Mr. Darcy reined the team to a halt before the front door of the grand house at Netherfield. He climbed down from his perch and opened the door of the coach. He could hear the ladies talking within.
"Jane, what you and Mr. Bingley have to say to each other shouldn't take more than half an hour. If you're not back by then we'll come looking for you."
"You should tend to your own knitting, Lizzy."
Elizabeth harrumphed and said, "I don't want to see you ruined."
Jane laughed "It's a little late for that. Now have fun while you wait, but not too much. Remember what Mama said about taking advantage."
Mr. Darcy blew his breath out and raised his eyebrows on hearing that exchange.
Mr. Darcy handed Jane out of the coach. Before she started up the steps she said "Mr. Darcy, if I'm not back by the false dawn you had best take Lizzy home." She was up and through the door before he could make an appropriate response.
-}{-
The front door opened before Jane reached it. Mrs. Longden was acting as porter. She took Jane's cloak and smiled and nodded to her.
Jane smiled back and then glided towards the main staircase.
-}{-
Jane stood in front of the door at the end of the corridor of the family wing that had a red ribbon looped over the knob.
She paused; thinking about how she was gambling her future. It was not too late to run back to the coach; run back to Longbourn; run back to spinsterhood; run back to her future of being the favourite maiden aunt of Lizzy's children.
No. The cards had been dealt; she would play out her hand, come what may.
She had so much she wanted to say but she would not make the same mistake that she had made the last time they were together. There was something she wanted to hear from Mr. Bingley and she was going to let him say it.
She took a deep breath, and turned the knob.