There was too much at stake. Not only Elizabeth’s future but the future of the entire Bennet family rested on either Jane or her marrying well. One of them must make a good match. She was also under no illusion that neither Jane or herself would be sought out and courted by any other wealthy gentlemen. Elizabeth would not be the one to jeopardise her family’s future comfort.
“But Jane, you seem to forget that I am not in love with Mr Darcy. I admire and respect him, but unlike you and, Mr Bingley, ours is not a love match. Now, are you going to turn away from a man who adores you, and whom you love in return, merely because of an angry tirade by his spinster sister? Or, are you going to marry your prince charming and give mamma a dozen grandchildren?”
Jane could only manage a weak smile in reply.
Lizzy was right. There had been several times since that first night in Meryton, that Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst had made sly and unkind comments about members of her family, but Jane had dismissed them all, thinking herself too sensitive and provincial. However, tonight’s debacle had made Jane realise they were not said in jest as she thought, nor was it a misunderstanding on her part. No, both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst were serious in their dislike for her and her family. They had been laughing at her behind her back. Laughing at her family.
So, how could she marry Mr Bingley now? Caroline and Louisa were his sisters, his family. She could not expect him to choose between his family and hers! Jane’s tears began to fall again.
Mrs Bennet could not bear to see Jane cry. All those tears would cause her eyes to swell, and tomorrow, if he should come, Mr Bingley would have second thoughts himself about taking her as his bride.
This was finally enough to goad her into action.
Taking what remained of her shredded handkerchief, Mrs Bennet dabbed at Jane’s eyes, saying,
“Come now, Jane. How could Mr Bingley not love such a sweet girl like you? You have the kindest nature, a pleasing figure, and the prettiest face in the county. Of course, Mr Bingley wants to marry you,” she cooed.
Elizabeth was just about to commend her mother for supporting Jane when she ruined it by adding,
“But if you keep crying, you will inevitably end up looking like a tomato, all swollen and red-faced, and then no-one will want to marry you.”
“Mamma!” Elizabeth exclaimed, before turning back to sooth Jane again, “Come, Jane, let’s get you to bed and put a cold compress on your eyes. The hour is very late, and if I am not mistaken, Mr Bingley intends to be here very early.”
Caroline flung the carriage door open and rushed up Netherfield’s front steps. Pushing open the front door she bellowed for her maid.
“Rose! Rose, where are you?” turning to a startled footman she ordered him to find her maid and to be quick about it.
Rose, who had been dozing by the kitchen fire while she waited for her mistress to return, hurried upstairs when she heard her name called. From experience, Rose knew it was not wise to keep Miss Bingley waiting.
Rubbing her eyes, she sleepily said,
“Yes, Miss?”
“Get in the carriage; we are leaving.”
“Now, Miss? But it’s the middle of the night? It’s not safe…”
“Yes, now Miss! Don’t argue with your betters and get in the carriage!” Caroline shouted.
Then, turning her attention to the housekeeper who had hurried upstairs behind young Rose, Caroline ordered,
“Have all my things packed and sent to my sister’s house.”
“Begging your pardon, Miss, but I don’t have the address,” said the startled housekeeper.
“Ask my brother! I am sure he will be more than pleased to supply it.”
Then she gave Rose a push in the back, propelling her out of the front door.
Rose stood to one side and watched as Caroline climbed into the carriage, who then waited impatiently for Rose to join her.
With a resounding thud, the front door to Netherfield Park closed.
Rose looked over her shoulder at the closed door, and wailed,
“But, miss, my things…my coat….”
Caroline was in no mood to deal with whining servants. Concerned only with her own comfort, she snapped at the girl mid-sentence,
“Get one of the horse blankets from the tack box. If it’s good enough to keep a valuable animal warm it's more than good enough for you!”
Shivering, and snivelling, Rose walked around to the back of the carriage and lifted the heavy wooden lid of the box. Feeling inside, she pulled out the top blanket, and then let out a scream.
Caroline had no intention of being anywhere near Netherfield when Mr Darcy and her brother returned from the Bennet’s. Taking her frustration out on Rose for their delay, she looked out of the carriage window, and hissed,
“Get a blanket girl and get in here before I change my mind and make you ride up top.”
“But…Miss, there is something I think you should see,” her voice quivered as she defied her mistress.
Caroline climbed out of the carriage and walked to where the frightened girl stood.
“If this is a ruse to make me feel sorry for you then you are sadly…”
For the briefest of moments, Caroline Bingley was speechless, but it did not for long.
“Why, what do we have here? It appears we have a stowaway on board, Rose. Or should I say a runaway.”
Caroline looked down at the curled-up form squashing into the blanket box.
Holding out an inviting hand, Caroline smiled, and said,
“I think you will find it much warmer inside the carriage, Miss Lydia.”
Chapter Seventeen
Elizabeth rose early the next morning. She wandered into the breakfast room and was not surprised to find only her father there. Kissing him on the cheek, she then took her usual seat.
“Well, Lizzy, if I had known we were to be witness to such a show last night, I would have invited more of the neighbours around,” Mr Bennet said, trying to make light of the situation.
Elizabeth pursed her lips in a slight smile and continued buttering her roll.
Mr Bennet looked at his favourite child. Her disappointment in his lack of intervention last evening was evident in her expression. If he had been more so inclined, he would have been disappointed in himself, but he was too old to change now.
Nevertheless, he must try to redeem himself in Elizabeth’s eyes; he could not bear for her to think badly of him.
Resting his cutlery on the side of his plate, Mr Bennet leant back into the curve of his chair, and said,
“What do you make of it all, Lizzy? Is there any truth in what Miss Bingley said?”
Elizabeth now raised her eyes up to look at her father, studying his features to see if he were really interested or merely trying to cover his previous indolence. The seriousness of his countenance told her that he was indeed, in earnest.
“I have long held the belief, Papa, that Miss Bingley is capable of great acts of spite. Both Jane and I have been the recipient of her malice in the past. Also, I think when the cause suits her, she will use all methods at her disposal to get what…or whom, she wants.”
“You mean Mr Darcy? Oh, I don’t think you have any worries in that department, Lizzy. Mr Darcy only has eyes for you.” He paused, before saying, “Don’t think I have not seen how he watches you, my dear. There is a man who despite his best efforts, cannot hide his love and admiration for you.”
Elizabeth smiled. It had not escaped her attention either that Mr Darcy’s eyes had a habit of following her every move. One time, when talking to her dear friend Charlotte Lucas, she had expressed her annoyance at Mr Darcy’s furtive observations. Charlotte had berated her, saying ‘do not allow your fancy for Mr Wickham make you appear unpleasant in the eyes of a man ten times his consequence.’
Ten times his consequence? Yes, he probably was. Wickham certainly was not the man he pretended to be. His deplorable behaviour in Meryton had proven that. Mr Darcy would never have behaved
so towards her, or any woman for that matter. Ten times his consequence? Indeed, he was.
“So, Lizzy, should I run the young pups off when they arrive? Is it possible there are other rich men waiting to sweep you and Jane off your feet?”
“I wish you would not do so just yet, Papa.” Elizabeth looked at her father with a playful smile. “To do so would certainly fulfil all Miss Bingley’s desires. Besides, I am sure there would be no living with Mamma if you did. No, there is always two sides to every story, and I am extremely interested in hearing what the gentlemen have to say.”
Mr Bennet smiles. Elizabeth was wise beyond her twenty years, and sometimes, guided even him by example.
“The constable came to see me yesterday. He informed me there is no sign of Mr Wickham. I have heard many rumours about Mr Wickham and what he’s been getting up to since he arrived in Meryton. I am told he has run up debts with almost every shopkeeper in town. And now, it appears he had deserted the militia and gone who knows where. I can’t be unhappy about it though, Lizzy,”
Elizabeth was not surprised to hear this. Although it was probably for the best, she knew Lydia would be sad to hear this news.
“Oh, I thought Lydia might be in here,” said Kitty as she burst into the breakfast room. Her disappointment at finding only Elizabeth and her father present was evident on her face and in her tone.
“Lydia never joins Papa and me for breakfast, Kitty. Have you looked in her bedroom, all the bedrooms? Perhaps she is talking to Jane or Mary?”
“No, I have checked. Jane is waiting for Cissy to dress her hair, and Mary is writing in that diary she thinks no-one knows about.”
“And Mamma?” Asked Elizabeth.
“Mamma is still asleep. I could hear her snoring.”
“I expect she is exhausted from wrestling with her nerves all night,” Mr Bennet said, feeling the need to defend his wife’s unladylike emissions.
“Do you want me to help you look for her, Kitty?” Elizabeth offered, as she rose from the table.
Kitty nodded.
And so, they left Mr Bennet to finish his breakfast in peace.
After checking and rechecking every room in the house, and questioning all the servants, Elizabeth realised Lydia was no longer at Longbourn.
Knowing her father had returned to his study, Elizabeth made her way there to share this information.
“Gone! What do you mean gone? Speak clearly, child. Have you looked everywhere? All the rooms in the house? The bedrooms, the kitchen, the stables, the attics?” Mr Bennet asked with agitation.
“Yes sir, Lydia is nowhere to be found. Kitty and I have conducted a thorough search of all the house and gardens. Lydia is not to be found anywhere! I can only surmise she left either last night or early this morning. But judging by the tidiness of her bed, I would say she left last evening.”
“And where would she go in the dark? She must know that our nearest neighbours or the Lucas’s would send word of her arrival. Has there been such a note?”
“No, Papa, but…” Elizabeth paused, reluctant to put her thoughts into words.
“But? But what, Lizzy?”
“Two carriages left Longbourn last night, sir. Could she have been in one of those?”
“You think she has gone to Netherfield Park? For what purpose, may I ask?”
Before Elizabeth could answer, Hill knocked on the door and informed them that Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy had arrived.
“Begging your pardon, sir, but as the mistress is indisposed, and Miss Bennet is still not down, I thought Miss Elizabeth…”
“Yes, of course, Hill. Tell them I will be there directly,” Elizabeth said. Then, turning back to face her father, she asked,
“The gentlemen may have news of Lydia. Will you come too, Papa?”
“Am I to understand that no-one had seen Miss Lydia since dinner last evening?” asked Mr Darcy.
“That is correct,” confirmed Mr Bennet.
“And you say her bed appears unused?”
Elizabeth nodded.
Darcy looked at Charles, who returned his gaze, their faces etched with both worry and realisation.
Together, they said,
“Caroline!”
“You think Miss Bingley took Lydia to Netherfield? For what purpose, sir?” inquired Mr Bennet.
With Mr Bingley suddenly becoming reticent, while managing to flush scarlet, Darcy stepped forward to fill the breach.
“Not to Netherfield, sir, but to London.
“London!” squawked Mr Bennet.
“I fear so, sir. On our return to Netherfield yesterday, the butler informed Charles that Miss Bingley had returned only long enough to collect her maid. She then left instructions for her trunks to be forwarded to Mrs Hurst and then she left, taking my equipage. I think it entirely possible that Miss Bingley took Miss Lydia with her, but the only way to know that for sure is to go to London.”
Mr Bennet could hardly believe what he was hearing. This time yesterday he was enjoying a friendly gossip with the constable and looking forward to the prospect of an excellent meal with their new acquaintances. Now, he had two daughters with possible broken engagements, the prospect of a distraught wife and a daughter run off to the city. How could everything change so rapidly?
“I suppose I must go with you?” Mr Bennet asked, hoping someone would say it was not necessary.
Instead, Mr Darcy not only agreed with him, but he asked if Elizabeth might accompany them too.”
“Surely it would be better if Kitty went? Lydia is much closer to her than to me?” Elizabeth said practically.
Darcy turned to his betrothed.
“Perhaps so, Miss Elizabeth, but I cannot leave my sister alone at Netherfield while we search for Miss Lydia. Georgiana must return to London with us. Once there, I will prevail upon the kindness of our Aunt Matlock to care for her until this matter is resolved. She loves Georgiana like a daughter so it will be no hardship for her. Also, Georgiana told me that she likes you very much, Miss Elizabeth. With so little time remaining before our wedding, am I being selfish wishing to see you and Georgiana become better acquainted?” Darcy paused to let his words sink in, before adding, “It is for this reason, as well as your mature attitude, that I think it wiser if you, and not, Miss Catherine accompany us to town.”
Elizabeth could not fault his reasoning.
Looking to her father, she asked,
“Papa?”
Mr Bennet could find no viable excuse why either he, or Elizabeth should remain at Longbourn. Reluctantly he agreed with Mr Darcy’s Proposal.
From Darcy’s point of view, any time spent with Elizabeth was time well spent. With their impending nuptials approaching ever nearer, he must indulge himself in Elizabeth’s company at every opportunity.
Mr Bennet had no doubt they would find Lydia at Mrs Hursts. Having made her point, he hoped she would come home quietly and not make a scene
“Very well, you have my permission to join us, Lizzy. I had better send an express to Mr Gardiner and ask if we can impose on their hospitality.”
“You must stay at Darcy House, sir. It will be no inconvenience, I assure you.” Darcy offered.
It appeared all was arranged. Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy, Mr Bennet, Miss Darcy and Elizabeth would leave for London after luncheon.
“You think Mr Wickham is involved, sir?” asked Fletcher as he changed Darcy into his travelling outfit.
“You doubt it, Fletcher?” asked Darcy “The fifteen-year-old sister of the woman I am engaged to marry, goes missing, just days after being caught lying to her father, prompted by her association with Wickham. In my mind, there is no doubt that these events were put into motion, or at the very least suggested by, George Wickham. Miss Lydia is exactly the kind of stupid, ignorant and self-absorbed girl Wickham prefers. She is gullible and pliable, and will believe all the lies he feeds her, while blindly doing his bidding.”
“I have not met the young lady, sir, but by your description, she sounds jus
t the sort of girl Mr Wickham prefers to take advantage of.”
Then, more to himself than to Fletcher, Darcy muttered,
“What I cannot fathom, is how Miss Bingley and Miss Lydia made the arrangements to meet. Lydia has not been allowed out of the house unaccompanied for days, and Miss Bingley learnt only yesterday of our engagements? When did they have time to plan this shenanigan?”
Then looking at Fletcher, he asked,
“Could it possibly be by chance that they met up?” then, shaking his head, he concluded, “Whichever it was, they both have a lot of questions to answer.”
No-one was willing to admit that they had conveyed the news of Lydia’s disappearance to Mrs Bennet, but the entire Bennet household was now privy to her lamentations.
“Oh, my baby. My dear, sweet girl, gone. Why would she do such a wicked thing? Oh, Lydia, you are breaking your mother’s, heart. Not to mention the state of my poor nerves. I am frightened out of my wits for her safety, and I have such trembling’s, and fluttering’s, all over me. Spasms in my side and pains in my head and my heart is beating at such a rate that I am sure to get no rest by day or by night until Lydia is safely returned home. Oh, Lydia, my baby.”
As objectionable as a trip to town was for Mr Bennet, on this occasion, he could not wait for the carriage to be brought round.
Chapter Eighteen
With Mr Darcy’s carriage taken by Caroline and used to return her to London, Mr Darcy’s party were forced to use Mr Bennet’s old carriage to convey them to town. Though his horses were slower, the carriage was comfortable and spacious. However, not spacious enough to accommodate five adults. Therefore, Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley elected to follow the carriage on their own mounts.
For the entire journey, conversation between the occupants of the vehicle were minimal. Everyone had much on their minds.
Georgiana’s shyness at sharing a carriage with Mr Bennet forced her to bury her head in a book, and while Elizabeth had tried to engage the young girl in conversation several times, she abandoned her attempts when Miss Darcy managed to return only a smile.
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