Jane watched her sister, then finally curled her legs under her chin and hugged her knees, looking very much like a little girl.

“Do you think you will grow to love Mr. Darcy, Lizzy?”

“I do not know. Sometimes I think I am doomed to a life with a stubborn, intractable, difficult man. Then he is sweet and kind and surprisingly charming and I think everything will be all right in the end.” She shrugged her shoulders. “How are you feeling?”

“I feel terrible for bothering you with my troubles. You have your own more difficult situation to deal with and I selfishly burdened you with mine. Can you forgive me?”

“Dearest Jane,” Elizabeth said, rising and taking her sister’s hands in her own, “there is nothing to forgive. We must go through these things together. Is that not what sisters are for?”

Jane smiled and hugged her, then Elizabeth returned to her own room for the rest of the night where she slept fitfully until late the next morning.

~

The following day was Sunday and instead of attending services, the entire family slept very late and when Mr. Darcy arrived, Mary Bennet was the only family member who received him.

He made stunted small talk with Elizabeth’s sister while waiting for his betrothed to come downstairs. Thankfully, she arrived within a quarter hour and whisked him into the garden where she ordered tea. As she poured for him and offered him a small tray of muffins, he couldn’t help but think how lucky he was, that he had many more days just like this to look forward to. Even luckier; in less than a fortnight, they would be wed and he would not have to go home alone or even wake up alone. It was not something they had discussed, but he hoped she would consent to share a bed, at least some of the time. He thought he might like to sleep together every night, but he was practical enough to realize such a thing should probably be tried before it was decided upon.

He didn’t realize he had been looking in her direction without really seeing her for several minutes until she broke his reverie.

“What has your brow so puzzled, my dear?”

Immediately he brightened. She had never called him that before and seemed quite unaware of having said it herself.

“I was wondering if you snore,” he said.

She laughed and quickly set down her teacup. “What?”

He smiled. “It would seem odd for such a delicate person as you, but one never knows about these things.”

“I don’t know whether to be flattered you think I’m delicate or insulted by your thinking I snore!”

“Why would you be flattered? Are you not often thought of as delicate? I should think it would be quite ordinary by now.”