I love you, my sister,
Anne
Elizabeth had tears streaming down her cheeks when she looked up into Anne’s blue eyes. Anne’s eyebrows were arched waiting for the promise.
“I swear,” Elizabeth managed with a watery smile.
“Everything?” Anne rasped.
“Yes Anne, everything, I would not try to obfuscate,” Elizabeth promised.
Anne wrote another quick note which Elizabeth read:
Thank you, Lizzy, I can be at peace now.
There was no missing the way Anne was looking at Elizabeth as if she was waiting for something. “You mean starting now?” Elizabeth verified as she dried the remaining tears from her cheeks.
Anne nodded in confirmation.
She stood and then Elizabeth leaned forward and gently hugged Anne. It was then she observed the half smile on Jenki’s face. Elizabeth stopped next to the companion as she made her way towards the door.
“You know what Anne wrote to me, do you not, Jenki?” Elizabeth asked with one of her eyebrows raised.
“Yes, Miss Lizzy, I do,” Mrs. Jenkinson confirmed. “It may be hard for you to accept, but I agree with Miss Anne. Remember, it is ultimately for her own peace of mind so she will not feel guilt at you giving up everything she knows you love to do.”
“It will take me some time to reconcile to what Anne has asked, but I believe I will see the wisdom of her request when I allow myself to,” Elizabeth averred.
Mrs. Jenkinson reached out and took Elizabeth’s hands in each of her own and gave a motherly squeeze. “I always knew you could not be so intelligent for nothing.”
“You will send a note if Anne takes a turn for the worse when I am not here, will you not?” Elizabeth requested.
“Of that you can be certain, Miss Lizzy,” Mrs. Jenkinson assured her.
When Elizabeth reached the drive, Penny was saddled and waiting for her, as were Uncle Lewis, John Biggs, and Brian Johns.
“It seems my Annie made her wishes known,” Sir Lewis smiled—for the first time in a long while.
“Her wishes seem to be the worst kept secret, except to myself,” Elizabeth shook her head. “Jenki will send for me if there is a change and I am not here.”
A look of deep pain crossed Sir Lewis’s countenance. “Lizzy, before you go, I must tell you something,” Sir Lewis said in a gentle tone. “It is my belief your friendship has kept my Anne living much longer than she may have otherwise. I am not referring to your saving of both our lives. It is since then, the way you gave of yourself and made Annie feel like she was a true sister of yours and your sisters. You may not understand it yet, but Lizzy you gave her a reason to keep fighting, a will to live. For that, you will have my undying gratitude.”
“You give me far too much credit,” Elizabeth stated modestly. “Never forget I received as much sisterly love and friendship from Anne as I gave.”
Sir Lewis knew Lizzy well enough to know she was not comfortable with all of this praise, so he did not press his point or tell her any more. “Biggs and Johns will ride to Longbourn with you. They will return after they and the horses have rested sufficiently.”
With that, Sir Lewis kissed his honorary daughter on her forehead and nodded to Biggs who then assisted Miss Lizzyinto her saddle.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
For the first three days she was back at Longbourn, Elizabeth kept to herself when not eating a meal. When at the table, she pushed her food around her plate more than she actually ate.
Having visited Oak Hollow the day after Lizzy returned, Fanny and Bennet were aware of what Anne had made Lizzy promise to do.
Neither were upset Anne had taken the bull by the horns in that fashion. Lizzy’s reaction to Anne’s worsening health was a great worry to them. They had decided to keep their peace on the subject for now as they both had confidence Elizabeth would work through everything on her own and arrive at the correct conclusions. If her introverted behaviour continued for too many more days, then they would step in.
The night of her third day home from Oak Hollow, Elizabeth dreamt she was with Anne who was admonishing her for not keeping the vow she had sworn to her.
“Elizabeth Rose Bennet! How dare you make me a promise and then return home and mope around the way you have been? Is that what you promised me? Is this the way you live your life fully?” Anne demanded; her arms akimbo as she stood outside of the smashed coach.
