Unexpected Visitor { TAG: Elizabeth Bennet}

[MISS JANE BENNET]

Ugh her head. It seemed that although two days had passed the afflictions that Jane had contracted upon that miserable ride in the rain showed no signs of a baiting. But as miserable as Jane was physically she knew she had many reasons to be thankful. At Longbourn she would have been just as miserable, if not more with the constant noise that went on during the day. Not to mention her sisters coming in and out of her room. No, instead she was in the comforts of one of the finest homes in Meryton and completely at her leisure to ride out her illness in absolute comfort. But perhaps the best reason was she had become the most willing patient of a rather amiable red-headed fellow who was master of this house.

Although she might be suffering physically, Jane’s spirits lifted whenever she heard that tell-tale familiar soft knock at the door. Jane could honestly say that she had never felt like this before. She craved being near him when he wasn’t there and when they were together Jane never wanted their time to end. He was the most attentive and kind of any person she had ever met in her life and Jane was grateful that she was privileged enough to know him.

After their first visit he had been kind enough to post the letter she had written to her family so that they might learn of what had transpired at Netherfield Park. However no reply came. Jane had not been particularly hopeful of one from her parents or younger sisters. Mama was dreadfully busy with the maintenance of the house and the three youngest would hardly be bothered upon hearing of Jane’s illness. But she had imagined that Lizzie would take an interest. At least a letter of some sorts, some words of encouragement something to reassure her.

Jane wished that Lizzie was here with her. Lizzie wouldn’t be at all intimidated by the finery around her or the elegance of the Netherfield Party. Jane had never felt more the country bumpkin than when she was around Miss Bingley or Mrs. Hurst. With Lizzie she would have an ally. Now she only had her sweetness as protection. But as the day had progressed on, her hopes of receiving some word from her sister were steadily declining.

She was reclining on the bed in something of a doze, drifting in and out of a non fit-full sleep when she heard a knock at the door. Absently she sat up, removing the cold cloth from her head and to her great surprise saw her sister stroll through the door. “ Lizzie! Oh dearest, you came.” she exclaimed opening her arms for an embrace from her sister. Lizzie had not abandoned her to her own devices but merely brought herself to Netherfield. Jane could not have been more pleased to see her sister for she dearly needed a chat.

[Miss Elizabeth Bennet]

Any word from Netherfield Park could not have arrived soon enough to ease Lizzie’s conscience. Lizzie was about to make a trip to see her sister when a letter from Jane appeared, written in very weak script. Poor Jane! Lizzie knew this would happen—no good could come of traveling in such weather, and while Jane’s constitution was not faint, it would do her no good to be on horseback in the rain. Lizzie was already dressed for the journey before she had finished the missive, wearing sturdier shoes and slipping her black bolero around her shoulders. She was ready to run out the door without a word to her parents, before remembering to think of anything Jane would need.

Lizzie dashed up the stairs, much to the consternation of her mother, and flung open the door to the bedroom she shared with her older sister. Kept in a small trunk in the bottom of their wardrobe was Jane’s sketchbook. She knew, if anything, her sister would miss her drawings the most from home. She gathered up pencils and paper, and spared her mother only a few words, a promise to be back before nightfall, and headed out the door.

The air outside was fresh and bright, the warm sunlight a welcome change from storm clouds and sheets of cold rain. The ground was still chilled and wet, and Lizzie had not made it far from Longbourn before she realized that she would be trailing mud through Mr Bingley’s great estate. She did not wish to make Jane’s favorite unhappy, but her sister’s health was far more important than the tight laces of propriety. And the walk to Netherfield was a pleasant one, and Lizzie was content to imagine her own sister’s excitement on the way to, despite all the rain.

She had made it almost to the front garden of the manor when a figure appeared as she turned a corner—Mr Darcy. She halted with less finesse than she would have liked, and was painfully aware of the sweat on her temples, but knew that the gentleman in front of her saw nothing in her but fault, so she pushed any concern of her appearance away. They exchanged few words, and she had challenged his furrowed brow with a haughty look. All she wanted was to see her poor sister! She had no time for Mr Darcy’s disapproval. Once inside the manor, she allowed herself to be guided upstairs, and left Mr Darcy outside the bedroom door without another glance.

Relieved at the sight of Jane’s shoes by the armoire, Lizzie hurried into the room she was escorted too and smiled widely at her sister. Jane was pallid, as she lay tucked into bed, but answered Lizzie’s smile with her own.

“Lizzie! Oh dearest, you came.”

Lizzie leaned towards her sister’s reclined frame and wrapped her arms around her happily. When she drew away, she held Jane’s hands tightly in her own, and shook her head in affectionate teasing as she seated herself on the mattress.

“Dear Jane, you look pale! How is your head? Mama should not have sent you in such weather—how I worried for you! But it is good to see you awake, and smiling ever so prettily,” she grinned, and lowered her voice to a whisper, “have you seen much of Mr Bingley? Oh, here! I have brought your sketchbook. Perhaps you can draw the view from your sickbed—I’m sure Mama would love to know about the décor of Netherfield Park.”

[MISS JANE BENNET]

Jane could not think the relief she felt now that her sister was here could possibly be expressed in words. Although her new friends at Netherfield had been nothing but kind to her, she couldn’t help but feel more comfortable now that her most beloved sister was here with her. Lizzie was fearless and brave, and she would know how to handle herself amongst such refined company here at Netherfield. So when Lizzie’s arms snaked around her in an embrace, she couldn’t help but squeeze just a little tighter than normal to show her sister how pleased she was that she had came.

Once they had parted and Lizzie took up a seat near her bedside Jane sunk down into the comfort of her pillows knowing that her sister would hardly mind her lax position. “ Oh Lizzie I feel so very poorly.” she said with an almost bemused smile across her face. “ Yet I can’t help but think dear Mama orchestrated this whole event perfectly even in summoning the storm.” she joked playfully. When she heard her sister proclaim her worry for her face softened considerably. “ You are to kind Lizzie. I assure you I shall recover in time. Although my pride may be hard pressed to follow suit.” she said glumly.

When her sister spoke of Mr. Bingley, Jane could not help the smile that emerged. “ He is the very kindest of gentlemen Lizzie. He has visited my bedside numerous times to enquire as to my well being and to keep me company while I lie here sick. Last night whilst he was here with her sisters he spoke of sending for a town doctor! For he believed our doctor not adequate enough to see to my illness” she said with a soft giggle. Of course the notion was absurd, Jane was not in dire enough straits to require a doctor at all but his concern was touching. Besides she would hardly have allowed him to send for a town doctor, the inconvenience was to great.

When she was given her sketchbook she smiled gratefully. “ How thoughtful! When I am feeling better I shall have to make an earnest effort to capture Netherfield’s décor. No doubt Mama will use it to best plan her next attack. Perhaps she could discover a secret passageway with a draft and I shall be forced to stay here ill even longer.” she joked with her sister.

“ Oh Lizzie they have all been so very kind to me. I don’t know I can possibly express my gratitude adequately enough for all the care they have shown me.” she told her sister with a look of worry upon her face.

[Miss Elizabeth Bennet]

Oh, how good it was to see Jane! Lizzie’s dearest sister was indeed still quite unwell, but clearly well cared for—the elaborate tea tray at her bedside was proof that she was checked on quite often. Jane had rallied her spirits upon her entrance, but Lizzie could tell that both her illness, and undoubtedly what she felt was imposition, weighed heavily on her mind, and Lizzie let her sister to cling to her for the length of their embrace.

“Oh Lizzie I feel so very poorly, yet I can’t help but think dear Mama orchestrated this whole event perfectly even in summoning the storm.”

Lizzie shook her head as she thought of their mother, who was most likely still crossing her fingers at home for an engagement announcement.

“Of course she did, you know she thinks only of advancing us into society, whether or not it suits our temperaments, or offends our sensibilities. I am only glad that you are on the mend, and that a certain gentleman has been quite attentive to you. I hate to say that Mama is right, but, sickness aside, this has certainly provided an opportunity to see more of Mr Bingley,” Lizzie shrugged teasingly, smoothing down the blankets around her sister.

“He is the very kindest of gentlemen Lizzie. He has visited my bedside numerous times to enquire as to my well-being and to keep me company while I lie here sick,” Jane smiled distractedly, and Lizzie took the time to study her sister’s countenance as she continued on.

There was a very clear distinction between love and lust—the whole of it being duration. Lust came and went, as inconsistent as a breeze, while love was like a river, steadfast and strong. It was perhaps too soon to be positive, but Lizzie was quite sure that the emotion behind her sister’s shining eyes was caused by the stronger of these two. Lizzie lowered her gaze, just in case Jane was aware that she was the subject of serious scrutiny, but her smile was something she could not stifle.

“Oh Lizzie they have all been so very kind to me. I don’t know I can possibly express my gratitude adequately enough for all the care they have shown me,” Jane went on to say.

At first, Lizzie was not very pleased in trudging over to Netherfield Park, for it was the current residence of more than one newcomer she was not eager to see again. She longed for Jane, and was indefinitely curious to see Mr Bingley in his natural habitat, but being acquainted with Mr Bingley’s sisters—and the man who found her only tolerable—it was something Lizzie could have gone a long time without suffering again. She had hoped that Jane’s illness was something that could have a recovery back at Longbourn, but her sister did look a great deal too pale to be moved. With a sigh, Lizzie resigned herself. It looked like she would be staying with Jane at Netherfield for the duration of her sickness. She could already picture the furious set of Miss Bingley’s jaw, Mr Darcy either testing her gaze or spurning it, and poor Mr Bingley torn between his friend, his sister, and his lovely, unwell guest. It would be amusing to think of if Lizzie wasn’t in the middle of it!

And so, Lizzie clasped her hand tightly around one of Jane’s free hands, and smiled sweetly at her.

“If I know anything about Mr Bingley, he is already received payment, just from you being here, dearest. I shall be very surprised if he does not say so himself verbatim,” Lizzie laughed, patting her sister’s hand, before drooping her shoulders ever so slightly, “oh Jane, you know I am sorry you are ill, and am very happy to see you, but I imagine my being here has ruined Mama’s plans. And so during my stay, I shall endeavor to make very few waves, and will bring up each of your virtues in conversation when prompted!”

The two of them laughed, happy to be reunited once more, and exasperated at their particular luck.

[MISS JANE BENNET]

Although Jane was so grateful to those who cared for her at Netherfield she couldn’t help but feel she was trespassing on the kindness of Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. Perhaps it was the tight smiles they forced upon their faces when they sat with her. Jane could not blame them of course. This was a dreadful mess for all concerned, she merely hoped that a friendship might be salvageable when all this was over. But for all that it was worth she couldn’t help but feel relieved that Lizzie was here. Lizzie knew her better than anyone else in this world and she would be a worthy ally in trying to emerge from this situation with some shred of dignity intact.

Upon hearing her suspicions confirmed by her most beloved sister her face knitted into a look of concern. “ Oh dear, do you think Mama’s ruse was so very transparent? They must have the lowest of opinions of me, showing up on horseback on the brink of a storm.. oh how this must look.” she moaned her hand going to her forehead. Of course dear Mama, had meddled and now it was Jane who would suffer for it. “ I had only wished to make a new friend Lizzie.” she said peeking at her sister from underneath her fingertips.

Mr. Bingley had been a near constant companion these past few days and Jane could not remember a time when she had been so very happy. They spoke of so many things, of life, of interests, he made her feel valued and cared for and she hoped she made him feel the same. So when Lizzie lowered her head to scrutinize her covertly she smiled shyly. “ Oh Lizzie I am so very happy.” she whispered softly.

Jane could not help breathe a sigh of relief when she received the news her sister was staying. She had wanted to ask her to stay. But she knew that there were certain persons at Netherfield that had treated her so very poorly. Mr. Darcy had been most rude to her and Jane hoped that Lizzie staying here would not cause her to much trouble. And she was not certain of Lizzie’s temperament towards Miss Bingley but she could only hope they could get on for her sake.

“ Oh thank you Lizzie! I am the most blessed of women to have you for a sister. To have you as my champion will surely undo any of Mama’s meddling. “ Jane cried reaching over and grasping her sister’s hand fondly. “ When Mr. Bingley comes to visit me next I shall make the request for you to stay. I am sure he will not mind, he is the most generous and hospitable. Jane declared resolutely. As much as she would be embarrassed asking this of Mr. Bingley he had said she was to tell him of anything that could be done for her comfort. There was nothing more that she wanted than to have her sister stay with her.