sorry. I hope you can forgive me someday." With a confused look, Jane approached the car, where her surprise was waiting.
Guess what the surprise was winkwink