Authors: Wendi Sotis
“
I have already given you the
drink
, Miss Elizabeth.
Would you like some water?
There is a stream nearby
; I can get you some.
”
Elizabeth shook her head.
“
Perhaps in a few minutes, thank you.
”
She closed her eyes and
rested her head against his
chest
,
filling herself with the heavenly scent she now knew was his
. S
he
could not help but fall asleep
, the rhythm of his heartbeat calming hers
.
~%~
William
had been
watching Elizabeth sleep in his arms for he knew not how long when he heard a twig snap and looked up
.
Miss Jane Bennet
was
standing at the edge of the clearing, staring at the pair with
her
mouth
gaping
open.
William
’s colo
u
r rose as
Jane
remembered her task and approached.
William
said quietly,
“
Good morning, Miss Bennet.
Are you the
Fili
?
”
Jane’s eyes widened
,
and she nodded.
“
I am aware of how this
looks
,
but
nothing
untoward
has occurred
here.
After the
Sanun
, Miss Elizabeth drank the brew
,
and then fell asleep.
I did not wish to wake her, so...
”
he
trailed off,
shrugg
ing
his shoulders.
“
May I ask
how you came to be here
, Mr. Darcy
?
”
“
I could not sleep and took a walk.
Miss Elizabeth’s song led me here.
My parents came to speak to me and explained
.
”
H
e hesitated, not knowing how much he should tell
Jane
, and then continued,
“
When the ritual was complete, I caught her and helped her to drink the brew.
”
Jane gasped.
“
You
witnessed
the
Sanun
?
”
William
reddened once again and nodded.
Her l
ook
changed from shock to one
of understanding
.
A slow smile spread across
Jane
’s features
.
“
Elizabeth should be awakened now, Mr. Darcy.
She will need to eat and drink to regain
enough
strength to return to Longbourn.
Once home, she will sleep most of the day.
”
“
I will accompany you both to Longbourn
and assist Miss Elizabeth
.
I must speak to Mr. Bennet as soon as possible
to
arrange for training.
”
Jane was surprised once again by
William’s
knowledge, but grateful for his assistance.
She stroked Elizabeth’s cheek as she said,
“
Lizzy?
Lizzy, you must wake up now.
”
Elizabeth snuggled her face against
William
’s chest.
“
Jane?
”
s
he
asked
as she
yawned.
“
I had the strangest dream…
”
“
Lizzy!
”
Jane interrupted
before her sister could say something she might later regret
.
“
Mr.
Darcy
helped you drink the
draught
, but you must take in some
nourishment
.
We are expected at Longbourn soon.
”
Elizabeth’s eyes flew open
,
and she looked up into
William
’s eyes.
The
comforting sound she had been list
ening to had been his heartbeat.
“
Good morning, Miss Elizabeth!
”
he said with a wide smile.
After seeing the way she was looking at him, William thought
,
I must smile at her more often
if it affects her this way
!
A deep blush spread upward from the neckline of her gown, thinking of their relative positions.
After regaining her senses, Elizabeth cried,
“
Oh, I am sorry, Mr. Darcy
!
It seem
s
I fell asleep.
How long have you been…
here
?
”
“
I apologize if I have offended you, Miss Elizabeth, but I did not wish to lay you down on the cold ground and did not know the particulars of what would happen next.
My parents only told me the
Fili
would come
,
and so I waited until your sister arrived just now.
”
S
uddenly remember
ing that
she was
still
lying in his arms
, Elizabeth
attempt
ed
to
rise
from his lap
.
Lifting her easily, h
e stood and placed her in a sitting position on the
tree
stump,
and
then stepped away.
A deep sense of loss came over Elizabeth,
surprising her greatly.
S
he
did not g
uess
that
William
was feeling much the same.
“
You have not offended me, Mr. Darcy.
I thank you for your
assistance and
your
kindness
.
”
Elizabeth blushed again.
Jane decided to end the awkward moment that followed.
Handing
William
two cups
, she asked if he would fill
them with water
from the stream.
He bowed a
nd headed off in that direction, happy to
be
of service.
~%~
The ladies watched
William
walk across the meadow towards the stream, and once he was out of hearing range, Jane turned to Elizabeth with eyebrows raised
.
“
Is there anything you would like to tell me, Lizzy?
”
“
Oh, Jane!
So much has happened since I departed Longbourn last night!
Grandmama and Mr. Darcy’s parents told me that Mr. Darcy is my
Soul Mate
!
I could not believe it, but after a discussion with Grandmama, I do
think that
I have misjudged him greatly.
I told her I would start over and proceed with an open mind, but I made no promises.
As you well know,
I refuse to marry without the deepest love and respect for my partner in life.
But,
Jane,
I do suspect that he may have feelings for me. T
he
expression
in his eyes when I awoke….
”
her speech ended as she became lost in the memory of the way he had looked upon her.
“
That
was perfectly clear to me as well.
We both know that Mr. Darcy must have been holding you as you slept for at least an hour, perhaps two, before I arrived.
”
“
Yes, I know! Oh, how mortifying it is that I fell asleep!
”
Jane
laughed
.
“
Lizzy, I had been watching him for several minutes before he noticed my presence, and it is my opinion that he did not mind in the least!
”
A thoughtful expression passed over Elizabeth’s features before she blushed
even more deeply than before
.
“
I must admit that I have never been more comfortable or felt so safe in my life!
C
ould Grandmama be correct?
Could he be my
Soul Mate
?
”
“
I suggest you spend time with Mr. Darcy
—
be
true to your wor
d
and
give him a chance
to prove himself
.
Get to know the gentleman before even considering that question and
allow
your feelings
to develop naturally
.
”
Jane
sent
her sister a
scolding
look
in answer to Elizabeth’s expression of innocence
. “
Lizzy!
Do not think t
hat I am
un
aware of your tendency
to
resist
any
alteration of
your previous opinions
!
”
“You are so sweet, Jane. Anyone else would call me ‘stubborn’!”
The conversation ended when the ladies saw
William
move
toward them
through the trees
.
Jane began to rifle th
r
ough her basket.
As he approached, Jane asked,
“
Would you hold Lizzy’s cup for me, Mr. Darcy?
I must pour an exact amount of this liquid into the water for her to drink, and then we three can break our fast together before returning to Longbourn
—
if
that is agreeable to you both?
”
When Jane finished measuring the liquid, he handed the cup to Elizabeth.
“
I would not wish to inconvenience you, Miss Bennet.
I am certain you were not expecting my presence.
I can eat when I return to Netherfield later today.
”
Uncovering the basket to show
William
the contents, Jane insisted,
“
Please
,
I do believe Mrs. Hill packed enough for four!
”
“
Then
I accept
.
It would be an
honour
to share a meal with the High
Priestess
of
Sanun
and her
Fili
.
”
His smile made Elizabeth’s heart beat
in a way that she had never before experienced
.
~%~
After
their meal
, the trio took the path to Longbourn.
Conversation was sporadic since Elizabeth was
extremely
tired and both Jane and
William
were distracted with concern for her.
As they progressed, Elizabeth’s pace slowed and she leaned more heavily on
William
’s arm.
When
Jane
realized that
William
was supporting most of Elizabeth’s weight,
her
look convinced
William
this was not usual
for this occasion
.
“
Excuse me, Miss Elizabeth, but you must permit me to carry you the rest of the way
,
”
h
e said
in no uncertain tone
as he
gathered
her into his arms once again.
When she did not protest, both
of her companions
suspected
Elizabeth was
feeling even more poorly than they had originally thought
.
As they approached Longbourn, Jane suggested they enter through the kitchen
.
Mrs. Hill saw them coming and cleared a chair for Elizabeth to sit upon.
“
Mrs. Hill, will you call my mother into the kitchen, please?
”
Jane
asked
with a pointed look directed towards the housekeeper.