Author Note: Hi! I'm very excited to share with you my first JAFF work in progress. While I have published a number of original contemporary works, I am very new to writing Regency works. I am conscious of my word choices, and of researching details as I write, however I can absolutely guarantee that you will find mistakes. Particularly in this first unedited draft.
I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoy writing it!
xx Maree

1.

Elizabeth Bennet pinned the final flower into her older sister's hair and stood back to assess her work. "There. I can say with no uncertainty, Jane, that you will be the most radiant bride Meryton has ever had the good fortune to set eyes upon. Mr Bingley truly is the luckiest of men."

Jane turned from the looking glass and held her hand out to her sister. "Thank you, Lizzie." She ran a finger over the fine needlework adorning the dress in which she would marry her beloved. "I find myself unable to adequately express how greatly I appreciate the many hours you spent creating the perfect trimming for my dress."

"You deserve only the finest this world has to offer, Jane. And now that you have found your Mr Bingley, you shall have it." Lizzie smiled and patted Jane's hand as it held her own.

The smile would fool most others, but Jane noted the melancholy in her sister's eyes. "Oh, Lizzie! You must think me so terribly insensitive, going on as I am about my own joy when you have been let down so badly yourself. Did you love Mr Wickham so very much?"

Lizzie dropped her sister's hand and turned away. Of course Jane would conclude her sorrow was the result of the recent announcement of George Wickham's engagement to Mary King. After meeting the charming and handsome officer at an assembly in Meryton, the very same assembly in which Jane made her acquaintance with Mr Bingley, Wickham had become a regular guest at Longbourn. Lizzie much enjoyed their conversations and could not deny she had entertained thoughts of a future with the officer.

It had come as great surprise to many when, upon learning of her recent inheritance, Wickham had turned his attentions to the freckled and otherwise inconsequential Miss Mary King. But Lizzie knew well that handsome young men must have something to live on, as well as the plain. While she held strong to her dreams of a marriage based on true affection, she could not deny his decision to pursue a more prudent match.

She let out a long sigh and turned back to face her sister. "It is true, Mr Wickham is, beyond all comparison, the most agreeable man I ever saw, but I confess, I do not believe I was ever in love with him. Had I really experienced that pure and elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil. But my feelings are not only cordial towards him; they are even impartial towards Miss King."

She picked up one of the satin slippers her sister would wear for her wedding, and traced her finger over the insole, picturing her sister's name inscribed there alongside her husbands. Both she and Jane each held in their most treasured possessions, a slipper worn by their mother at her marriage to their father. Lizzie had oft held that slipper, tracing the inscription of her parents' names, and imagining her name next to that of her own true love. "Do you recall the stories Papa would tell us when we were children, of his courtship with our mother?"

Jane smiled, remembering the stories herself. "I do believe our mother was as spirited as you, Lizzie. The way Papa tells it, she made him work most diligently to prove his worth as a man and a husband before she would accept his offer."

"Yes." Lizzie replaced the slipper carefully and took a seat on the edge of the bed in which her sister had spent her final night as a single woman. "When you believe no one to be watching and steal glances at your Mr Bingley, you get the same look on your face as Papa got when he'd tell us stories of her."

Jane stood and walked over to her sister, taking hold of both Lizzie's hands before seating herself on the bed beside her. "I have counted my blessings every moment since I had the fortune of dancing the first set at that assembly with Charles. Oh Lizzie, I can't wait for you to fall in love and experience what I feel in my own heart."

Lizzie laughed, and Jane was pleased to hear the melodic joy in the expression. "I don't think I could ever be so good as to experience what you feel in your heart, dear Jane. You are the most agreeable person I have ever known. Why even Mama can not find fault in your manner."

As if conjured by the mere mention of her name, Mr Bennet's second wife, whom he married less than a twelvemonth after the tragic passing of his first, called up the stairs, "Come girls, the carriage awaits. We must not be late or poor Mr Bingley might have reason to change his mind. And after all the trouble I have gone to in arranging new dresses, even for you, Elizabeth, despite it being not one month since received your last new dress. Oh do hurry yourselves, girls."

Lizzie clenched her lips together, lest she let slip a retort disclosing the providence of the dress she'd worn to the assembly. Mrs Hill, the housekeeper of Longbourn, had taken great risk in going against her new mistress' orders when she secretly preserved a collection of the first Mrs Bennet's personal belongings for her daughters.

It had taken Lizzie many nights of stitching new trimmings to the dress to give it the appearance of this season's fashions, but all had been worth it when her father had whispered how greatly she resembled her mother; the pleasure exceeded only by the ire of the second Mrs Bennet at her husband's fond recollection of his first wife.

Jane reached her arms around her sister and hugged her tightly. "I love you, Lizzie. Promise you won't let Mama rile you when I'm gone."

Elizabeth held her hand against her chest in mock objection to the charge. "Me, riled? Why Jane, whatever could lead you to make such a suggestion. As always I will demonstrate utmost pleasantness towards our dearest Mama and our delightful sisters."

Jane slipped her feet into the slippers that would become treasured keepsakes of the day's events. Then she turned to look at her sister over her shoulder. "Well, you never know, Lizzie, Mr Bingley expects a number of guests to travel for the celebration today. Perhaps you'll meet your own true love."

Lizzie again laughed as she followed her sister out of their shared room for the final time.

Mrs Fanny Bennet fussed over her husband's eldest daughter, clucking her tongue as she dusted an imaginary loose thread from Lizzie's needlework. She spared nary a glance in Lizzie's direction as she ushered Jane out to the awaiting carriage.

"Come girls, your sisters are already away, walking the mile to Meryton with the Lucases. Oh, I do hope they arrive before Mrs Long and her nieces. Why I understand, Jane, your Mr Bingley has invited no less than twenty eligible bachelors to attend the wedding."

"Mama—" Lizzie intended to temper their mother's expectations, but she was promptly ignored as Mrs Bennet turned away and walked ahead of the girls out of the house.

Instead of following their mother out, Lizzie was startled when Jane turned suddenly and grabbed hold of her sister's wrists. Taking in the sudden pallor of Jane's features, which only moments before held such radiance, Lizzie let out a startled gasp.

The reaction brought forth Mrs Hill, who had been waiting just outside the door to farewell the bride. She approached the girls but Lizzie held her hand up to stall the housekeeper's approach.

"Jane?"

"Oh Lizzie, I love Mama, and I know she only wants for her daughters to make good matches, but it is not at all likely any of Mr Bingley's guests will arrive in time to attend the service. I worry in her disappointment, Mama is going to create a scene—"

"Fear not, Janie. Nothing will interfere with your marriage to Mr Bingley. I simply will not allow it."

Hill stepped forward and wrapped her arms around both girls. "There you see, Miss Bennet. If there is anyone who can honour such a statement it is Miss Elizabeth. Not to mention, having seen the way that man looks at you, I do not believe there is a force in the world that could prevent your Mr Bingley from making you his wife."

She dropped her arm from around Lizzie and reached into her apron pocket to retrieve a handkerchief which she used to pat dry a tear that ran down her cheek. "Oh girls, if your mother were alive today she would be so proud of the ladies you have become. Both of you." She hugged them again and then gestured to the door. "Now be on your way, quickly girls, or the mistress will have all our hides!"

Jane gave the woman who had been the closest thing both girls had to a kind and loving mother figure a final hug. "Thank you Hill."

Hill stepped back and curtsied as Lizzie and Jane left the house.

"Hurry girls," Mrs Bennet called from inside the carriage, "we must leave at once if we are to arrive on time. Oh, how you girls test my poor nerves."

Mr Bennet waited alongside the carriage to assist each of his daughters up with a hand on their elbow. As they were settled in their seats, Mrs Bennet prattled on about the fineries that had been arranged for the celebration, and how envious Lady Lucas and Mrs Long would be.

Lizzie looked to her father who in turn winked at her. The familiar gesture calmed her own nerves. She covered Jane's gloved hand with her own and gave a squeeze. In only a short carriage ride, she would say goodbye to the one person in the house who truly understood her.

Thanks for reading the first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it! Our next chapter will see the arrival of Mr Darcy... I'll have that one up for you shortly.
Cheers, Maree