Page 111 of The Engagement at Longbourn

Elizabeth noticed.

She said nothing. Her father noticed that too.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

The Night Before

The night before the wedding, Longbourn refused to sleep.

There were flowers in buckets, ribbons draped over chairs, boxes from the modiste, shoes being polished, cakes cooling in the pantry, and Mrs. Bennet giving contradictory orders in three rooms. “Not those roses, Hill! Those are for Jane’s bouquet. Lizzy’s are the cream ones. Kitty, where is the blue ribbon? Lydia, if you touch that icing I shall—Oh! Mary, do stop playing that funeral piece. Your sisters are marrying, not being buried.”

Mary lifted her hands from the pianoforte. “It is Handel.”

“Then Handel should have been cheerier.”

Elizabeth escaped upstairs. Jane was already in their room. For years they had shared secrets there after everyone else slept. Tonight trunks stood partly packed. Two wedding gowns hung from the wardrobe doors beneath protective linen. Jane sat on the edge of the bed.

Elizabeth closed the door. For a moment they only looked at each other. Then Jane began to cry.

Elizabeth crossed the room at once. “Jane.”

“I am happy.”

“I know.”

“I am very happy.”

“I know.”

“I do not want you to think—”

“I do not.” Elizabeth sat beside her and put an arm around her shoulders.

Jane laughed through tears. “We shall not live in the same room again.”

“No.”

“You will be in Derbyshire.”

“And you will be three miles away.”

“That is unfairly comforting.”

Elizabeth smiled, then began crying too.

Jane laughed harder. “Now look what I have done.”

“You have ruined me.” They leaned against each other like girls.

After a while Jane said, “Do you remember the assembly?”

Elizabeth groaned. “Unfortunately.”

“I thought Mr. Darcy very handsome.”

“You thought everyone good.”

“No. I thought him handsome.”