The morning was a curious one. Despite their plans to explore the grounds, the gentlemen were forced to stay indoors due to a sudden rain shower. It was not heavy, but it would make visiting tenants a rather wet activity. The gentlemen's remaining smoothed the conversation between the two ladies and allowed Elizabeth to observe the newly married couple.

They had a different dynamic than that which Elizabeth had ever seen between a gentleman and a lady. Mrs. Bingley seemed to look on her husband with a sort of awe mixed with uncertainty. She was ever looking to either her husband or her brother for reassurance and confirmation of her words and actions. The only time that the young lady seemed confident was when speaking about music. Although somewhat accomplished herself, Elizabeth did not have the passion for music that Georgiana did. Kitty would have been much more suitable for such topics, given her status as the most accomplished musician in the area. Elizabeth shared this with Georgiana.

"I believe I should like to know Miss Kitty better," Georgiana responded. "You are so fortunate to have sisters. I have always wished for a sister, especially a younger one, but it was not to be."

"And I have always wished for a brother," said Elizabeth with a grin. "Everyone wishes for what they do not have. Not that I would sacrifice any of my sisters and replace them with a brother, even though that might make my family's life rather easier."

"Is Longbourn entailed through the male line?" asked Georgiana.

"It is, to a distant cousin named Mr. Collins."

Georgiana made a face. "My brother told me of him. I have not met the gentleman, but I understand he is the new parson under my aunt, Lady Catherine's patronage."

Elizabeth agreed that this was so.

"Then what will happen to your family if your father were to die? Where would you go? I know it is not proper to ask, but…," Georgiana's voice trailed off. She looked over at her brother and husband, who were both intently focused on their game of chess, oblivious to her silent plea for assistance.

"Do not trouble yourself on that matter," said Elizabeth. "There is a small piece of land and a home not included in the entail where we can live. Our income would not be as great, but we shall not be in the hedgerows. It does you credit that you wish to assure yourself that we will be well."

Georgiana was visibly relieved by Elizabeth's words. While she knew it was unlikely her brother or her husband would allow the Bennets to be long on hard times, hearing that their efforts would be unnecessary was reassuring. Elizabeth was touched by Georgiana's compassion, and the girl was thereby endeared further to her.

"Ha! Checkmate!" came Mr. Bingley's voice from nearby. "At last, I have beaten you."

"Have you beat my brother at chess?" Georgiana jumped up from her seat and rushed over to look at the chessboard. Elizabeth followed at a more leisurely pace.

"I have!" Mr. Bingley said proudly.

"Boasting does not become you," said Mr. Darcy, reclining slightly in his chair. "You act as if I have not been giving you lessons for years."

"Lessons, indeed!" scoffed Mr. Bingley. "You played without mercy. I learned on my own, but now I have a secret weapon. You have given me your apprentice!" He wrapped an arm about his wife's shoulders and lightly embraced her from the side.

A smile spread across Georgiana's face, and she gazed up at her husband with admiration in her eyes. "You did not need much tutoring," she said. "You just needed more practice and to have all of my brother's favourite gambits explained to you."

"Turncoat," mumbled Mr. Darcy good-naturedly.

As Elizabeth watched the scene before her, she felt a sense of warmth and comfort amidst the gentle teasing. The men continued to banter, occasionally turning to Georgiana to aid them in their side of the matter.

"Do you play chess, Miss Bennet?" asked Mr. Bingley.

"I do play, a little. I have only ever played against my father and uncles. Usually they take a piece off their side to give me an advantage, but they still typically win," she answered.

"Should you wish for a teacher or rival, you are welcome at Netherfield," said Mr. Bingley. "I do not know if I should be much help, but my wife certainly would be able to assist."

Georgiana agreed that she should enjoy playing against Elizabeth whenever she wished. At such an offer, there was nothing to do but to sit down and play together. Of course, Georgiana won every game, but Elizabeth learned several things that she had been doing wrong before. At the end of the visit, she declared herself excited to play her father soon. He might not win so often anymore.


Upon Elizabeth's return to Longbourn, she was surprised and pleased to find that Mary and Ben were visiting. After greeting them tenderly, however, she was informed that their visit was not just social. "Mrs. Bennet sent a note," said her brother-in-law. "Apparently your father's health has worsened a little, and he was up half the night coughing. Mr. Blunt — the doctor from town, Mrs. Bennet, and Mary are with him. From what I heard before I left them, I do not believe the news shall be good."

Elizabeth's conscience gnawed at her as she remembered the games she had played at Netherfield while her family was going through such distress.

"There is nothing that you could have done," said Ben. "It was just as well for one less person to be pacing the floor."

"Still. I might have offered some comfort to someone. Where is Kitty? And has a note been sent to Jane?"

Ben confirmed that a note had been sent express and said that Kitty had gone to visit the Lucases and knew nothing of the matter just yet. He was not inclined to tell her until she came home. It was better to let the child have a few more hours of happiness. When Elizabeth expressed relief and her thanks, he replied, "It is some help being a parson. I am so used to assisting others in their times of troubles that the list of things that ought to be done comes to mind without effort. It is once all the practical tasks are completed that the difficulty begins. Then all you can do is hope and pray. It is rather more difficult for me to be patient than to be active."

"I think it is the same for everyone," said Elizabeth.

Mary descended from her father's chambers and immediately approached her husband and sister. They looked at her expectantly, but her face held only sadness. "I know nothing yet. I was made to leave the room so Father could undress for the doctor. I believe he thinks something is wrong with Father's lungs."

"Something that can be cured, I hope," said Elizabeth quietly.

Mary shook her head. "He said cancer was a possibility, but he needed to examine Father more fully. I pray it is not that."

"My grandfather had cancer," said Mr. Hadley. "His symptoms were nothing like Mr. Bennet's. He had a lump of cancer. The doctor removed it. It came back, but the surgeon bought him some time, I think. Mr. Bennet doesn't have a lump of cancer, though, does he?"

"Not that he has noticed. Mr. Blunt says that is not always the case, though. If the cancer is in the organs, you would not be able to see the cancer," said Mary. "He says it can be caused by an excess of feeling or a lack of feeling. Either is damaging to the organs. Too much rich food and drink can cause cancer too, he says. Father must eat a very bland diet, have no spirits or strong wine, and must avoid excitement. He shall be drinking lemonade like the children and going to bed early from now on."

"He shall not like that very well at all," said Mr. Hadley. "Do you think he shall agree?"

Neither sister could answer that question. They waited together in the parlour. Mary sewed clothes for the poor, while Elizabeth copied some sheet music that Georgiana had lent to her. Mr. Hadley looked over his sermon for the next Sunday.

Mr. Blunt's grim expression was evident when he came into the room. They stood at his entrance and looked expectantly for his diagnosis. "I cannot be entirely certain," said Mr. Blunt. "The cancer is internal, and therefore can only be deduced, not known for a certainty, but I believe he does have cancer of the lungs." The doctor explained that if he was correct, Mr. Bennet had not very long to live. The other patients he had seen with the same symptoms had only a few weeks to several months left. The Bennet family was hit hard by the news, as if a heavy weight had been dropped on them. Mr. Blunt left before long, promising to return with the various treatments that would make Mr. Bennets last days much more comfortable.

Within an hour of the rest of the family learning the diagnosis, Kitty returned home from the Lucases. Her sisters delivered the news gently, but it still caused her to immediately burst into tears. Elizabeth's arms wrapped around her, engulfing her in a warm embrace and soothing whispers. As much as she told herself that the embrace was for Kitty, she felt the need of her sister's embrace just as much. She had always known her parents would die someday. She had spoken of the possibility only that morning, but now the event was not some hazy, distant event.

Mary went back to her father so her mother could take a respite from the sickroom. Mrs. Bennet looked in a daze, but only said, "I shall have to assist the tenants of my cottage to find somewhere else to live, as we will need to access it soon. I should like to clean it quite well and see what might need to be done for us to move thither."

Ben took up the course of practical action that he preferred. "Since there are no empty tenant houses at Longbourn, we should ask the Bingleys and the other neighbours if they need new tenants. It is good that they shall be able to move in the winter. There shall be no issue with crop-sharing or profits."

Conversation continued in the vein. No one spoke of the actual issue at hand, only the consequences. No one could bear to think of life without their beloved patriarch.