Sudden Awakenings (The Other Paths Collection)

Chapter 14

Elizabeth tossed fitfully that night. Some hours before the rooster crowed, she rose and went downstairs for a cup of coffee. She sat by the dying embers of the fire in the drawing room, sipping the warm concoction, her mind too full to find any rest. Her head turned at a soft noise of muffled footsteps. Jane shuffled over in her slippers and dressing gown.

“You are fully awake, not sleepwalking?” she confirmed.

“Yes, Jane, I am awake. I could not sleep.” Elizabeth scooted over on the sofa to make room for Jane to join her.

“You are upset about your impending marriage,” Jane surmised, wrapping her shawl around her sister’s shoulders.

Elizabeth took another sip of her coffee. “It is not as though I were unaware that this would be taking place. But I had not expected it to be so soon,” she admitted.

Jane stroked Elizabeth's hair gently. “All will be well, dearest,” she sought to reassure her. “Mr. Darcy is a good man. You will see. He will take care of you. In fact, though this situation distresses you, it could prove a good thing for our family. For surely, your marriage to Mr. Darcy will connect you with many other wealthy families and might put your unmarried sisters in the path of eligible men, whom they might otherwise not have the opportunity to meet.”

“Now you sound like Mamma,” Elizabeth snorted. “But you know that Kitty and Lydia would not wish to marry for money, any more than you or I do. I hope, dear Jane, that you will find love in time. And Kitty and Lydia also. And you will all be extremely happy, unlike myself.”

“Oh, my dear, sweet Lizzy!” Jane pulled her into a tight embrace. “I am sorry this is not as you wished it to be.”

S

The following day was spent packing Elizabeth's things. “It distresses me to no end that you are not to have new wedding clothes!” complained Mrs. Bennet. “Had I the time, I would buy gowns both for the wedding and for your new life. However, I suppose Mr. Darcy shall tend to all of that, so I need not be too concerned,” she said, brushing it off just as quickly as the concern in her voice had made it seem like a dire circumstance a moment before. “Still, you will need all your things, at least the ones that fit you presently,” she said.

Elizabeth was made to try on every one of her gowns to determine which were still suitable and which had grown a little too short in the hem and could no longer be let out.

One change of plans was made regarding Elizabeth's wedding attire. Instead of wearing her best gown and the jewels from her mother to the wedding itself, Mrs. Bennet desired her to wear them to the ball the night before.

“For that will be your real celebration, my dear,” Mrs. Bennet said. “The ceremony will be over so quickly, and then you will be setting off directly for your new home.”

Elizabeth's throat tightened. She found she could not get any words out. She went to her mother and put her arms around her, holding back a sob.

“Sweet Lizzy,” her mother crooned. “We shall miss you. It is true. You must tell me when we are to visit at Pemberley. We will come whenever you like. And I think perhaps not long after we may see Jane settled at Netherfield too.”

Elizabeth lifted her head towards her in question.

“Yes, Lizzy, I am almost certain of it! Have you not seen the looks that Mr. Bingley has given Jane all this time? He must be in love with her. I know it in my bones. It is only your upcoming wedding which has prevented him from speaking up. I dare say as soon as you and Mr. Darcy are gone, he will come to your father and ask his blessing.”

Elizabeth was not certain whether her mother was correct, but she hoped for Jane’s sake that Mr. Bingley did love her and would marry her soon. It would bring her some consolation to know that her beloved sister had found love, even if she herself had not.

S

“I am increasingly concerned about the Bennet family,” Caroline confided to Darcy the morning of the ball. “They are like bloodthirsty leeches, these people.”

Despite having only a few days’ notice, she had done everything required to show off Netherfield Park at its finest to the entirety of the neighborhood. Her brother had also thrown himself into the preparations, declaring everything must be made perfect for the celebration of his friends.

“You need not be concerned for me, Miss Bingley,” Darcy replied. “I have made my choice and I am entering it with eyes wide open.”

Caroline folded her arms. “You might be,” she pointed out, with one eyebrow raised. “But what of Charles? It's evident he is being taken in. Did you not see the way Miss Bennet flirted with him at dinner the other night?”

“Bingley knows his own mind well enough,” Darcy shrugged. “You need not fear for his sake.”

“On the contrary,” Caroline argued. “There is every reason to fear. Charles has never been one to behave logically. He thinks too much with his heart, among other things. This is not the first time his head has been turned by a pretty face or an alluring figure. Recall last winter with Miss Green. What a near disaster that almost turned out to be!”

“Yes,” Darcy agreed. “But fortunately, it was prevented.”

“Here he is about to make the same mistake yet again,” Caroline pointed out. “He is falling right into Miss Bennet's trap. We must do something to pull him from her clutches before it is too late.”

“You are overreacting,” Darcy dismissed.

“Observe her tonight at the ball, and you'll see. The whole lot of them are after Charles's fortune. You may have sealed your fate, Darcy, but do not let your friend do the same.”