The Jane Plan - Chapter 8

The door had barely shut behind the Darcys before Elizabeth sprinted to find Jane. If she had needed any more proof that her sister still cared for Mr. Bingley, Jane's uncharacteristic departure from the room earlier that evening had confirmed it. Her sister's heart was still Bingley's. She was sure of her plan was going to work. Her sister was going to have the happy ending that Mr. Darcy had wrestled away from her.

Elizabeth was not surprised finding her aunt with Jane, providing much needed solace, when she entered the bedroom. Aunt Gardiner quickly surrendered her post to Elizabeth, saying she was going to check on the children. A long time of rocking companionship followed. The silence was interrupted when Jane whispered hoarsely against her shoulder, "He was not hurt."

There was no need to question who "he" was. Elizabeth smiled at her sister's compassion. "No, he was not harmed."

Another quiet moment. Then, another whisper, "Are you quite sure?"

"Quite." She pulled away from her sister. "I promise his carriage suffered the brunt of things. Really, he did look perfectly well."

"That is good." Jane nodded. Even with tear stained cheeks and a raw nose, her sister looked beautiful. "I would not wish him any discomfort." Her sister was all kindness.

Elizabeth tucked an errant strand of silvery blonde hair behind her sister's perfectly shaped ear. "You can see for yourself tomorrow. I have invited him and Mr. Perceval to tea."

Outrage flashed in Jane's eyes as she pulled back from her embrace. "How could you, Lizzy? How could you invite him here?" She stood, wringing her hands. "I told you that I did not want to see him!"

Elizabeth had prepared herself for this. "How could I not? Not when you have been so miserable without him." Overcome, Jane turned to stare out the small window in their room. It was too dim in the afternoon light for her to make out any of her sister's expression. Brow wrinkled it appeared Jane was struggling to maintain her composure. It strangely reminded Elizabeth of Mr. Darcy. She shook her head, trying to focus on the issue at hand, rising she moved behind her sister. "If you could have only seen his face when I mentioned you were in town. Truly! A man more in love I have never seen." To press her point, she put a hand on her sister's shoulder, patting lovingly. "He even said that he had never been happier than the time he spent in Hertfordshire."

Jane shut her eyes. "Oh, Lizzy, you sound just like mama." Elizabeth bristled at the comparison, but there had been no malice in Jane's voice. "How can you possibly profess to know the heart of another? Did your experience with Mr. Darcy not teach you anything? You didn't even know that he was in love with you." She shook her head sadly, "How could you possibly know how Mr. Bingley feels about me?"

"I'm trying to save you from a marriage of convenience - "

"Save me? From a marriage to a respectable man?" The hint of sadness had an edge now.

Elizabeth countered, "A man you don't love."

"And just what is so important about love?" Jane's chin rose. "I have a man who will give me his name. A man of substance and character and honor."

A headache was starting. "Yes, Mr. Smith is a respectable man - "

"And a constant one, Lizzy!" Jane badgered. "We both saw his devotion. He remained by his first wife's side throughout her entire illness. Bathed her. Provided for her. Tended to her and the children - if he is one tenth as devoted to me - " She smiled. "Such a man, I could grow to love-"

"But, you love Bingley." Tears formed in Elizabeth's eyes in frustration. "And, he loves you."

"I am done being a romantic. I ask only for a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Smith's character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state." Jane's voice had an edge of finality to it.

Elizabeth was horrified. "That sounds like something Charlotte would say."

"Perhaps, our friend is right. Have you ever considered that? Wouldn't it be comical if Charlotte turned out to be the wisest of us all?" She had nothing to say to that. Her mind latched on to her best friends insight about Mr. Darcy's attention at Hunsford. Jane began clearing the evidence of her earlier tears. In a even voice she announced. "I am sorry to upset your plans, but I will not be in attendance when Mr. Bingley arrives tomorrow. I will claim an indisposition."

Elizabeth tried again. "Give him a chance to explain himself."

"No."

"Jane, I cannot believe you can be this cruel -"

"Cruel? I'm cruel? You're the cruel one!" She'd never heard such venomousness coming from her meek sister. "Inviting the one man I did not want to see here. For tea no less. Did you not know how much it would hurt me to see him? Why would you impose on me in such a way?"

"Impose -no, you don't understand why I did it." Elizabeth had to make sure that she understood. "I did it for you, Jane. I did everything for you since coming to London. I had to give you a happy ending."

"A happy ending? Oh, Lizzy. When did you start believing in fairy tales?" Jane crossed her arms across her chest, then her eyes narrowed, "What do you mean you did everything for me?"

Elizabeth was exhausted. Perhaps, it was as they say, time to put her cards on the table. "I came to London with the aim of reuniting you and Mr. Bingley."

"Reuniting us?" Wrinkles creased Jane's smooth brow before intelligence replaced it. "The parties you were determined to go to. You were going to all these parties in hopes of meeting with Mr. Bingley again."

Elizabeth hated to admit it but she had never considered that course. In all of her plotting, she had only considered Darcy's presence at the events she had attended. After all, any hope Jane had with Bingley had to be approved by his overbearing friend. "No. I planned on running into Mr. Darcy. I knew if I could gain his attention again logically it would lead to a reintroduction to Mr. Bingley."

"And, Mr. Darcy went along with this scheme. That hardly sounds like him."

Elizabeth could not look at his sister, diverting her attention to the bristles on a nearby hairbrush on the vanity. "He is unaware of my plans."

"Do you mean to tell me that you are encouraging Mr. Darcy's attention simply to be in the company of Mr. Bingley?"

"I'm not encouraging his attentions!" Elizabeth lied, ignoring the heavy weight of guilt that settled on her suddenly. "More like enduring his attentions."

"Enduring his attentions? Who are you? I feel like I even know you since we've come to this dreadful place. I barely recognize you. The Lizzy I have known her entire life would never have behaved this way. Even for me. The way you are toying with Mr. Darcy is infamous. You must know he still loves you."

"No, he does not. He wishes me to marry as soon as possible so he will no longer - "

"No longer what?"

Elizabeth could not repeat what Mr. Darcy had told her. It was just too shocking.

"I never thought I would say this to you, Lizzy, but you are a right fool."

With that, she watched helplessly as her sister silently exited the room.