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“For once in your life leave me alone!”
The words echoed in the dark as she ran up the stairs, leaving her puzzled family members behind. She regretted the harsh tone she had used almost immediately, she did not enjoy her whole family constantly listening in on any private conversation, but her lashing out at them was just the reaction of built-up emotions which they should not have deserved to fall victims of.
Tears were blurring her vision as she reached the door to her and Jane’s shared room. She was frustrated and felt humiliated over what Lady Catharine had said, as if Lizzy was inferior to her nephew by birth, as if Lizzy’s father was not a gentleman himself. Her insults had stung, but Lizzy had made sure to not crack then and there, she would not let that woman have the pleasure of seeing the words get to her.
She wiped the wetness away from her cheeks as quickly as possible once she was finally inside the room. It was dark, only a single candle was still lit, but it barely gave away much light. Lizzy knew she would have to face her sister soon enough, as this was her room as well. Once more she wiped her cheeks of any traits of her feelings. She was sure Jane had heard a lot of what had been said down in the drawing room, but Lizzy preferred her not seeing how it affected her.
She sat down on the bed and took a few deep, calming breaths. A few minutes passed before she heard someone knocking gently on the door.
“Come in.” She whispered, just loud enough for Jane to hear and come inside. Lizzy was facing her whole body towards the window and could only hear the quiet creaking of the floor as Jane approached her.
“Are you alright, Lizzy?” she said when she was standing just beside the bed.
Without turning around Lizzy mumbled out a faint “I am fine.”
“We… I heard quite a lot of what Lady Catharine said downstairs.” Jane said softly. Lizzy just nodded, once more she felt tears rise towards her eyes, but she swiftly pushed them down.
“It was just a misunderstanding.” Lizzy shook her head as she spoke. Jane came around the bed so that she could see her sister’s face, she sat down next to her, still giving Lizzy space.
“Even so, she should have no right to say such awful things about you.”
“I am sorry I shouted at you.” Lizzy said, she would rather not talk about her and Lady Catherine’s conversation at this moment.
“Oh, don’t you worry about it, I’m sure everyone understood why.”
Everyone understood why, everyone had heard.
“Jane… it was a misunderstanding, I do not even understand why she would come all this way just to…” Lizzy trailed off.
“It is alright Lizzy, I think mother was a bit startled by such a visit at this hour as well, I mean we all were.” Jane tried to comfort her as she moved closer to her as well.
Lizzy did not say anything as Jane reached out a hand and stroked her hair, just like she had done when they were little. They had been sharing this room ever since Lizzy could remember, they had slept together in bed, and when Lizzy would wake up crying from a nightmare, Jane would be there and stroke her hair until she had calmed down enough to go back to sleep. Jane had then proclaimed she would always protect and take care of her sister and that no evil would ever happen to her. And she had indeed kept that promise.
Lizzy leaned into Jane’s strokes and closed her eyes. She felt better when she had her sister here, yet it still felt wrong to have her do this, she had been so happy before and now here she was comforting her instead.
“Jane, how do you feel about getting married?” she asked to shift the focus from her own thoughts and feelings, even if she knew Jane was more than overjoyed to have been proposed to and-
“In all honesty I am a bit afraid, not of marrying Mr Bingley of course, but of leaving all of this behind, leaving you, and mama and papa, and Mary and Kitty. I know this is what I have wanted for many years now, but I cannot even think about the changes this will bring with it.”
“Hopefully those changes will be for the better right?” Lizzy said thoughtfully. Yes, she would miss seeing her sister every day, but this was what she deserved, a man who loved her and would take good care of her.
“I hope so.” Jane whispered.
A comfortable quietness settled over the two of them. Lizzy’s head was full, all she could think about was her earlier conversation, she wondered why Lady Catherine had come so far if truly it was only a rumour. She thought about her last time seeing Darcy, she thought about the money he had paid to keep their family’s honour from collapsing, she thought about Pemberley, his sister, she thought about that letter. She had truly misjudged him.
Beside her, Jane yawned and stretched out her arms.
“I think we must go to sleep now. We can talk more tomorrow if you would like.” She stated as another yawn took over her words. Lizzy sat up straighter and looked around, the single candle that had been lit when she first came in was about to burn out, the room was getting darker and darker.
Jane climbed in under the sheets while Lizzy went over to extinguish the small flame that had kept the room bright late into the night.
As she joined her sister in bed, Jane pulled her close to her chest.
“Lizzy, I love you, do not ever forget that.”
“I love you too Jane, sleep well.”
It did not take long before Lizzy heard the deep breathing that signalled her sister was asleep, but she herself felt as if she were growing more awake by the minute. Soon enough, the birds outside started making themselves known, alerting everyone that morning was soon to come.
Lizzy concluded she would not be getting any sleep tonight.