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“ You are awfully quiet.” Jane nudged Lizzy as the train rocked soothingly on their way back to London.

“ Just thinking.”

“ I’m so sorry you were ill and missed Mr Bingley’s race. It was so exciting.”

“ I’m sure it was. Did you have a chance to speak with him?”

“ Yes, I’m afraid I quite monopolised him after the race. He seemed very happy to see me.”

“ He is mad for you, Jane. Mad.”

Jane’s eyes twinkled. “I love him. I can’t help myself. There is no one in the world for me but him.”

“ Not even Mr Collins?” Lizzy gave Jane an arched look, then burst out laughing.

“ Well… I believe Mama has that gentleman reserved for you.”

“ I don’t think Mr Collins and I are suited somehow. Perhaps Mary will want him and save the Bennet dynasty.” She rolled her eyes.

“ They might make a good match. He would talk and she wouldn’t listen.”

Elizabeth scoffed softly. “I do believe some of my outspoken habits are rubbing off on you.”

It was times like these that Elizabeth was so grateful to have Jane at her side.

She was always there to lighten her mood, or look after her, and most especially, to be her loyal friend.

Even Charlotte, of whom Lizzy was very fond, didn’t follow her to the ends of the earth as Jane did.

Well, Jane followed her to London, which less than a year ago did seem like the ends of the earth.

They continued their work with Mr Goldsman.

Mr Selfridge, always attuned to the fashions and trends from the continent, had them decorate an entire run of windows promoting the Ballets Russe, which Diaghilev just brought to London.

Today, she and Jane worked creating the stage set of the ballet, Giselle, in a curtained sanctuary in one of the south windows when a call came their way.

“ Come out, Miss Bennets. Come out and see,” Mr Goldsman called through the hidden entrance to the window.

Lizzy threw Jane a look, and they quickly left their cocoon and stepped onto the retail floor just in time to see The Chief with none other than Anna Pavlova on his arm, enrobed in sable from head to toe.

She floated next to him like some sort of fairy queen, much to the delight of both customers and staff alike.

It was days like these that Lizzy lived for.

Having her work helped her forget the mercurial Mr Darcy, who seemed so pompous and arrogant one moment, and so loyal and heroic in another.

He thought himself so much above her and her family, there was no use thinking of him at all.

As summer slipped into autumn, Mr Bingley spent considerably less time in London. Jane received missives from him quite often, but he was off for one shooting weekend or house party after another, and their only communication was through letters or an occasional telephone call.

After a particularly gruelling day at the store, Elizabeth climbed the stairs to their room. All she had in mind was removing her hat and shoes and having a quick lie-down before dinner. Jane stayed downstairs a moment to have a chat with Mrs Clarke and retrieve the post.

Just as she was about to drift off, Lizzy heard the door open and a swish of skirts. “Oh, you’re asleep.” Jane’s voice floated through.

“ Nearly.” Lizzy forced her eyes open and propped herself up on her elbows. “What is it?”

“ Post for you… from somewhere called Pemberley.”

Lizzy was awake now and stretched out her hand.

She tore open the envelope and retrieved a letter on fine paper bearing a watermark and letterhead.

The signature confirmed her suspicions. It was from Mr Darcy.

Lizzy held it for a moment lost in thought.

How dare he write to her when he plotted against her sister to keep her from the man she loved? How dare he?

“ Aren’t you going to read it?” Lizzy looked up at Jane’s beaming face.

“ You’ve received another letter from Mr Bingley, haven’t you?”

Jane said nothing, but her smile widened. “He hasn’t forgotten me, even though he is always in a whirl of social engagements.”

“ Of course, he hasn’t. Nothing will keep you apart. You’ll see.”

Jane looked at her quizzically. “What you mean ‘nothing will keep us apart’?”

Lizzy chastised herself for her slip of the tongue. She dared not reveal the machinations of Mr Darcy and Miss Bingley. It would break Jane’s heart. Besides, apparently, nothing they were doing prevented Mr Bingley from writing to Jane nearly every day.

“ Oh, nothing. I only mean that… being absent from you for so long has done nothing to cool his ardour, has it?”

“ No, I don’t think it has. Go on now. Read your letter and I will read mine.” Jane could contain herself no longer, and slicing open the envelope with the letter opener, she settled herself at their small desk and began to read.

Lizzy steeled herself against what Mr Darcy might have to say to her and began his letter.

25 October 1911

My Dear Miss Bennet,

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write to you since the accident at Henley, but urgent business at my estate has occupied my attention until now.

I wanted to thank you personally for all you did to save my friend, Charles Bingley.

It would have been an unspeakable tragedy for his family and for me if anything had happened to him.

Your bravery and self-sacrifice have left a lasting impression on me.

My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, also spoke highly of you, and enjoyed his conversation with you and your father at Henley. I ask you, though, why did you not attend the gathering after the races? I looked for you there and even sought you at your hotel, but no one knew what had become of you.

Elizabeth stopped reading for a moment. He’d looked for her at the hotel? The man was full of surprises. Perhaps it would have been better to have had it out with him, then and there, about his treatment of Jane. Ah well. It was too late for that now.

I trust you are well, and still doing your work with Selfridges and with the suffragettes.

I have taken a keen interest in politics since meeting you.

I admit that you have had a profound influence on my life, far greater than I can explain to you in a letter.

In fact, there are several things I want to discuss with you in person.

The next time I am in town, I would like to call upon you, if I may. I close now and wish you and your family continued health and happiness.

Sincerely,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

How extraordinary. He asked her questions and by doing so, no doubt expected her to write to him with an answer.

And what in the world did he want to discuss with her?

No matter. She didn’t want anything to do with a man who was so full of pride in his birth and position that he saw nothing wrong in hurting someone as sweet and kind-hearted as Jane.

On the other hand, he did prove to be a good and brave friend when Mr Bingley was in danger.

The man was full of contradictions. Jane’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“ Your letter. Who was it from?”

“ Mr Darcy.”

“ Mr Darcy? What did he have to say?”

Lizzy hesitated for a moment. “Oh, only that he thanks me for helping him save your Mr Bingley.”

Jane sighed. “If only I was sure that he was my Mr Bingley.”

Lizzy said nothing, but Jane’s remark hardened her resentment of Mr Darcy and his meddling ways. She would not write to him. If he wanted to, he could come to her.