Page 29 of A Most Beloved Sister
“That she is dying?” He shook his head. “No, and I forbid you to tell her. It’s imperative that she remain calm so as not to agitate her heart any further. Mr. Jones has given her laudanum, which will make her sleepy. He said it should also help her to feel somewhat recovered, even though it is merely masking the symptoms.”
After Mr. Bennet’s departure, Elizabeth went to her sister’s room. To her great delight, Jane was sitting up in bed, her color much improved.
“Oh, Lizzy, I feel ever so much better!”
“I’m glad to hear it, dearest,” Elizabeth replied, sitting on the bed with her sister and placing an arm around her shoulder. “Now, how shall we entertain ourselves until a lunch tray comes?”
The two sisters spent the remainder of the day playing spillikins, which was Jane’s favorite game. She could play it for hours, but her family often tired of it quickly. Seeing her sister’s face wreathed in smiles, Elizabeth resolved to play it as often as Jane wished. Her heart ached with each new game, knowing that soon there would be no more.
Jane regularly dozed off throughout the day, but she was wide awake when the dinner bell rang.
“Oh, Lizzy, I want to go down to dinner! I want to see my friends.”
“Jane, dearest, I don’t think that’s best.”
“But I’m feeling better, Lizzy! Please, I want to see Mr. Bingley. I want to. Please let me.”
The more Elizabeth demurred, the more agitated Jane became until a coughing fit made it impossible for her to speak. Remembering her father’s charge to keep Jane calm, Elizabeth finally agreed to allow Jane belowstairs once dinner was completed and everyone was in the drawing room for tea.
Having rested with her feet up for the majority of the day, Elizabeth was satisfied to discover that they only ached a bit as she put her weight on them. Arm in arm, the two Bennet sisters descended the stairs together.
Bingley’s eyes lit up with delight when Jane entered the room. He made quite a fuss over ensuring her comfort, then sat next to her as closely as propriety would allow. For her part, Elizabeth crossed the room to where Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley were whispering together.
“My apologies, ladies, for my behavior yesterday. It was not the behavior of a lady, and I ought not to have spoken so.” Elizabeth bowed her head, knowing that if she saw the smug looks of satisfaction on their faces, she wouldn’t be able to follow through with her promise to her father to behave.
“Yes, well, it is quite understandable,” Miss Bingley replied in a snide tone. “I would have expected nothing else from someone in your… situation. I am sorry as well for the misunderstanding.”
Elizabeth bit her tongue and replied with a curt nod, then moved to the other side of the room, where she settled onto a small sofa. Bingley and Jane remained in happy conversationfor the remainder of the evening while Elizabeth watched on anxiously.
Occasionally, her eyes would travel towards Darcy—who had been wheedled into playing loo with the Hursts and Miss Bingley—to gauge his feelings on the situation. She was not surprised to discover that each time he glanced towards the couple near the fireplace, his lips tightened.
After the cards concluded, the group engaged in some discussion about what all was required in an accomplished lady. Elizabeth would have been amused by the conversation and Miss Bingley’s blatant attempts to simultaneously encourage Darcy’s affections and denigrate the Bennets, but she was too focused on her sister’s status.
After about an hour, Jane drooped and her face grew pale. Elizabeth immediately declared that it was time for them to retire. Bingley personally escorted Jane up the stairs and to her bedroom door, leaving Elizabeth to hobble along behind them on her own. Darcy made to follow, but he was called away by Miss Bingley over an apparently urgent matter that he could not ignore without appearing ungentlemanly.
Elizabeth frowned at the elation on Jane’s face as she ushered her elder sister into the room. Before going in herself, she gave Bingley a stern look. “Be careful, Mr. Bingley, that you know what you are about.”
Closing the door in Bingley’s startled face was extremely satisfying indeed, and Elizabeth slept quite peacefully that night.
∞∞∞
When no tray arrived for Elizabeth the next morning—although one did come for Jane—she gave into the noises of hunger from her stomach and went down to the breakfastroom, scarcely limping; she had been delighted to discover upon awaking that her feet had healed significantly.
There must be something of sorcery in that salve from Mr. Darcy! I must remember to thank him.
To her dismay, all the other occupants of Netherfield were present, and she was forced to remain instead of taking a small plate upstairs.
Darcy stood immediately when she entered. “Allow me, Miss Elizabeth.”
Before she could respond, he was at the sideboard and filling a dish for her. Remembering her father’s admonishments, she took a seat at the table. Miss Bingley glared as Darcy placed his offering in front of Elizabeth.
She looked down and was surprised to see many of her favorites. “Thank you.”
“It was nothing.”
“I mean, thank you for the jar of healing balm for my feet.”
“I hope it was helpful,” he said quietly.
