“What is it, Love? You look upset.” Charles and Jane were taking advantage of a rare ray of sun in the garden at Longbourn. They had wandered on the far side of the lawn and he hoped to be safe from the prying eyes of Jane’s younger sisters. He brought her hand to his lips to make her look at him. “And don’t tell me you’re just worried about Elizabeth. I know you are; I know you have been since Darcy left; and I also know there’s more than that.” Charles, himself, had been shocked by Miss Elizabeth’s unexpected fit of nerves when learning of Darcy’s reluctant and hasty departure to Pemberley; and although he could not but think that it might be a good omen for Darcy’s quest, the fact that, after five days, he still had not seen his future sister with her usual cheerful smile had made him truly concerned. He had even thought of relaying the news to his far-away friend but had resolved against the scheme. Darcy had obviously painfully accomplished his duty, there was no use furthering his misery. But worry was not Jane’s current feeling, of this he was quite sure. His beloved was upset, for a reason unknown to him, even though he knew a reason why she could be. He had taken hold of her second hand, and, at last, she raised her eyes to him. “Please, do tell me what happened…”

Jane swallowed. Charles seemed truly concerned and she didn’t want to make him worry for naught. Yet, she was really upset and she could not begin to imagine how to explain to him why. She tried to smile; his frown told her she wasn’t duping him. His eyes were begging her to open up to him; she could see that. It was one of the things that had attracted her to him, his ability to convey as powerful messages with his eyes as with his mouth. She had recently discovered that she had underestimated the skill of his lips, though, and, blushing lightly yet unable to refrain, she stood on tiptoe and brushed his mouth with hers. Unfortunately, they had not been able to repeat the sort of delightful private moments they had shared in the potato cellar yet. Their last visit at Netherfield had almost been a little disaster – mainly because, Caroline had outdone herself once again. True they had, then, and again at Longbourn, been able to enjoy a little bit of solitude; but there had been neither time nor privacy enough for them to partake in what could easily become a favourite activity of hers. Her thoughts thus pleasantly engaged and him being quite to her taste, she carried on with nibbling then licking his slightly ajar lips. After long seconds of stillness, she felt his mouth react. His lips opened further and his tongue darted and met hers.

Charles’ thoughts had been much less agreeably engaged and she had taken him by surprise, hence his lack of motion at first. Now that he had regained his senses, he enfolded her in his arms, his mouth taking possession of hers. After a most delightful battle with his lips, he felt hers surrender to his assaults and part. His tongue invaded the now opened field and, pleasurably, went on fighting with hers. Every notion of where they were had left him; he just knew, from the pounding of his heart to the softness of her hair on his fingers, from the stars in his closed eyes to the hardening of his manhood, that she was Jane, his long-searched-after soulmate, the one who could make his blood thicken like no one ever before.

John Carter was cold. He was cold and hungry. And his donkey seemed determined to go as slow as he could. Yet the load he carried was not that heavy; John happily reflected that he had managed to sell enough of his apples for his Harriet to go shopping to Meryton the next day. So why, oh why, would not this stupid beast go faster? His annoyance grew louder with time. And, since the weather was so cold, he was sure no lady of Longbourn would be out, he didn’t refrain on coming closer to the Master’s property. “C’m’on you b____dy donkey!” John yelled at the disobedient animal. He couldn’t witness it because of the wall between him and the Bennets’ lawn, but his shouts had an effect, indeed. Not the one he expected, since it took him several others to have his donkey go forward; but it did make Jane realise where they were and, stepping back, she brutally ended the blissful moment she and Charles had been sharing.

Her abruptly leaving his embrace caused Charles to painfully remember what they were discussing when she had tried – and succeeded – in distracting him. His senses not yet totally recovered, he misconstrued her reason for ending their kiss and heartily jumped to wrong conclusions. “Indeed, I knew it! You’re upset because of Caroline! You heard her when she scolded your mother for not being a proper chaperone, did you not? I had hoped that you had not… Please, My Love, don’t let her upset you. When she acts like that, she doesn’t deserve the attention you bestow on her. Had Louisa been in the room, or had she thought we could hear her, she would never have dared; she knows she’s no longer allowed to berate you and your family. I swear I scolded her after you left.” Unable to find words to apologise further, he once again let his eyes beg for her forgiveness; Charles was not so unaware of his powers, after all.

Jane smiled at him, a real smile, the one she had not been able to produce earlier but that had been made possible by his kiss. “Charles, indeed I am upset; but it has nothing to do with your sister’s words. I heard her, but truthfully, it made me smile. She’s right, you know, my mother is not the best of chaperones. My aunt did a far better job of it, did she not?”

He smiled back, remembering that, in London, he had not been able to kiss Jane once after his proposal, while, since arriving in Hertfordshire, he had enjoyed this pleasure regularly. He held out his hand and she slipped hers in it, “So tell me what upset you so. Has Elizabeth grown worse? I saw her this morning, she looked a little bit better to me, but who am I to judge?”

Jane started walking again. Somehow it felt easier to tell Charles what she had learnt the evening before while looking at the ground for a safe footing. She took a deep breath in and began her tale. She told him of what had happened in the library after their engagement dinner. She told him of Mr. Darcy’s confessions about Mr. Wickham, of his dissolute habits at Cambridge – not that it was news to Charles who had rapidly become one of Darcy’s intimates after their ‘brutal’ encounter, of his reprehensible claim of the Kympton parsonage, and – trying to conceal the particulars – of his shameful involvement with a very young lady. The old Jane would have probably not thought possible that so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind, as was here collected in one individual; she would have laboured to prove the probability of error, and seek to clear Mr. Wickham without involving Mr. Darcy. But the new Jane – the one who had learned at her own expense that meanness indeed existed, and more often hidden behind enticing falseness – was shocked and angry to have been deceived so. “And I suspect that there is more to this than I can comprehend. Lizzy looked better, as if sharing her secret relieved her a little; but I feel she’s still hiding things from me. She told me she was so taken aback by Mr. Darcy’s words that she had just asked him to leave once he had ended his story. I guess I can understand her sudden illness by her inability to do justice to Mr. Darcy, but somehow it does not seem to be enough. Lizzy’s stronger than that…”

Charles’ optimism made him see another reason why Jane’s sister’s spirits could have sunk so low following his friend’s departure; he didn’t share it with his beloved, though. Confessing Darcy’s intentions would only place Jane in an awkward position at that point. But one of the few things that could even further his happiness was his friend’s finding equal bliss, and he resolved on acting on this. “I think you’re right, My Love. Unfortunately, I suspected that Wickham was a very unsavoury person; Darcy, without ever telling me so much, had hinted at some very nasty actions of his, even if I never saw for myself what kind of people he was consorting with at Cambridge. But I had felt that Elizabeth’s preference for that man had seriously decreased; I didn’t hear her utter his name once when we were in London. Surely she’s not mourning his appealing manners?”

“She is not, of this I am certain. No, it’s more as if she cannot forgive herself her ill judgement of Mr. Darcy and the harsh words she’s often thrown at him. I know part of her disliking him was due to what Mr. Wickham had told her of his godfather’s son, to the lies he had told her. But why she would make herself ill with this self-rebuke, I cannot understand. She knows she will see him soon – at the latest for our wedding; it’s not like her to behave this way.”

Charles was hesitating, should he reveal Darcy’s feelings for her sister? Jane was his obvious ally in his matchmaking intentions, yet he knew not what her feelings were about such a match. Did she understand that Elizabeth would complement Darcy and he would complement her in a perfect way? He knew he wouldn’t have to make up his mind as Jane carried on, “Or maybe it is that the thought of waiting for more than three weeks is more than she can bear; maybe she’s also grieving the basic fact that he left…” Her speech slowed as the puzzle she had been contemplated since the previous evening fell into place. Curiously, the last time she had felt this light coming through the darkness was when she had fathomed that Mr. Darcy had tender feelings for her sister. “Could it be that she feels more than friendship for Mr. Darcy?”

Charles raised his eyebrows, “Well, they seemed to enjoy each other presence in London – that is, after the Umberight ball!” He chuckled at the memory.

They were almost back to the house. Jane stopped and smiled up at her betrothed. “In London, I came to suspect that Mr. Darcy had developed an attachment for Lizzy; do you think ‘tis possible?”

Charles saw the mischievous light in his beloved’s eyes and he knew she would make him confess whatever secret he still had. He surrendered very willingly, “I know he has, My Love. I’m afraid fate has been against him since he resolved on courting her, but it is his intent. And I’d be happy if I could help him. Do you think you could help him too?”

Jane’s countenance turned serious. “I will try and understand if she really cares for him or not. If she does not, I will not talk her into loving him. ‘Tis not possible, Lizzy’s too stubborn.”

“But if she does?” prompted her once again begging-eyed betrothed.

She smiled confidently, “If she does, we will make them make a match of it before soon!”

He beamed at her, then chuckled when she said, “and you should not over-use this power you have on me with those handsome eyes of yours. Just use it when I’m not already convinced!”

“Charles, may I tell you I’m very impressed?”

Charles’ gaze moved swiftly from the blazing hearth to his sister. Louisa had joined him in the drawing-room to wait for the Bennets a short while ago, but words had been unusually scarce between them. He had inquired after Caroline, she had told him of their sister’s obvious unwillingness to be civil to Charles’ future in-laws, and silence had settled upon the cosy room, he thinking and she observing him; watching her brother’s expressive face show his inner thoughts was very entertaining. She suspected he had been planning something – a quite atypical thing for him – and the pros and cons of each scheme had been apparently strongly argued. Once his features revealed he had reached a conclusion, she had startled him with this confusing question.

“Of course, you may,” Charles replied expectantly. “May I ask why?”

“You may, “Louisa answered, trying to maintain a serious countenance. “I’m very impressed for you’re not pacing by the front windows. Since I entered, you’ve been sitting – and thinking – quietly without showing any sign of impatience; and I find it very impressive!”

Charles chuckled at his sister’s words. He acknowledged that he had changed during the last weeks and hoped that it was for the better. “And you have too, Louisa. I never told you how grateful I am for the efforts you made since that evening in Hurst's library. It means so much to me.”

She blushed and waved away his thankfulness. “I’d rather we not speak about it. It will be years of happiness for Jane and you before I can forgive myself for the misery I caused you both.” After returning her brother’s silent and caring gaze with a sweet smile, she said, “and I offer you my heartfelt congratulations on your wedding. You two will be the happiest couple.”

While she let her thoughts wander on how she could use her younger brother’s example to keep on improving her own marriage, he lost himself back into his plans to try and steal some more private moments with his betrothed.

“What dreadful weather we have!” said Mrs. Bennet, while Louisa was pouring the last cup of tea for her brother.

“Indeed, Mama, but I care not about the weather when there are so many things to do inside. In fact, too much light or noisy birds distract me from my study of Fordyce’s sermons. And there is no better thing than the beating of the rain against the window to pace my playing the pianoforte… Though it’s true Lydia and Kitty are giggling outside with the officers when it’s dry, not sighing and arguing in the drawing-room…” Mary paused thoughtfully, “Now that I think about it, I wonder what is best?”

“And Miss Elizabeth is still too low to go out? She was at church this morning,” enquired Louisa, as much out of concern for the lady’s welfare, as since she had seen Mrs. Bennet’s eyes rolling at listening to her daughter. “And Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty could not come either?”

“Well, Kitty wanted to come but Lydia could not go unchaperoned to Meryton, now, could she?”

Louisa choked on her tea on hearing Mrs. Bennet’s answer. Did she really think that Kitty, who was unmarried and certainly not more than eighteen, could chaperone her sister? Fortunately, Mrs. Bennet had not finished her answer.

“As for Lizzy, well, she’s certainly better, but not yet fit to go out on company. I must say I’m worried about her; she’s never been as lively as Lydia, to be sure, but she’s rarely out of spirits either. She’s not really ill, you know. No fever, no cough, she doesn’t even complain about headache… She just sits, idle, silent, and then suddenly she flees to her room and doesn’t want to see anyone but Jane. It reminds me of how I was when Colonel Millar's regiment went away; but there’s no talk of the regiment leaving, so it really makes no sense…”

“Is Elizabeth still that low?” Charles discreetly asked Jane.

“Not that low, Mother exaggerates. But it’s true she seemed not well enough for me to insist on her coming here.”

“And were you able to talk to her?” he asked eagerly.

Jane smiled. It had been three days since she had agreed on assessing her sister’s feelings for Mr. Darcy and Charles had been asking her the same question everyday since. She raised her eyebrows, “I was.”

“And?” almost shouted an enthusiastic Bingley.

“Hush…” whispered Jane in the suddenly silent drawing-room. She smiled sweetly at the three ladies gathered around the grate and waited for them to resume their conversation. “I cannot tell you here; I don’t want Mother to eavesdrop…”

A still flushed Charles agreed on her last comment. Escaping for a while with Jane had been his sole concern for a few hours; he now had two reasons to wish to do so. He stood up and, steadily announced, “I feel like checking on my potato seedlings, would anyone wish to accompany me?”

Mrs. Bennet and Mary exclaimed on-tune a horrified, “Oh, no!” while Jane remained rosy and silent and Louisa expressed her opinion on the silliness of the scheme.

“You’re joking, Charles, are you not? It’s cold and about to rain. And you have some guests. You cannot expect anyone – and much less everyone – to be as interested as you in those seeds of yours!”

Jane could not but react. True, she had some delightful memories of her last visit in the potato cellar, but even before this, she had been interested in seeing those potato seedlings. “I beg to differ, Louisa. I am interested in Charles’ project.”

“And that’s very good of you, Jane; but, surely you do not wish to go to outside when it’s so cold!” Mrs. Bennet would favour any private time for her daughter and her betrothed, but the weather was so hostile that nothing good would possibly happen in such a setting. She went on, as lightly as she could, “But now that you mention it, there is this book I talked to you about… the one you said could be found in Mr. Bingley’s library… maybe you could go and retrieve it for me? And Mr. Bingley could accompany you?”

Jane’s cheeks took a crimson shade; Charles nodded eagerly his agreement. “If I can be of any help,” he said, holding his hand out to Jane. She took it and stood up.

“I dearly wish to see if you have any Sermon books, too,” interrupted Mary, jumping on her feet at the same moment.

“I’m sure he has not,” replied her mother, catching her wrist and yanking her back on the sofa.

An embarrassed Louisa proposed some more tea to a very satisfied Mrs. Bennet and her mortified daughter, while Charles was leading his betrothed to a quiet – and empty – library.

Although he was very interested in what Jane had to relate, as soon as the library door was closed, he drew her into his arms and his mouth crashed on hers. Her arms instinctively reached for his neck and she let her passion match his. “I missed this so much…” he mumbled, when he drew back to breathe.

“I missed it too,” she replied breathlessly. “Such a pity the weather is so dreadful!”

Charles understood her meaning; he had, too, enjoyed their last outing. “And such a pity my sister is so meddlesome…” He paused, distracted by the feeling of her lips tracing the line of his jaw.

“Your sister?” Jane eventually asked.

“Yes… Louisa…” He replied, loosening his embrace so that his hands could move to her sides. He saw confusion in her eyes. “The potato cellar…”

Jane flushed, her memories melding in the feeling of his hands lightly brushing the side of her breasts. A shiver ran through her body.

“Are you cold?” Charles enquired caringly, stopping his gestures.

“Cold?” she giggled, “Cold? No I’m not cold… I’m sure I’ll never be cold again with your arms around me.” After a slightly embarrassed pause, she went on, “I… When you touch me… It’s…”

He loosened his hold immediately. “Do I go too fast?” he interrupted her, “I’m sorry if I did; I don’t want to force you… I may have idealised what happened in the cellar… Did I upset you?”

“No Charles, no!” Jane framed his face with her hands. “How can you think so?” She pecked a kiss on his lips, then took his hand and led him to the sofa. Once he was seated, she kneeled in front of him. “I thought I had been clear enough then,” she said, “I know not what you remember; but the truth is that I enjoyed every instant of it, and that I can’t think of Netherfield without wanting to go there again with you…” She saw relief in his eyes, yet he didn’t appear wholly convinced. “Did you not hear me contradicting your sister, just now?” He nodded. “Charles,” she stood up and sat on his lap, “When you touch me, it feels good.” One of his arms became her backrest; she had taken his other hand and placed it on her upper chest. “It’s the strangest experience in the world; it gives pleasure, yet it makes me yearn for more. The mere thought of it is enough to annihilate all other thought.” She blushed and went on boldly, “I think about it at night… I dream about it… about you…” His hold on her back strengthened, bringing her closer to him. “Dearest,” said she earnestly, “the only thing I fear is you thinking less of me because of my…brazenness.”

Her calling him ‘Dearest’ brought him back to life, and at once, everything fell in place. “And this could never happen, My Love,” he replied. “I just cannot think less of you.” He raised his lips to hers and softly kissed her. “Will you tell me if I…”

“You can’t Charles, but, yes I shall if it makes you feel better.” She hunched her back to put her head on his shoulder; he enfolded her further in his arms.

After a contented pause, he said, “Have I told lately you how much I love you?”

She smiled and placed a resounding kiss on his neck. “No you haven’t, but I’ll forgive you since I have been quite silent on the subject as well.”

He grinned and was about to renew his love vows when a noise in the hall reminded him that they had come here with two purposes. The unavowed one had been reached – if only partially, the avowed one still had to be. He kissed her brow and said teasingly, “Miss Bennet, you do have a great power of distraction, yet I will not forget what made us seek solitude. I insist, you shall tell me what Elizabeth told you.”

Jane giggled, “I do have a great power of distraction, don’t I? Sir, my sole intent in coming here was revealing Lizzy’s feelings for Mr. Darcy; you have distracted me…”

“Your sole intent, really?” His lips started to wander from her forehead to her nose, but he stopped there. “Tell me Love, or I fear I’ll get distracted again and we’ll be interrupted and nothing will have been said.”

She sighed and nuzzled the crook of his neck. “Yesterday evening, after you were gone and we had retired, I was surprised to hear a knock at my door. Since Mr. Darcy left, Lizzy had never come to talk with me; it was I who came to her.”

“So it was a good sign.”

“Indeed it was, although she seemed embarrassed at first. Obviously, she wanted something but wouldn’t say what it was. For some time, I was the only one to speak…”

“Were you speaking of me?” Charles interrupted eagerly.

“Charles…” Jane admonished smilingly. “And she suddenly burst with an enquiry about whether you had received any letters from Mr. Darcy.”

“Well, I have, just this morning!”

She sat upright at the news, “You have? What did he say?”

“Love, you first. I’ll tell you once you’ve finished,” he replied, pulling her back against him.

She sighed but went on nonetheless. “I told her you had not informed me of any letter, and she appeared very disappointed. My soothing words about the state of the roads and the probable difficult business he had to resolve relieved her a little; my promise to have you tell me as soon as you receive one was even more convincing. It was the perfect opening; I asked her if she expected any message from Mr. Darcy. She blushed profusely and eventually replied that she did not, but couldn’t refrain from hoping to learn that he had forgiven her her apparent absence of trust. I pointed out that she shouldn’t care if he had forgiven her, she softly replied ‘But I do’.

“I said nothing, merely looked expectantly at her; she remained silent for a while. Then she started speaking her heart and words flowed. She confessed that she cares very much about what he thinks of her; she told me she’s realised how foolishness and prejudice have prevented her from seeing his goodness; she whispered that she’s been dreaming his behaviour towards her these past few weeks was not merely out of goodness; she choked that she loves him; she sobbed that she wouldn’t be able to live without seeing him for a month.”

Charles released a great sigh of astonishment, “I can’t imagine Elizabeth behaving so…”

Jane nodded, “I must say, I was very surprised. I suspect she’s been so unlike herself because she felt unlike herself. Being so helpless cannot suit someone so determined…” Jane felt silent.

Charles stroked her cheek softly, “I’m sorry I entrapped you in this situation.”

She took his hand and kissed his palm. “I’m glad I was there; I’m glad she’s been able to utter those words; I fear she’s been mulling over her feelings and misconceptions since Mr. Darcy went away.”

“Did you tell her about his feelings for her?”

“No, it was not my secret to tell. But I did tell her his behaviour was one of someone who cares; I had come to this conclusion by myself, hadn’t I?” She felt him nod against her hair. “She was better when I left, and she was even better this morning. I was not sure she was quite ready for a new confrontation between Mother and Caroline, though, so I didn’t insist when she declined to come here. Had I known that Caroline was unwell and that you had received a letter from Derbyshire, I would have!”

“Well, ‘twas not an easy guess!” at least, the letter was not an easy guess! thought ruefully Charles.

“So, what did Mr. Darcy write?”

“He wrote about his business, it is even more painful to address than he had thought. Apparently, one of his tenants has been stealing from the Estate and his fellow labourers for years. He confirms he shan’t be back before the wedding and asks if Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley could arrive a few days earlier. He also inquires after everyone’s health; yours and Elizabeth’s seem of the utmost import to him – I wonder if I should be jealous,” he ended in a smile.

“Shouldn’t you prepare your reply?” giggled Jane.

“And what should I say?” he answered absentmindedly, since her teeth had discovered a sensitive spot on his ear.

“We shall ask this of Lizzy when you come on the morrow, shall we?” she managed to say while he was straightening her and before his mouth rediscovered hers. She took this for an agreement and carried on her comparison between the taste of his lips and that of his ear.

Charles’ fears about her not being as eager as him had vanished, and, with this disappearance, his mind had drastically lost control over his impulses. The hand on her back went lower and cupped the roundness of her backside. His free hand blindly found the trim of her bodice; his index finger slid under the soft fabic to experience again the softness of her skin while his other fingers teased the closest hardened bud. He felt her hand try to find its way through the folds of his neckcloth, he heard her soft moans, and his pulse quickened further. His tongue invaded her mouth; his grip tightened on her breast; he was lost in her nearness. His attentions became even more urgent and his moans answered hers when he felt her thigh brush the bulge in his breeches. The hand on her back pulled her closer to him to place her leg in permanent contact with his hardened manhood.

A loud and piercing shriek suddenly shattered their haze; Mary stood there, by the library door, her wide eyes expressing her shock, her hands blocking any other sound from her mouth. When Mrs. Hurst and Mrs. Bennet appeared on the threshold, Jane and Mr. Bingley were three feet apart. Her hair arrangement had lost some of its tidiness and his neckcloth was slightly askew, but there was nothing remaining of the scandalous sight Mary had beheld.

“Mary! Will you stop shrieking for nothing? You have no compassion for my nerves!” Mrs. Bennet admonished her daughter. “You silly girl! You should have known better than entering the library unannounced!”

Mrs. Hurst fled back to the drawing-room as swiftly as she could; Jane’s and Charles’ embarrassments were probably strong enough as it was, without having her around. And if Mrs. Bennet agreed…

“Did I tell you I received a letter from Darcy yesterday?” Mr. Bingley asked, while all the ladies of Longbourn were assembled in the drawing-room.

Jane had told her sister the night before about the arrival of his letter, revealing that Mr. Darcy wouldn’t be able to come back to Herfordshire before the wedding. Elizabeth had shown some distress at the news, distress only partly relieved by her sister’s soothing assurances that it had nothing to do with her. She had also stated that, being his future sister, Lizzy was entitled to suggest to Mr. Bingley some subjects for his reply. Lizzy had seemed doubtful at the time, and Jane truly hoped her sister had changed her mind. The fair lady smiled at her sister’s blush on hearing Mr. Bingley’s news My oh my, isn’t Lizzy truly caught?. Since nobody enquired about the content of the letter, she did and witnessed her sister’s wince on the bad news of Mr. Darcy’s delay. The more she thought about the scheme Charles and she had imagined, the better it appeared. She was determined to make Lizzy part of it, and prompted her, replying to Charles, “Oh, that’s sad news.”

The subject was so uninteresting to Mrs. Bennet and her three younger daughters that they had started a conversation of their own. Elizabeth noticed it and dared reply. “Indeed, it is,” she confirmed shyly. “Pray tell Mr. Darcy we shall miss him until then.” She looked at Jane, silently recognizing the smartness of the plan. “Does he speak about his sister?”

While Mr. Bingley was replying, she sought a way to tell Mr. Darcy she believed him over Mr. Wickham. “Would you please also tell him that I hope to see her? I’m afraid I was prejudiced against her when I first saw her, but the truthfulness of her words, the goodness of her behaviour made me realise how blind I was. I dearly hope she will not hold a grudge against me.”

Jane patted her sister’s hand over the table. She was proud and thrilled to see that Lizzy’s usual fighting spirits were back. She exchanged a loving and meaningful smile with her betrothed, her happiness at hearing his next words widening her grin.

“Miss Elizabeth, my writing skills have improved tremendously of late, and I swear I will faithfully send your messages to my friend. I know he will be delighted to hear from you.”

Lizzy blushed at Charles’ and Jane’s knowing smile. “Do you, now?”

Mr. Bingley looked around to make sure the other Bennet ladies save Jane were still occupying themselves elsewhere. “Indeed I do, Madam; and we shall have a proof of it as soon as his answer arrives. If the weather worsens not, we shall have it a week hence.” His warm and caring gaze enveloped her, “It makes me very happy to see you better, Miss Elizabeth; and I strongly believe I shall only be the bearer of good news, from now on.”

Embarrassed by so much kindness and understanding the extent of the knowledge her sister had given him, she downcast her eyes, “Thank you. Mr. Bingley.” She felt Jane’s finger playing with hers and looked up at her sister, “And, thank you, Jane.”

Sow Potatoes, See What you Shall Reap, Chapter 27 - R rated

Sow Potatoes, See What you Shall Reap, Chapter 27 - PG13