Page 10 of Resilience

“Oh Jane, you look simply exhausted! Does your head pain you? I can see that it does. Have you rested at all?” Elizabeth asked in concern.

“Lizzy! You did not have to come all this way. It is far too long of a walk!” Jane exclaimed, her voice hoarse.

“Not at all, Sister. I had to see for myself that you are well.” Elizabeth’s eyes flicked to Miss Bingley. “Perhaps you should rest, Jane. I am certain that Mrs Nicholls must have a powder that can bring you some relief.”

“I have been perfectly well looked after by my new friend.” Jane smiled at Miss Bingley. “Mr Jones will be here soon, and then I will rest. Miss Bingley has been too good, looking after me as she has. There was no need to go to so much trouble, Lizzy.”

“See, Eliza? We are perfectly competent without your supervision,” Miss Bingley giggled.

“My mother has sent me to stay with my sister and nurse her until she is ready to return to Longbourn. We understand that you are expecting another guest today. We would not dream of putting you out with Jane’s care.” Elizabeth was not to be moved.

“Indeed Caroline, you ought to check the room you had prepared for Mr Collins, I believe he is due in only a few hours,” Mr Bingley eyed Jane with the same worries as Elizabeth. It was quite obvious she was exhausted and needed rest.

“I think I can manage a room in the bachelor’s wing without so much fuss, Charles.” Miss Bingley stood and turned to Jane. “I will return when the apothecary arrives, dear Jane.”

“Thank you, Caroline,” Jane answered sweetly. When Mr and Miss Bingley had left them, she glared at her sister in a manner Elizabeth had never witnessed from Jane before. “There was no call to be so rude, Lizzy.”

“I was not rude, Jane. I have known you for twenty of your twenty-two years, and I can see as plain as day that you have a headache. If you are becoming friends with Miss Bingley, that is lovely, but she will still be here after you have recovered from your cold, I am su–”

“You ought to have stayed at Longbourn, Lizzy! I was quite well before you arrived!” Jane snapped. “You ought to go home. You will be a burden to Miss Bingley.”

“Mama said I am to remain until you return home, Jane. Would you have me disobey her?” Elizabeth was incredulous as she stood and rang the bell for a maid. “You are not yourself, sister. Please, allow me to draw the curtains to shield your poor eyes. I will send for a powder for you to take when Mr Jones leaves, and a compress for your eyes and forehead while we wait for him. Have you had any tea?”

“I am quite well, Lizzy, I do not need you here,” Jane grumbled as she turned away from the window and Elizabeth.

Chapter Five

“Mr Collins.” The party in the drawing room at Netherfield stood as the new guest was announced to the room as they all assembled for dinner. He had arrived earlier that day when Elizabeth was with Jane, but it was obvious that he knew all of the occupants well, even Miss Bingley.

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, allow me to introduce Reverend Collins of the parsonages of Lambton, Kympton, and Hunsford,” Mr Darcy supplied the introduction.

“How do you do, Mr Collins?” Elizabeth dipped into a curtsey.

“Miss Elizabeth, I understand that we are cousins,” said the man nervously.

Elizabeth watched him bow, his prematurely balding pate shiny, but free of grease or dirt. He was slightly heavy, but well groomed, and though he carried a mild air of uncertainty, his address was polite and hopeful.

“That is my understanding as well, although I learned of your coming only this morning.” Elizabeth handed him a folded note. “My father’s reply to your letter, sir.”

Mr Collins did not read it aloud, though Elizabeth had seen it written and sanded before her father handed it to her.

Longbourn,

Meryton, Hertfordshire

Mr Collins,

Your coming on the tenth of October is not objectionable. I will be in my study on the afternoon in question.

Yrs,

Thomas Bennet, Esq.

“Your father is a man of brevity, Miss Elizabeth.” Mr Collins smiled at her. “I look forward to meeting him tomorrow. I understand that your sister is upstairs unwell with a cold. How does Miss Bennet fare?”

“She will be uncomfortable for some days, but she will live, that is, if she can get enough rest.” Elizabeth dipped her head as she spoke, then narrowed her eyes at Miss Bingley.

Elizabeth was not in the finest of moods. Jane–her own sister–of all people–had not been happy to see her, for perhaps the first time in their lives, and had been dismissive of her all day. Elizabeth had stood firm that morning with Mr Jones’s agreement. Jane must sleep, and Elizabeth would not leave Miss Bingley alone with her to giggle and keep her awake. She read from a small pocket volume of Shakespeare while Jane slept, until Miss Bingley entered late in the afternoon with a maid and a cart with tea and refreshments for Jane, and woke her for no earthly reason that Elizabeth could determine.