Two sisters… Two would almost certainly marry. And though Lydia was not yet out, Mary might follow the others to the altar and leave their perfect home.
Leaving her alone.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth embraced the painful cold in her lungs.
She would have to accept. Her sisters’ happiness came first, but it would hurt. More than the biting cold… More than the loss of their mother even?
“MARY!” Jane cried, Elizabeth’s head shooting toward her; a dusting of snow clinging to Jane’s face and pelisse.
Crouching down, Elizabeth raced to grab a ball of snow;Mary rarely lost.
Arm raised, Elizabeth threw hers before Mary had a chance to let fly, the snowball smacking into Mary’s face.
Shaking her head, Mary ducked as Jane sought to retaliate for the earlier strike, the snowball disintegrating in the snow as Mary stood, her own chilly weapon assailing Jane before she could hide.
For several minutes the snowballs flew back and forth, the three sisters fighting one another with determination and as much courage as the child’s game required, until at last, tired and cold, Elizabeth chose sides.
“Mary!” she cried as she crouched behind a leafless bush, “Alliance!?”
Mary may have started this fight, but she was rarely defeated. Between them, Jane would not last long.
“Agreed,” Mary answered as she turned toward Jane, their sister’s eyes wide as the pair of them began to launch their attack.
“You will regret this,” Jane laughed as the barrage of snow danced around her. “Somehow. Someway. I shall overcome this revolt and win.”
Continuing to throw snowballs and giggling wildly, the sisters waited for Jane’s inevitable surrender.
“Two against one?” the Reverend asked, their game ending before Jane could concede.
“At home it would be three against two,” Mary answered as she stood, a snowball hitting her in the eyes as Jane cackled.
“I said you would regret it.”
Her full attention on Jane as she stood, Elizabeth made certain no hidden snowballs were in her sister’s hands.
“It appears your battle is over,” the Reverend said. “There is an unexpected guest. A Miss Caroline Bingley. Our host hid her surprise quite well, considering, but the widening of her eyes told all. Imagine, all her years of education at–according to her–the finest schools, and she does not see the rudeness in coming unannounced to the house of a stranger.”
“Mr. Bingley will be eager to see her, I suppose,” Jane supplied; her words as near to defending the woman’s actions as she might come.
“Eager? His eyes displayed all the surprise of Lady Charmane’s… And his tone, none of the politeness.”
Gnawing her lip, Elizabeth’s gaze flitted toward the grand house.Should they stay away to avoid Mr. Bingley’s embarrassment? Or return indoors in hopes of smoothing things over? Neither would help the awkwardness of an uninvited guest.
“Come, I am cold,” Jane said as she began to make her way out of the garden. “Some hot tea or chocolate would do us all quite well.”
Sharing a look with Mary, the two trudged after their sister, the Reverend left to his own devices as they made their way indoors.Jane had made their choice.
Stepping into the drawing room the three sisters led by Jane paused only a few feet inside, the room empty save for the two Bingley’s and their host.
“Miss Bennet,” Bingley said as he rushed to her side, his sister tilting her head as she viewed Jane. “The arrival of my sister has been a revelation… of a sort. Incredibly. Now then, an introduction is in order. Miss Bennet, my sister, Miss Caroline Bingley, Caroline, this is Miss Jane Bennet.”
“A pleasure,” Miss Bingley crooned, the blatantly plastered smile rather close to vicious.
“Likewise,” Jane answered, her tone faltering as she observed the woman before her.
“Ah,” Mr. Bingley said as he noticed Elizabeth and Mary at last, “and here are Miss Bennet’s sisters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Mary.”
“Three?” Miss Bingley frowned, a brow raising as her eyes went from their faces to the floor. “My, what a large family of unmarried daughters. Are there more of you?”
