Chapter Text
Prologue
“Finish up, Elizabeth,” Mrs. Bennet poked her head around the door to the bedroom that Elizabeth shared with Jane, “It wouldn’t do for us to be too early, but I would like all of you to have at least some chance at one dance tonight. You know there are few young men here since the start of the war.”
“Not to mention our added curiosity to be one of the first to see our new neighbors,” Elizabeth bit back a smile as her mother crossed the room and presented her daughter with a delicate chain adorned with sparkling emeralds and light-yellow citrine. The emeralds made her beryl green eyes almost glow and the citrine complemented the primrose yellow of her silk evening gown.
Your father and I had this commissioned for you a few months ago and have just been waiting for the perfect time to present it to you.
There was a knock at the half-open door, “May I enter?”
“Of course, Papa,” Elizabeth smiled back at her father through the mirror situated on top of her vanity table, “Mamma was just showing me this sublime necklace. I thank you both, though I fear I do not deserve it.”
Mr. and Mrs. Shot each other a concerned glance.
“My, dear Lizzy,” Mr. Bennet drew over a low stool and took in his second daughter’s slight hand while Mrs. Bennet sat on the edge of the bed, “Why ever not?”
Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears, “I try not it let it bother me, but all the whispers of ‘Hoyden’, acting too ‘manish’, and that if I persist in “trudging about the estate with you that” I should have died in place of Elijah when we all caught that horrible influenza…”
Elizabeth’s voice broke, and her next words were almost inaudible, “They’re all right.”
“What?! Who is it that is speaking such nonsense?” Mr. Bennet shot up at the same time Mrs. Bennet commanded, “Elizabeth! Look at me.”
Elizabeth turned slowly in her seat and looked towards her mother, but her eyes were more level with the matron’s chin. Mrs. Bennet placed a gentle finger under her second daughter’s chin and finally caught her eye.
“Samuel, take a deep breath and sit down please,” Mrs. Bennet stated as she held Elizabeth’s gaze, “None of those comments are true. I hope I have never made you feel that any of those comments are true, Especially, regarding Elijah. We were all deathly ill. We nearly lost you and Catherine as well.”
Elizabeth ducked her head and found a fine linen handkerchief to dab at her eyes with, “I know it has been over four years, but I still miss him so much.”
Mr. Bennet sat again and took to rubbing his hand along the arm closest to him, “As do we, my dear, but I know you must feel the passing of your twin much more deeply.”
“At least the late Mr. Collins had no sons,” Mrs. Bennet stated with an impish twinkle in her sky-blue eyes. Elizabeth gasped at the temerity of her mother’s comment, “Don’t look at me so, Mr. Bennet. You have said as much yourself.”
“We do not have the time to speak more on this at the moment as I must gather Jane and Mary, but I expect to know who has been making such comments towards you my dear,” Mr. Bennet stated firmly as he exited the room.
“Chin up, my dear, Lizbet,” Mrs. Bennet spoke as she stood, then held her hands out to help Elizabeth stand, “There are new neighbors to meet at the assembly tonight. If it makes you feel better stay by my side tonight, though I do hope you will dance at least twice. You always cut such a fine figure when paired with another fine dancer.”