Confession
Janefrettedoverwhatshe had said to Elizabeth, fearful she had said too much.Despite knowing it was not wise, she rose from the bed and paced through the chamber.She walked to the window, turned sharply and moved to the fireplace, then paced toward the bed before repeating the circuit again.She did not wish to injure her sister’s feelings, yet she could not wish the words unsaid.She had a terrible feeling Elizabeth’s blindness to her own snap judgments would one day get her into a terrible situation she could not undo.
Her sister’s dreams only made her more confident in her judgment.Whether they were true or not—and Jane did not know what to think aboutthat—they set Elizabeth apart from her sisters.The dreams had caused Elizabeth to forge a bond with their great-grandmother; that bond, and the dreams themselves, had increased her confidence.Jane could not think that was a bad thing, but that same confidence had also made Elizabeth feel superior to those around her.
In many ways, Elizabethwassuperior.She was certainly the smartest girl in Meryton and the quickest by far—quicker than most of the gentlemen they were acquainted with.They enjoyed dancing with her and gaining her smiles, but Jane doubted any of them would offer for Elizabeth.Most men did not like to feel quite so inferior to their wives.
Deciding she was being ridiculous and borrowing trouble, Jane settled back into the bed.Elizabeth had needed to hear what she said for her own good.There might be a few moments of uneasiness, but the result would be worth any temporary discomfort.She hoped.
Jane stared at Elizabeth with her mouth open.Elizabeth watched her sister carefully, thinking that she had never been able to see all the way around her blue irises before.
“Jane?Are you well?”
Jane continued to stare at her, and Elizabeth cringed.She had not meant to blurt it out like that.She had thought they would talk, perhaps sit by the window, and she would gently tell her sister that she had seen Jane’s husband in her dreams and that the man was Mr.Bingley.
Instead, she had burst into the room, full of nervous energy, and blurted out, “Mr.Bingley is your husband.I have seen it many times in my dreams, and you are wildly happy together.I am sorry I didn’t tell you before.”
Jane continued to stare at her as Elizabeth reached slowly for her hand.
“Jane?Do you wish to ask me any questions?”
Jane’s eyes snapped closed and then blinked rapidly.She turned to face her sister, her color high.“You have seen it?”
“Yes.”
“Mr.Bingley and me…married?”
“Yes.”
“And we had children together?”
“Yes.I only saw the first two as I did my own, and we were each with child with our thirds together.”
“I had two boys, did I not?”
“Yes.They looked like you.”
Jane looked at her in disbelief.Or perhaps it was shock.It was hard to tell.She looked very near hysteria.“You are saying you have seen Mr.Bingley in your dreams?”
“Yes.”
“Not a man who looked similar to him?You saw his actual face?”
Elizabeth nodded.“And I heard his voice and observed his nature.It was Mr.Bingley.”
“You are certain?”
“Quite certain.”
Jane fell back on the bed, her eyes closing.
“Are you angry with me?”asked Elizabeth, her voice timid.
Jane’s eyes snapped open.“Why would I be angry with you?You cannot control your dreams.”
Elizabeth shifted her eyes from one side to the other.“You might be angry that I did not tell you sooner.”
“You did tell me.You told me when you were but sixteen.You have often spoken of both our husbands.”
