Jane sat by the window with a cup of tea, watching a gray London as it awoke. Errand boys ran to and fro under a blanket of clouds. Tradesmen wandered together, planning their days and weeks, coughing in the smog. Maids were beating rugs or curtains, sending more dust and vapor into the air. Children had yet to awaken to see the fog. In fact, Lizzy had yet to awake.
Last night was magical. They had gone to a ball with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, and the Gardiners of course. Lizzy had allowed her first impression of Mr. Darcy to be wrong and let it go, and now their friendship blossomed enough to annoy Jane. Whenever some event happened, she would turn to talk to Lizzy, only to see Lizzy in conspiratorial whispers with Mr. Darcy. It irked her. Until she remembered that she would do the exact same when Charles was around her. They were forever muttering and whispering to each other. Jane could see Lizzy would get a little annoyed as well.
Mrs. Gardiner was convinced neither girl would see the summer in their single status. Jane and Lizzy both blushed, but neither contradicted it. Jane felt a thrill of elation that Lizzy wouldn't or couldn't argue against it. Her plan was working.
"What are you sipping on?" Lizzy said with a groggy voice. Jane looked over her shoulder with a smile.
"Ginger, would you like some?" Jane asked, pouring Lizzy a glass.
"Only if you also have honey in your stash over there."
"For you Lizzy, I've kept some squirreled away." Lizzy laughed at this, accepting the cup as she sat up. Jane turned back to the window to watch a pair of boys selling newspapers door to door. Lizzy sat down in the seat next to the window, crossing her legs and bouncing the one dangling. They watched out the window quietly together, enjoying their tea. Eventually Jane spoke.
"What do you think of Mr. Darcy?" she asked simply, softly. She let the question dissolve into the silence. Lizzy kept her unseeing gaze out the window.
A flock of birds twittered past their window.
"He does improve upon further acquaintance," Lizzy said quietly. Jane sat quietly, waiting for Lizzy to gather her thoughts. "He is inarguably handsome as well."
"So, humor is her veil today. Perhaps when she is more secure in her feelings I can ask again. But he must have improved himself in her eyes if she has offered a compliment" Jane thought.
"Keep your thoughts on the man then" Jane said laughing softly, "but tell me your thoughts on our excursion to the museum today."
Lizzy erupted into excitement over their planned excursion and Jane was happy to watch her dear Lizzy tell animated thoughts. A little bit of sunshine in their little bedroom.
OOXXOOXoXXx
"Hello!" Charles waved his hand in greeting, coming to stand directly next to Jane. "We've brought a new friend today, I'm sure you'll adore her."
"Oh?" Mrs. Gardiner asked, "Who is this new friend?"
"Darcy's younger sister, when she discovered we were going to see the Egyptian exhibit she was adamant to come with us. I didn't have the heart to say no, and you know how Darcy feels about the girl" he said with a grin and a shrug.
"I've been interested in meeting her for quite some time," Jane said, curious about how alike the two siblings were. Charles nudged her arm with his with that special smile.
"And today you shall find out!" he said, looking Jane in the eye. Lizzy and Mrs. Gardiner shared a look.
"Your duties as a chaperone will be great indeed," Lizzy said.
"When Mr. Darcy arrives it will double," Mrs. Gardiner sighed, to Lizzys blush.
After a few minutes Mr. Darcy arrived with his sister. A tall, but gangily blonde girl. Jane remembered that stage well. It was terribly awkward. The limbs were much longer, and easy to mistrack. It was only made worse because this is also when the stares are longer, and the whispers louder. Jane must be correct, for Miss Darcy could hardly take her eyes from the floor.
Mr. Darcy quickly made the introductions and Lizzy called attention away from Miss Darcy to move the group into the museum. Jane loved when Lizzy would divert attention away, and seeing Miss Darcy's repressed, relieved smile as she glanced at Lizzy, she must have appreciated it just as much.
Lizzy caught Jane's elbow and slyly led her towards Mr. and Miss Darcy who were examining a statue of an old Egyptian warrior standing with a staff. Charles smiled and kept his hold on Jane as he followed. Lizzy wrinkled her nose in a smile at Charles.
"Mr. Bingley you must distract Mr. Darcy so we can steal Miss Darcy away from his imposing stare," she declared, looking at Mr. Darcy with an impish joy. Mr. Darcy smirked while Miss Darcy looked alarmed.
"Too imposing even for you madam? If anyone could speak their mind around me, it has always been you," he said deeply, his affection written in his eyes. Lizzy blushed, but laughed.
"Not I sir, you may have total faith in my impertinence. I have my doubts about your sister and mine though!" she teased, winking at Jane who smiled.
"I will never underestimate Miss Bennet again," Mr Darcy said, bowing slightly to the lady, "but you are perhaps correct in regards to Miss Darcy. Bingley, Miss Elizabeth has bid you distract me."
"Only for a quarter of an hour, I'm loath to stay away from our group too long," he said as he and Mr. Dacy walked off.
Mrs Gardiner and Lizzy were very gregarious with the shy girl allowing her to find safety in the happy noise. Eventually Lizzy had opened the girl to giggles which she hid behind her hand. By the time the men returned Miss Darcy was testing her own voice and responses.
"How goes it?" Charles muttered to her, leading her to a mummy. Jane smiled at him.
"I believe we have another recruit for the cause. If we fail in bringing Mr. Darcy and Lizzy together, Miss Darcy will surely take up the banner in our place."
"I like that you've consider "we" and "our" Miss Bennet," Charles said with a smile. Jane blushed at how forward he was, but thanked all good things he had done so quietly.
"Do you doubt it?" Jane asked, a lingering blush on her cheeks. Charles seemed speechless for a second.
"Sometimes in our early days," he admitted, "but not any more." Jane smiled and squeezed his arm.
"I don't have any doubts anymore either," she whispered, before questioning him on old Egypt. A question lay heavy between them, one that couldn't be exposed in such a crowded venue.
OOXXOOXoXXx
Charles had somehow convinced Mrs. Gardiner and Lizzy to return for dinner at his house. Masterful negotiator is how Mr. Gardiner put it.
So, all four of them sat in the carriage to go to dinner at the Bingleys. Lizzy sat deep in thought, pursing her lip now and again. Mrs. Gardiner kept her seemingly glowing gaze on Jane and Lizzy alternatively. Mr. Gardiner, in a not infrequent show of public affection, held Mrs Gardiners hand as it rested between them.
Charles was there to open the door when the carriage had stopped, lighting the inhabitants with a contagious smile.
"Hello again my friends," he said helping Lizzy and then Jane out. Like Mr. Gardiner, Charles did not release Janes hand, only put it on his arm. "What a wonderful night!" he said, leading the way into his home. After they had relinquished their outerwear they walked into the parlor.
There sat the sisters, and Mr. Hurst. They stood up one second too late. Terse pleasantries were exchanged and dinner was called to everyone's relief. Charles glared at his sisters as they walked into the dining room.
But placecards were set at each seat. Lizzy looked furious, but Charles was the one that spoke.
"Everyone choose your seat, pay no heed to the cards. In fact, I don't know why theyre out when I specifically declined them," he spoke in a voice that Jane had never heard. It was void of any emotion, and allowed for no argument. Jane's party looked impressed and sat down, heedless of the cards as decreed. Caroline and Louisa rushed to sit on either side of the head of the table. But, Charles sat at the foot instead, after placing Jane next to him.
Dinner was a trial.
OOXXOOXoXXx
After dinner, during the separation of the sexes, Jane was herded away from Lizzy and Mrs. Gardiner. Caroline and Louisa looked mildly desperate.
"You must ignore me brother," Caroline said, "he loves anything that looks at him."
"Indeed," Louisa said, "he is rather flighty"
"And you Miss Bennet, can you imagine staying in town all season long. Do you think you can host balls and parties?" Caroline said. At this, Jane grew nervous. Whenever she imagined Charles and her it was always in a setting like Longbourne, never town. "To expose yourself as a failure to the whole, gossipping town." Jane's stomach rolled at the thought.
"Why are you saying this?" Jane asked
"Isn't it obvious?" Caroline laughed, "to keep this relationship from happening"
"Why?" Jane asked.
"Charles has the best chance of marrying us up" L said, ignoring Caroline's glare.
"Isn't my father a landed gentleman?" Jane asked, her eyebrows coming together in confusion. Caroline gave a snort.
"Indeed, but of no fortune, consequence or reputation. No, he is a disgrace to the class "
"So, he is a gentleman. Do you hate me?"
"That's the worst of it Jane, we don't hate you. We hate what you were born into," Louisa said.
"Do you hate me for being born higher than you?"
"No, just not high enough," Caroline said with derision.
"Aren't you doing what people have done to you this whole time? Don't they hate you because you weren't born high enough?" Jane questioned.
"That's different" Louisa said
"I don't think so. You hate me because I'm too poor and too low a class. Aren't you also too poor and too low a class for the first circles?"
"Dear simple Miss Bennet," Caroline bit out, "that's why we need to align with the Darcys" she continued slowly, as though talking to a simpleton. Jane then realized there was no rationing, it was like talking with mama. Louisa though, had a doubtful look.
"So, you are determined to hate me for the same reason you are hated yourselves?"
"Oh Jane! Do be reasonable," Louisa said sadly.
"Aren't I? Do you hate me for the same reason you hate yourselves? And if so, wouldn't you be glad of me trying to end this vicious cycle?"
"Only if the cycle ended in our family being established in a higher circle" Caroline protested, while Louisa bit her lips and looked down.
"What does your brother think of this?" Jane pushed.
"That were being underhanded and narrow minded" Louisa said softly before Caroline could answer.
"My brother," Caroline said with venom, "is easily distracted and inattentive. You wouldn't want to be with him. He'll forget you when you're in the same room."
"Is that why you are so loud? Are you frightened of being forgotten? Are you frightened your children will be forgotten?" Jane queried, in a soft, gentle manner.
Caroline stopped as though struck by lightning. Jane reached out to hold her hands.
"They won't be left out or forgotten," Jane said, holding tightly when Caroline attempted to shake her off. "You don't need the power of the town, you just need people that love you!" Caroline shook her off successfully this time, her face in a fierce scowl. Louisa stood to the side, both hands over her mouth.
"Jane!" Mrs. Gardiner barked, coming to them swiftly.
"I think you need to leave," Caroline seethed, glaring at the room. Louisa, still pale and closed mouth, just shook her head.
"I think," Lizzy said coldly, "This is your brother's house. We ought to wait to take our leave from him." Lizzy linked her arm with Jane and drew her away from the sisters to stand a step behind her, as though a guardian.
This was the moment the door opened to Charles and Mr. Gardiners smiling faces, which rapidly turned thunderous. Charles marched over to Caroline and towered over her. Sometimes Jane forgot his height because of his approachability. It seemed the rest of them had similar thoughts as Lizzy, Louisa and the Gardiners gaped.
"What did you do?" he said darkly, quietly. Carolines eyes instantly turned red and tears began to collect, but not fall. Jane felt so confused! She was proud of Charles, angry at Caroline, but also felt a great deal of pity for Caroline. She must feel like Kitty often. Only Caroline lashed out in anger instead of sickness. For a second, Jane was angry at Carolines anger. Until she remembered that Lizzy lashes out in anger to cover her sadness as well. "Is this how Lizzy felt when Charlotte was getting married?"
"Wait!" Jane said abruptly, "I'd like to talk to Miss Bingley alone for a bit."
"Absolutely not," Charles said, glancing over his shoulder before turning back to Caroline, who wouldn't meet his eye, but wouldn't let the tears fall.
"I believe we should go," Mrs. Gardiner said with finality. "Thank you for dinner, Mr. Bingley."
Lizzy rushed out dragging Jane along, as though Lizzy couldn't bear to let her go.
"I'll see you in my office tomorrow morning," Mr. Gardiner said, before following his family.