A candle was set upon the side table.
There was faint muttering as a drawer slid open, then shut again. Another drawer opened. Papers shifted inside.
More muttering. "Money…”
The drawer slammed shut. Several books were pulled from the shelf and dropped carelessly onto the floor.
“Where is it?”
Footsteps paced back and forth across the room.
Then the candle struck the rug. For a moment, nothing stirred. Then a spark caught in the woven fibers.
Footsteps hurried toward the door.
The door opened and closed quietly.
Behind it, a thin flame began to creep along the rug.
***
Elizabeth woke at the sound of shouting. She sat up and listened. Then she heard it.
“Fire!”
She jumped up, grabbed her slippers and robe, and rushed into the hallway. The smoke was already stronger there. “Fire!” she shouted, throwing open doors as she ran. “Jane, wake up. The house is on fire. “Get Mary and go out immediately. Now. Hurry!”
She ran down the corridor, opening doors. “Fire! Everyone down the stairs and out the front!” She nearly collided with Mrs. Hill. “Get the servants upstairs out and have them meet out front. Quickly!”
Elizabeth rushed to her father’s room and flung open the door. “Father, wake up. Fire. We must leave now!” She pulled him from the bed and pushed him toward the stairs. The smoke was growing thicker.
She ran next to her mother’s room. “Mother. Fire. Get up!”
Mrs. Bennet cried out in alarm.
“Hurry!” Elizabeth urged, pulling her along. “Down the stairs. Out the front.” She rushed down the steps, holding her mother’s hand.
At last, they reached the front lawn. Servants were gathering there in confusion.
Elizabeth forced herself to focus. She began to count. Father. Mother. Jane. Mary. Kitty. Lydia. Mrs. Tyler.
All were accounted for.
She took a deep breath and turned to Mr. Hill. “Send a groom to Lucas Lodge and Netherfield. Ask for anyone they can spare to help fight the fire.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Then gather every bucket you can find. Start filling them from the well and bring them to the house.”
Mr. Hill hurried off.
Elizabeth saw Jane standing beside their still-weeping mother. “Jane, please take Mama to the stables and stay with her.”
Jane nodded and gently led Mrs. Bennet away.
Elizabeth spotted Mary. “Mary, we must form a bucket line from the well to the house. Can you begin organizing the servants?”
Mary nodded at once and ran to the gathering servants, urging them to begin filling buckets.
