CHAPTER XVIII
With Jane in good spirits, Elizabeth considered making arrangements to return to Pemberley, especially as she was concerned about Darcy and his dying clergyman, but Jane and Bingley pressed her to stay. “I would so like you to be with me during the coming weeks,” Jane said. “I want to introduce you to your niece or nephew.”
“We would all appreciate your attendance during this time,” added Bingley.
“Of course, Eliza, please stay at Netherfield.”
Those last words were from Miss Bingley, and uttered without enthusiasm or feeling. Still, Elizabeth credited Miss Bingley for having said them, although perhaps Miss Bingley only viewed her as the lesser of two evils. If Elizabeth were staying at Netherfield, her presence might prevent Mrs. Bennet from moving in to assist with the baby.
“That is, if Darcy can spare you,” added Miss Bingley, her tone implying that she thought Darcy ought to be able to spare Elizabeth easily.
“Mr. Darcy and I discussed the possibility of my remaining till the baby arrives, but I will write to him at once.”
That morning Elizabeth received a letter from her husband, explaining that Wallace still lingered after his carriage accident. “Wallace is taking so long to die, that I am wondering if he might survive this. Dr. P—, alas, does not think that a recovery is at all likely, and only regrets that Wallace continues to suffer.”
She wrote back to say that she seemed to have assisted Jane through the problem that had been bothering her – all was well but she would not trust the details to a letter, something that he would understand when they met – but that Jane and Bingley wished her to remain till the birth of their child. “It cannot be more than a few weeks from now,” she wrote, “although reckoning these things are always a little uncertain. Jane will not admit it, but she is apprehensive about what is to come. However, I miss you – and Pemberley – at a word I will return at once. Bingley also tells me to tell you that you are welcome here as always, and he hopes to soon be able to introduce his child to Uncle Darcy.” Elizabeth was sure, with such a missive, that she would remain at Netherfield for several more weeks. The relief on Jane’s face when she informed her of her intention was great; every woman knew of others who had died while becoming mothers, and she wanted her favorite sister to be with her during her greatest joy or to kiss her goodbye, if goodbye needed to be said.
Unfortunately for Miss Bingley, Elizabeth’s remaining at Netherfield Park did not ward off the other Bennets but actually seemed to attract them. Mrs. Bennet came frequently with Kitty, sometimes bringing with her Mrs. Philips, or some of the Lucas girls, or even Mary Bennet, who acknowledged that she should make an effort to support her sister in this time of waiting. Mary’s inspection of the nursery was cursory, but she informed Jane that she was assiduously practicing several lullabies. Mary also provided them with the most current information about the death of Miss King and the situation of Mr. Selby. Mr. Selby had, with the assistance of Mr. Morris, continued sorting through Miss King’s possessions. Her jewelry had not been discovered. No one knew the reasons behind her death, with the possible exception of the reduction of her capital, and even that could not be understood.
According to Mary’s information, Miss King’s fortune had been in a bank in London. Mr. Philips and his clerks had been in correspondence with Haggerston, a London attorney, who had verified the amounts with Miss King’s banker – the correspondence was necessary in order to transfer the money to Miss King’s betrothed – and the banker had explained that the fortune had been intact up till a month ago. Before that, Miss King had only accepted the interest. However, during the last month of her life she had considerably reduced the capital. The withdrawals had been made against the banker’s advice, but he had not had the right to refuse to give Miss King her own money.
“Perhaps the banker is lying,” said Mary, “but my uncle Philips says he is a well-respected, conservative man with an excellent reputation.”
“Then what did she do with the money?” demanded Elizabeth.
“No one knows,” said Kitty.
“Nearly five thousand pounds?” Even Jane was aghast. “How could anyone spend so much?”
“To think that Mr. Bennet reproaches me for being too liberal,” said Mrs. Bennet. “And when I do spend a few guineas, at least I have something to show for it afterwards, such as a bonnet or a new pair of gloves.”
“It is all extremely peculiar,” remarked Miss Bingley.
“Mr. Selby plans to leave the area on Monday,” Mary concluded her narration.
“How do you know all this, Mary?” Elizabeth inquired, for in general the other ladies were better informed with respect to neighborhood gossip. Mary tended to be a source of quotes and paraphrases from great books, and not the details of the local, current occurrences.
Mary explained that she had walked to Clarke’s Library in order to exchange some volumes for her and Mr. Bennet, and while there she had met Mr. Clarke, Mr. Jones and Mr. Morris. Mr. Morris had sat with her for a few minutes, which was when he had informed her of the correspondence with Miss King’s banker. Normally they would keep such details confidential, but after consultation with Mr. Selby, they had decided that it was better to let the neighborhood know what had happened, because that would improve the chance of retrieving the money.
“Unfortunately I had no information about Miss King’s expenditures that I could share with Mr. Morris,” Mary said regretfully. “I could only promise him that I would share the details with my family and with the Lucases, which I have now done.”
Elizabeth was confident that her sister’s sharing of these details with the persons mentioned would spread them throughout Meryton, Longbourn, the other surrounding villages and far into the county. “Has anyone has come forward with information?”
But Mary had nothing more to report; no one knew what had happened to the dead woman’s money.
“Or her jewelry,” said Kitty.
“Jewelry would be easy to hide,” said Elizabeth.
“So would bank notes,” said Miss Bingley. “And they are more difficult to identify.”
“It was Hannah,” opined Mrs. Bennet, referring to Miss King’s maid. “She was in the best position to find Miss King’s money and her jewels, and, as you say, they are very small. By the time her place was searched, she had either sold them or hidden them some place no one would look.”
Kitty protested. “But, Mamma, Maria Lucas reports that Hannah is extremely distraught. She has lost Miss King, she has lost her position, and now she has lost her reputation. She has been compelled to move in with her aunt, and her aunt is unkind to her as she has four young children and considers Hannah a burden.”
“It is all an act,” pronounced Mrs. Bennet. “The unkindness of others will be Hannah’s excuse for moving away, at which point she will use Miss King’s bank notes and earrings to start a life of comfort. Five thousand pounds! No one should pity her.”
The hour was late and so Mrs. Bennet ordered the carriage. “Time to go, Mary, Kitty – Jane, dear, if you are uncomfortable, put more milk in your tea, or try a spoonful of vinegar and then a spoonful of honey.”
The ladies from Longbourn women departed. The ladies at Netherfield were just deciding that they would be free of visitors for the rest of the day, when another carriage rolled into the lane.
“Is it my brother?” Miss Bingley inquired, for Mr. Bingley was paying a call on the Gouldings.
“Charles did not take the carriage; he went on horseback,” said Jane.
Elizabeth moved to the window. “It is Sir William’s carriage,” she informed them.
Although it was the Lucas carriage, Sir William did not appear: only his two oldest daughters, Mrs. Collins and Miss Maria Lucas. Jane welcomed them and invited them to the drawing-room.
After the usual inquiries about health, Mrs. Collins explained their reason for coming. “I know it is late to make a call, but my mother had the carriage before this. We will
not stay long, but I felt compelled to see you, Elizabeth, because Lewis and I expect to leave much sooner than originally planned. Mr. Collins is arriving in Hertfordshire tomorrow and shortly afterwards I will return to Hunsford with him.”
Elizabeth was surprised. “Did he not just return to Hunsford?”
“Is there any reason for ending your visit so soon?” inquired Jane.
“It is a matter of convenience. He is coming in her ladyship’s carriage,” explained Mrs. Collins.
“That is most generous of Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” observed Jane.
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh is coming with him,” said Maria Lucas.
“Oh! Well, if Lady Catherine has decided to travel this way and has offered to bring Mr. Collins with her, I understand completely,” said Elizabeth. Mr. Collins deferred in every possible way to her ladyship’s wishes – he was diligent in inventing new methods of deference – and if Lady Catherine had decreed that Mr. Collins should accompany her to Meryton, then Mr. Collins would comply. “Is she on her way somewhere in particular?”
“My understanding is that she wishes to speak to you, Eliza.”
This information was neither expected by nor welcome to Elizabeth. She felt her cheeks color.
“Is she not very angry with you?” inquired Maria Lucas. “I should be terrified if Lady Catherine de Bourgh were angry with me.”
Elizabeth’s last encounter with Lady Catherine had been extremely unpleasant. During their conversation, Lady Catherine had forbidden Elizabeth to marry her nephew Mr. Darcy, and when Elizabeth had defended her right to do as she liked and had protested that Lady Catherine should not interfere in her concerns, Lady Catherine had proceeded to insult her and to remind her of the inferiority of her relations and her situation. Elizabeth had only confided in a few about what had occurred during that meeting, but Lady Catherine had been frank in her disapprobation of the marriage to anyone who would hear her, so the world was generally aware of her opinion of Elizabeth.
“You are her niece by marriage,” said Jane. “It is only natural that she should wish to see you.”
No one attempted to argue aloud with Jane’s charitable view of the situation, but silently they all disagreed with her.
“Perhaps you would care to read Mr. Collins’s letter,” said Mrs. Collins, withdrawing it from her reticule.
“May I read it aloud?” Elizabeth asked, and as Mrs. Collins gave permission, Elizabeth shared the following:
My dear Charlotte,
I will make this letter short because I expect to soon join you and little Lewis. If the travel goes according to plan, I will be reunited with you on X-- next, around 3 in the afternoon.
I will have the honor of being conveyed to Lucas Lodge in her ladyship’s carriage, and even of having the honor of escorting Lady Catherine de Bourgh, herself. I was a little surprised that she should choose to make this journey now, as Miss de Bourgh is so distressed by Mrs. Jenkinson’s illness. Nevertheless, even though Lady Catherine has reasons to remain at Rosings Park, she has decided to undertake this journey – she has intimated that she has a pressing matter of business – and has informed me that she absolutely requires my company.
She has expressed a great interest in Meryton, asking about the town and its inhabitants and its buildings. She even inquired about bridges, fields and trees, which rather surprised me, but her ladyship is always interested in everything. Unfortunately, even though I am the heir to Longbourn House, my knowledge of the neighborhood is extremely limited. I wish you had been here, my dear; you could have answered her questions with greater precision. She was not pleased that I could not tell her more.
When I informed her that Mrs. Darcy was in the area, visiting her sister Mrs. Bingley at Netherfield Park, her ladyship was originally displeased. However, her attitude soon changed and she is determined to call on Mrs. Darcy as soon as possible. I hope you will convey this information to my cousin Elizabeth and to the Bingleys, so that they can undertake whatever preparations required to receive their noble visitor.
“Does she plan to stay here?” Jane interrupted, aghast. She had never met Lady Catherine de Bourgh, but she had heard much, and nothing that would indicate that her ladyship would make an agreeable houseguest.
“No – no, she has made her own arrangements,” Mrs. Collins assured them. “She will stay at the Meryton Inn.”
“That is what the remainder of the letter contains,” said Elizabeth, scanning it. “Do you know why she wishes to see me, Charlotte?”
“I cannot give you any details, because I do not know them, but I do know that she was distressed about something just before Lewis and I came here. Even Miss de Bourgh intimated that her mother’s temper was – not good.” Not good was as far as Mrs. Collins, cognizant of the source of most of her husband’s tithes, would venture in her criticism of Lady Catherine.
Elizabeth required no effort to imagine Lady Catherine’s being angry about something, or to imagine her being ill-tempered if something crossed her, but she could not imagine Lady Catherine inflicting her irritability on her daughter. Lady Catherine doted on Miss de Bourgh.
Mrs. Collins continued. “Eliza, I know Lady Catherine is not always the most agreeable of women, but she really does wish to see you. I hope you will be available. I expect she will call either late tomorrow or the morning after.”
“Of course,” said Elizabeth. She was not pleased by the prospect of being visited by Lady Catherine, but the woman was her aunt by marriage, and due some courtesy just because of that relationship. Besides, Elizabeth was determined to do everything to ease Lady Catherine’s temper, as her friend and her cousin were at the mercy of her ladyship’s whims. “I will remain at Netherfield Park till she has either called on me or till I am informed that she will not be coming.”
Mrs. Collins and Maria Lucas, having completed their errand, departed.
CHAPTER XIX
All the inhabitants of Netherfield Park were ready to meet Lady Catherine and agreed to remain at the house during the time that she could be expected.
“Is that her carriage, Eliza?” inquired Miss Bingley, who had a great curiosity to see an aunt of Mr. Darcy’s.
Elizabeth, glancing out the window, stated that it was, indeed, Lady Catherine’s carriage.
“It is considerate of her to come here so soon,” Jane said, for it was the earliest possible hour. “This way we are not forced to wait for her long.”
Elizabeth would not agree that Lady Catherine was particularly considerate of others, but she could confirm that her ladyship, when she had an objective, was most direct in doing everything she could to attain it. However, despite much speculation about Mr. Darcy’s aunt ever since Mrs. Collins’s call, Elizabeth still could not comprehend what objective that Lady Catherine could have that involved her. Lady Catherine could no longer prevent Elizabeth’s marriage with her nephew, as they were already married. And Lady Catherine, after Elizabeth’s marriage to Mr. Darcy, had written him a letter in which she abused his choice of bride in the frankest terms. Could Lady Catherine intend to apologize for her rudeness? Yet apologizing did not seem a part of Lady Catherine’s character.
The grand carriage stopped before the door, and Elizabeth decided to cease speculating; her curiosity would be satisfied soon enough.
Her ladyship was ushered in immediately, the footman only serving to direct her towards the drawing-room. The Bingleys and Elizabeth all rose, while Lady Catherine made her entrance and seated herself in the room’s best chair.
Lady Catherine, as the person with the highest rank, had to be the first to speak. She frowningly glanced around the room, studied its occupants, and finally addressed Elizabeth: “I hope you are well, Mrs. Darcy.”
Elizabeth, noting that with those words, Lady Catherine had acknowledged her marriage, replied that she was indeed, quite well. She then inquired after her ladyship’s health, and about Miss de Bourgh and Mrs. Jenkinson.
“I am well. My daughter is in her us
ual health, but is distressed by the condition of Mrs. Jenkinson, who is very ill.” Lady Catherine surveyed the Bingleys. “These people are?”
It was an ungracious way to request introductions, but Elizabeth nevertheless complied, presenting first her sister, then Mr. Bingley, and, finally, Miss Bingley. Afterwards the Bingleys felt permitted to take seats in their own drawing-room.
Jane inquired whether or not her ladyship wished for any refreshment after her journey, but her ladyship declined.
Mr. Bingley then asked how her journey had been that day and again her ladyship answered concisely, only letting them know that she had already dropped Mr. Collins off at Lucas Lodge.
“I understand you are a tenant here, Mr. Bingley,” said Lady Catherine.
Mr. Bingley acknowledged that he was. He meant to purchase an estate one day, but till he found one that pleased him he had to be somewhere.
“You do not intend to purchase Netherfield then?” asked her ladyship.
Elizabeth, who was familiar with Lady Catherine’s impertinence on matters that did not concern her, was not surprised by the pointedness of this inquiry, but Mr. and Mrs. Bingley were a little taken aback and even Miss Bingley raised her eyebrows.
Mr. Bingley nevertheless answered the question. “Netherfield Park is not for sale, so the decision has been taken away from me.”
Lady Catherine was not one to let a decision, whether it concerned her or not, be taken from her without a struggle, but she accepted submission in others. “That is just as well. There are much better neighborhoods.”
Her ladyship’s dismissive statement annoyed three of her four listeners: Jane and Elizabeth, who had grown up in the area, and Mr. Bingley, who had elected to live at Netherfield Park. Mr. Bingley defended his chosen home: “The neighborhood is not so bad. There is plenty of sport; the people are friendly, and the scenery is quite pleasant!”
The Meryton Murders Page 11