Elizabethslippedquietlyintoher own room. Jane was already tucked neatly into their shared bed, the candle snuffed. Tiptoeing so as not to disturb her, Elizabeth crept to the corner of the room where there shone just enough moonlight through the window to undress by. Through the window, she could see the creek, and just out of sight lurked her favourite rock. Remorse sank her heart.
Her dress forgotten, she leaned her elbows on the window frame, visualizing clearly with her mind what could not be seen in the darkness. She was at the rock, where she had so horrifically abused Mr Darcy to his face. She imagined herself facing him down, heartlessly berating a just man because he had wounded her pride. With a groan, she forced herself to remember all.
She saw herself slapping him, blasting him verbally, exposing her ignorance and her mortifying lack of decorum.And I thought Lydia and Kitty ill-mannered!Worse yet, this very day she had accused him of negligence to his own sister! The poor man had tried to protest his good intentions, had alluded to the difficulties he faced in raising a young girl on his own, but she had stubbornly refused to listen. A small sob escaped, and she covered her face with her hands.
Gentle hands on her shoulders snapped her to attention. She jumped, startled, and let out a squeak of surprise. “Oh, Jane! You mustn’t frighten me so! I thought you were asleep!”
“I am sorry, dear Lizzy. You were standing there so long, I thought something might be dreadfully wrong!”
“Was I? It did not seem so very long. Truly?”
“Ten minutes, at least. Oh, your hands are freezing! Let me help you. Off with this gown, and into bed to warm up!” Jane’s nimble fingers had Elizabeth draped in her nightclothes and her hair plaited in a matter of moments.
By the time she was finished, Elizabeth was grateful to climb under the covers, and even more grateful to share her sister’s warmth. Jane snuggled close, taking Elizabeth’s hands under the covers and placing them between her own to warm them. Elizabeth murmured her thanks, shivering slightly and wrapping the coverlet tightly around herself with her ankles.
Jane waited until Elizabeth’s shivers ceased, and her hands were no longer icicles. Then, with every sisterly affection, she tipped her chin closer to her sister’s ear. “All right, Lizzy, come out with it. What has troubled you so this afternoon? You have been terribly distressed since your long talk with Mr Darcy.”
“What if I should not wish to tell you?” came the somewhat defiant retort.
Jane smiled in the darkness, pleased to hear again a saucy reply. Perhaps Lizzy’s anger was fading. “Then I shall tickle you until you confess. Right… there!” Jane needled her slim fingers beneath her sister’s arms to her sensitive ribs, triggering a peal of panicked laughter.
Elizabeth wormed away, writhing under the covers, but Jane was not to be deterred. With one hand locked under her sister’s arm, she reached with the other for the ticklish hollow just above Lizzy’s knee. Since girlhood, she had known her sister’s greatest weakness. She had employed her advantage only at moments of great need, but always with perfect success. Tonight, her goal was two-fold. Not only was she after information, but she also wanted to help lift her sister’s uncharacteristically low spirits.
Elizabeth howled and bucked under the covers. Twisting and squealing, she grasped and brushed at Jane’s hands, but Jane had the advantage of surprise on her side and had taken care to secure her hold. “I confess, I confess! I will tell you all!” Elizabeth caught her breath.
Jane ceased her attack and waited. Instead of making good on her deal, Elizabeth grinned in the darkness and flopped over, stealing all the covers and shielding herself with them. Proper little Jane squealed in challenge and fell upon her sister. Elbows flying, they vied for leverage until Elizabeth hooked her knee under Jane’s and gave a great jerk. Girls and counterpane tumbled to the floor, snarled in a knot.
They lay tangled and gasping, still laughing, when an insistent thumping sounded at their door. Mr Collins’ muffled voice creaked through the slit. “Miss Bennet! Miss Elizabeth! I demand you desist from this outrageous behaviour! It ismostunseemly for young ladies to conduct themselves after such a fashion! Young ladies of good family would never comport themselves in such an uproarious manner!”
Elizabeth hid behind her hand and snickered. “I forgot all about him! I did not even know he had returned this evening!”
Jane choked back a giggle. “Oh, yes, and he insisted upon reading Fordyce’s Sermons to Lydia and Kitty after dinner. He tried, anyway, but they just talked over him until he stormed out in a great huff!” The girls burst into a new fit of laughter, which only drew greater protests from Mr Collins.
“Miss Elizabeth! It is incumbent upon me to inform you that the family of the clergyman of Hunsford is expected to behave at all times with the utmost propriety! What will Lady Catherine say when she hears such an indecorous young lady has tried to ensnare Mr Darcy himself? I insist you leave off this commotion!”
With a wicked little “Hmmf,” Elizabeth swiftly disentangled herself and jumped to her feet.
“Lizzy, no!” Jane’s shocking premonition proved true. Elizabeth, in all her nocturnal glory, leapt to the door and jerked it open to a flabbergasted Mr Collins. The man’s mouth gaped like a fish.
“Excuse me, what was that, Mr Collins? We had too much trouble hearing you. You see, we were far too occupied in our scandalous behaviour. We could not be troubled to listen.”
“Miss Elizabeth!” Mr Collins’ hands flew over his face, but he peeked helplessly between his fingers. The light was dim, but he could just make out the hazy lines of her form through the thin gown, thanks to a sliver of moonlight beaming from the window at just the right angle. Behind her, Jane scrambled to her feet, modestly wrapping herself in the counterpane and ducking out of sight.
“Yes, Mr Collins?” Elizabeth crossed her arms nonchalantly, just as though she were not clad in only a nightgown.
“You—Miss Elizabeth, you are not properly attired to be addressing a gentleman in the dark of the night!”
She cocked an eyebrow, letting her frame fall carelessly against the door. “So you say, but you are still here. By this, I accept your admission that you must not be a gentleman, Mr Collins. Am I to report, sir, that you would harass young ladies in their own bedrooms, in their own homes, in the middle of the night? Terribly shocking, Mr Collins. Lady Catherine would be most seriously displeased!”
He gulped, his fingers spasmodically moving to cover his eyes one moment and afford him a better view the next. He knew he ought to turn and flee to his room, but he could not tear himself away. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, I shall speak to your mother about your serious lack of modesty!”
“Oh, do, please.” A sardonic smile tugged her lips. “I am quite certain she and all her friends will enjoy hearing how the clergyman of Hunsford came by such knowledge.”
With a strained little cry, Collins spun and fairly ran back to his room. Elizabeth chuckled to herself and closed the door casually, strolling back to join Jane in the bed.
“Lizzy!” Jane admonished, still pale from the encounter. “I cannot believe you could be so bold! Lydia would not even behave so dreadfully!”
“I think Jane, I can answer you with every confidence that she would do as much, and more.” Elizabeth felt uneasily certain of that.
