Chapter 14: Sisterly Confidence

That evening, Jane and Elizabeth tucked into the same bed so that they could speak privately. With the fire blazing and hot bricks under the covers, the sisters were feeling quite warm. The ambiance was quite an improvement from their first night at Netherfield.

Elizabeth started by asking Jane how she knew she was in love with Mr. Bingley.

"I admired him from the beginning, as you may remember. I feel butterflies in my belly when he enters a room. There are handsomer men, but no one makes me feel so happy like he does. I am pleased that my mother's wishes align with my heart. She spoke so openly about her wishes, I worried that I might be simply fulfilling her desires. This time at Netherfield has ensured that I feel everything I should feel for Charles. I wish to marry him as soon as may be."

"Has he kissed you?"

"You know he has." Jane blushed as she responded.

"No, I mean in private. Has he kissed you when the two of you are alone?"

Jane opened her eyes to observe her sister. "Why do you ask?"

"I cannot imagine the novels we read are any real measure of what love feels."

"No heaving bosoms or fainting, you mean?"

"Precisely." Elizabeth declared, though she was not at all convinced that Mr. Darcy did not make her breathless with anticipation when he was near. Perhaps she did have a heaving bosom.

"He kissed me when he helped me to my room."

"But I was only a few steps behind you!"

"It was a short kiss, but much more… intimate. Like a whisper of more to come." Jane finally admitted. "I have heard Mama and the other matrons of our village bemoan marital duties, but if he kisses me like that, I cannot imagine the rest being at all disagreeable."

"The blessing of a love match, perhaps." Elizabeth concurred. She instantly thought of her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners. They were always finding innocent ways to stay in contact, even after four children in ten years of marriage. The Gardiners would always be her guide to proper love and affection. Instantly, Mr. Darcy and his gentle caresses came to mind. Could he really love her? His touches had stirred something inside her. More than any man's touch ever had. The first night, he had been inebriated and had acted without thinking. That morning, though, he had been in command of his faculties and kissed her with abandon. She had responded in kind. He must have feeling for her. She doubted he would ever have kissed Caroline in such a fashion, inebriated or not.

They were silent for a time, each lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, Jane turned back to Elizabeth to ask, "Do you love Lord Devon? He has paid you some attention. I cannot imagine him to be so terrible as Caroline describes. Charles would not keep his friendship if he had ever lost all of his money gambling. A little here and there is not a terrible burden."

With a scoff, Elizabeth replied, "Certainly not. He is too much of a flirt to pay his attention any significance. I shall not mourn when he leaves."

"Mr. Darcy, then." Jane prodded.

Elizabeth did not respond for some time. She felt fairly certain of his feelings, yet she knew he was a very private man, and it did not seem real enough to speak of them. It required her admitting her own opinions of the man were false.

"Charles believes he likes you."

"How can he know?" Elizabeth attempted to laugh at the idea, but her voice fell flat. Eventually, when it was clear Jane would give her time to think but not let the subject drop, Elizabeth asked, "What has your dear Charles said?"

"That the two of you were blushing when you returned to the archery field after recovering some mistletoe. Mr. Darcy has never blushed in his life, according to Charles. You certainly do not blush often. He also explained that Mr. Darcy had never smiled so much as he did today."

Unconsciously, Elizabeth licked her lips at the memory. When she looked at Jane again, she could see her earnest desire to know. "Yes, he does appear to like me, and what is more, I believe I might be growing to like him too."

Jane squealed with delight. "I hope you can grow to love him. Charles looks up to him and believes there are few better gentlemen in all of England. It would be wonderful if you and I were to marry such close friends."

Elizabeth smiled at Jane's pure delight. "I think I could love him in time, but I worry about his pride. Perhaps his heart is growing affection for me, which I cannot doubt after his actions today. But he expects to marry an heiress with all the best qualities and connections. Could he really settle for me, the niece of a tradesman?"

"Oh, Lizzy! He is close friends with Charles, whose father was a tradesman. It is not the same thing as marriage, but it shows he is not so stuffy as you believe. Give him a chance. His income is more than enough for you to come to him without a dowry. And your accomplishments have garnered his interest enough for him to kiss you, so I would imagine they are enough for him to marry you. We will simply wait and let him get to know you, and you him. It makes me happy to think how close we could be in marriage. I always dreaded the thought of marrying and moving away from my family."

"If I marry Mr. Darcy, I would move to Derbyshire. That is many miles away from Hertfordshire."

"But the distance is nothing with a good carriage and company." Jane smiled. "Never fear. If you get to know him and find him disagreeable, I shall not pine for what might have been when you refuse him."

"Very sensible of you." Elizabeth snuggled closer to her sister to share her heat and closed her eyes. "Goodnight, dear sister, and we shall see how everything plays out tomorrow."

"I believe this is my favorite play, now." Jane smiled and closed her eyes. "Lizzy!" she admonished when Elizabeth laughed.

When Elizabeth calmed, she was able to think rationally about her attraction to Mr. Darcy. A week prior, she would never have considered him as a potential husband. Now, it seemed that perhaps he might be the one to make her happy in marriage.

AN: Day 1 of spring break = 1 chapter written. I also figured out how I want this story to end (with HEA, of course, but the how had eluded me). I think I have maybe 5 more chapters, more if I write small ones like this.

I hope you enjoy this bit of sisterly affection. I miss my sister. Why do we have to grow up and move away?