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Longbourn - Jane

T he mornings seemed to Jane to be the only time that Longbourn was quiet.

It had been that way for as long as she could remember.

Elizabeth would, more often than not, get up earlier than the rest of the family and go for a short walk, or sit downstairs and read before the others were awake.

And more recently, she had gone to check on their father.

She never meant to wake Jane, but she always did.

Jane would then doze for a few more minutes, enjoying that delightful phase of dreaming when one is half awake and half asleep, and then she would slowly get up and get ready for the day.

Taking her time to decide on her hair and gown, simply enjoying the quiet.

It was her favourite time, when the day was new and anything was possible.

She enjoyed the peace. In such a large family, peace did not come often, and particularly in a family with five daughters so close together in age.

Lydia and Kitty had spent most of the mornings, as soon as they could walk, in her company.

Lizzy had never had the patience to deal with Lydia, especially when she was at the hair-pulling age, although she had dealt very well with Kitty.

Jane stretched and saw that Lizzy had already gone downstairs, although it did not look like she had walked out this morning.

She drew back the curtain and saw by the weak rays of March sunlight, that a grey mist still hung in the cold morning air, as if the winter were unwilling to make way for spring.

It would be getting warmer soon, and then Lizzy would be married.

But there was still time; she need not give up hope quite yet.

Jane prayed every day and she had faith that a solution would appear.

She was already being denied having the pleasure of her father giving her away on her own wedding day, whenever that day was, she would not live with the pain of seeing her beloved sister married to a man she could never love or respect.

It was selfish of her she knew, but she had silently rejoiced that she had never been in Lizzy’s place; she could not imagine being forced to decide between doing her duty to her family by marrying Mr Collins, or answering the demands of her own heart.

Lizzy had always been much stronger than her, it was Lizzy who was the brave one.

Jane knew she was a coward. But it did no good to dwell on such thoughts; with the wedding so close there were a million little things that needed doing, her mother needed her help.

She was just leaving her room when she heard giggling and the low murmuring of voices coming from Kitty and Lydia’s room. Clearly they were awake.

* * *

Longbourn, Jane and Elizabeth’s Room - Elizabeth

Elizabeth’s plan was to spend most of the day sorting through her things, deciding what she would be taking with her to Kent and her new life as Mrs Collins, and what she would be leaving behind at Longbourn.

She smiled fondly at the odds and ends she had collected over the years of her life.

The diary she had kept for a week and a half- that made her smile.

She stopped for a minute to read through some of the things that she had written at the tender age of sixteen.

However, that caused her to start laughing which called her attention to the fact that she had become distracted.

Elizabeth added the diary to the pile that would remain at Longbourn.

Several novels and books of poetry were added to the pile that would be going with her, as she could not help but smile at the thought of Mr Collins’ expression when he discovered that his new bride read and enjoyed such things.

She was not going to change herself for him; he would have to learn to deal with who she was.

She was resolved to be happy. That was the least she could do- to make the most of the situation.

Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of the match, she was determined to look at the positive.

A tearful, reluctant bride would help no one, least of all herself.

She would still rather not marry him, she would rather marry any other man in the world, but he was a respectable young man, and he was not cruel.

No, his defect, like many of his sycophantic ilk, was his puffed up humility - a pompous belief of his own importance in due to his superior situation in life and connection with the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Rosings Park, crossed with his flagrant toadying of the same.

There were indeed many destructive characteristics that Mr Collins did not possess, which was a point in his favour, though of course there were likely many advantageous qualities that he did not have either, but Elizabeth thought it wisest not to spend too much time listing those.

She would be able to lead him, and hopefully with time he would annoy her less.

She moved on to her gowns, removing several that had faded and were better left behind.

One she had only worn once or twice as she did not like it very much, but as it was a morning gown in very good condition she could not in good conscience leave it behind.

Mrs Bennet had liked it and said that it suited her very well.

Looking at the gown now she could not help but feel that it, like the current situation in which she found herself, might be made more tolerable by focusing on the positive aspects, ignoring the bad and changing the one or two little things there were in her power.

She twisted the dress to and fro, trying to look at it again without prejudice, and decided that if she redid some of the trimmings it might be at least a little improved.

Perhaps some new lace or fresh ribbon would liven it up a little.

And maybe if she encouraged Mr Collins to widen his reading selection.

Perhaps with some history? She might just be able to curtail his conversation and by adding a little more knowledge and subject to it.

Setting the gown aside, she resolved to do what she could with it later that afternoon.

* * *

Netherfield Park - Bingley

Bingley had been up that morning as soon as it was light, surprising not only his valet but several startled maids including one who was still engaged in lighting the fires in the downstairs rooms. She hastily finished her work and fled from the room with a breathless apology for inconveniencing him.

Not that it bothered him at all - how were the servants to know that he would be up so much earlier than was his habit?

He did not for a moment suppose that he would be awake early enough to catch them laying the fires again.

Today was the day that would change the rest of his life. At least he hoped it was. His mind was made up, although he wished that Darcy were there. He could have done with some of his advice on the matter. Darcy would have known the right thing to say.

However, Darcy was still in London and not expected to return anytime soon.

His sisters would not have been able to offer anything he would call advice.

His brother, Mr Hurst was an option, but on reflection he decided against the idea.

Miss Darcy was too young to offer any insight-she was not her brother after all.

The only other person in the house was Doctor Russell.

No, he would have to manage on his own, and hope for the best.

Breakfast was far from ready, as he normally ate much later,so he settled for some tea, bread and jam before going for a walk in the fresh air.

It was not as cold that morning as it had been earlier in the week.

After a few minutes of walking he realised that he was walking towards Longbourn and that it would be better to arrive on a horse rather than on foot. Not to mention faster.

* * *

Netherfield, Breakfast Room - Georgiana

Georgiana knew her harp would be arriving very soon, but she could not wait.

She had hardly even had to hint that she would like it, and Fitzwilliam had arranged for it to be sent to her from London.

He really was such a good brother. She honestly did not know what she would do without him, although she knew he spoiled her.

A letter had arrived that morning from him informing her that the harp would be arriving later that afternoon.

Before she had been feeling rather sorry for herself, but this news had improved her humour.

She loved playing on the pianoforte, but there was something so much more elegant about the harp.

The breakfast room was unusually quiet this morning.

Miss Bingley rarely came down until breakfast was about to be cleared away, so her absence was no surprise.

The absence of Mr Bingley, on the other hand, was most unusual.

On inquiry, one of the footmen disclosed that the master of the house had gone for a ride early that morning, and was yet to return.

Doctor Russell was busy reading the newspaper and Mrs Annesley was busy with her own post, so Georgiana was left to break her fast in peace.