by Lauren King
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Darcy hugs Elizabeth to calm her frustration and anger. “It is not your doing.” Darcy rubs her back tenderly. “What do you want to do?”
“Most definitely, I want to retrieve our jewelry! I will talk to my Father to get all the details of what occurred, but I do not want to see Lydia ever again. As for my Mother…I do not think I want to see her anymore, either. I doubt it would matter much to her anyways. What do you think, darling?” Irritation is the lightest of her emotions, right now.
“I agree that you should talk with your Father. We should meet him as soon as possible so that he can leave for Longbourn afterwards. It sounds like he is exhausted with all this which I do not blame him. Mrs. Denny has made all her family members’ lives miserable, especially the last few months.” Darcy kisses Elizabeth’s forehead before asking, “Now, do you want to go to your Uncle’s home or invite them all here – minus Mrs. Denny and your Mother, of course.”
“I do not want to subject you to seeing my Mother and Lydia ever again. I do not know if I can restrain myself from casting harsher words towards Lydia. I do not want to waste my breath with them anymore.” Elizabeth expels a heavy breath. “On the other hand, I will say my final peace and make certain that Lydia knows I will not forgive or forget what she has done and has said about me and that I will no longer associate with her, at all! How does that sound, darling?” She respects William’s opinions and advice.
“That sounds fine. You should have your final say. Let me send your Father a note to let him know that we will arrive at noon.”
“I am sorry, darling.” Elizabeth goes to kiss William on his delectable lips and hug him around his waist. They make love each morning before starting the day and today was no different. She feels even closer to him afterwards, and they are very touchy towards each other. She got used to it very quickly and easily. It feels natural to be that way with him. She is extremely happy with her married life; he makes her feel giddy with joy. She could not ask for a better husband.
Darcy caresses Elizabeth’s cheeks and then kisses her lips gently. “You need to stop apologizing for others who I care nothing about. All I care about is you. I know that you would prevent all these bad things from happening if you could, but you cannot, and I do not blame you.”
“Thank you; I love you beyond words can express.” Elizabeth kisses William’s lips again. It is very liberating to be able to kiss each other any time they want and as much as they want.
“Just as I love you. Let me write the note to your Father.”
“I just did not want our time together to be interrupted by such…awfulness.”
“I know; let us go talk to your Father and retrieve your jewelry. Afterwards, we can relax and forget about appalling family members.” Darcy tries to soothe his loving wife.
After all the greetings to everyone, except her Mother and Lydia who are still up in their bedroom chambers, Elizabeth and Darcy speak with Mr. Bennet in her Uncle’s study.
“Papa, just tell us all the details. I just want to hear it and be done with it.” Elizabeth says with annoyance and anger escalating at Lydia and her Mother. She knows that they are hiding out in their chambers to avoid everybody, especially her Father.
“I am sorry, Lizzy, William.” Mr. Bennet states regretfully before he relays the details to the dreadful truth of yesterday.
All Elizabeth can do is shake her head and calm her anger. William is gently and continually caressing her hand to pacify her. Elizabeth wants to shake Lydia until she gets some sense into her brain.
“Well, Papa, I am sure you will not be surprised with my decision not to ever associate with Lydia again. As for Mama, at one time, I felt a forced obligation towards her, so I did not want to make the ultimate decision, but in the light of this, I can say with all honesty that I never wish to have any type of relationship with her again. It has become so bad that I do not even feel the obligation anymore towards Mama. I am sorry, Papa.” Elizabeth sighs heavily and takes in a couple of deep breaths before continuing; she does not want to cry. “Papa, just to be clear, I will say this with William’s agreement. You, Jane, Mary, and Kitty are always welcomed in our homes. We will never extend any invitations for any reason to Mama or the Dennys.”
“Of course, I completely understand, Lizzy.” Mr. Bennet figured that Elizabeth would make this decision. “I am sorry that it has come to this. I am also confounded by all of it.” Mr. Bennet expels a long breath in exasperation. “Do not think on this too much anymore, Lizzy. I know you will overly worry because you want to understand why things occur and why people act the way they do. It was a most deplorable affair, but now you know what you must do. You have tried again and again to forgive and to teach Lydia right from wrong but she refused, definitely to her detriment. There is not much else to say. Lydia knows right from wrong, but she did this deliberately. Your Mother, Lydia, and Sergeant Denny will feel the consequences of their actions. I will implement it the instant I get back to Longbourn.”
“I knew you would understand, Papa.” Elizabeth is satisfied with her decisions.
“Well, I think you both should get back to your honeymoon as soon as possible; therefore, you should go to your Aunt for your jewelry.”
“Alright, Papa. William, I will be back as soon as I can.”
“That is fine; take your time, dearest.” Darcy is gratified that he can use his term of endearment freely and openly, now. He kisses her hand before she leaves to find her Aunt.
“Aunt, I have to say again that I am sorry that my family has caused you and Uncle such problems. I am embarrassed for them just as much as I am ashamed of them.” Elizabeth expresses openly.
“Lizzy, it is none of your fault. I understand your shame and embarrassment. We are glad that we could help in any way possible. You know that you and William are always welcomed here.” Mrs. Gardiner expresses explicitly.
“Thank you, Aunt. I look forward to yours and Uncle’s visit to any of our homes, along with all my little cousins.” Elizabeth holds Mrs. Gardiner’s arm as they walk to her chambers to retrieve her jewelry. “I do not mind sharing with you my decision that I will no longer associate with Lydia or my Mother.” Elizabeth states forthrightly.
“I am sorry that it has all come to this, Lizzy. I am very sorry for you.” Mrs. Gardiner says kindheartedly as she pats Elizabeth’s hand.
“I am sorry too, but I will do what Papa has recommended; I will not distress over this too greatly anymore. There is no use in me dwelling over it; they do not show any signs of improvement or that they are even willing to change. There is nothing else I can do.” Elizabeth states resignedly. She wishes she could do something to make all this better, but she cannot force things to get better when Lydia and their Mother do not want to make it better.
As Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth walk towards Mrs. Gardiner’s chambers, they see both Mrs. Bennet and Lydia walking towards them to go downstairs. All four women stop and their gazes lock on each other without a word. Lydia quickly becomes defiant but looks away. Mrs. Bennet looks casually at Elizabeth and then at Mrs. Gardiner.
“Madeline, can you fetch your maid so that I can give her some instructions on our meal.” Mrs. Bennet states casually.
“No, I will not. You and Lydia are not to talk to my maid or to any of my servants. If you want something, then you need to tell Thomas or Edward. You are not to cause anymore gossip in my house. Edward will not put up with this any longer and neither will I, Frannie.” Mrs. Gardiner says sternly as she stares at Mrs. Bennet, unflinchingly. Then she says, “You need to keep Lydia inside your chambers until Lizzy has left with all of her jewelry. I do not want anymore of Lizzy’s jewelry to be stolen.”
“How dare you talk like that to me and say that about Lydia?” Mrs. Bennet exclaims irately.
Sternly, Mrs. Gardiner stares at Mrs. Bennet and declares, “Yes, I dare. How dare you act the way you act! How dare you condone Lydia’s actions! How dare you not force Lydia to
admit to her sins and apologize to those she has hurt! How dare you minimize her faults!” Mrs. Gardiner could not help her voice rising, but she calms it down. “And what is wrong with what I have said? Lydia did steal Lizzy’s ruby brooch and blamed it on my maid and then blamed it on Kitty – her own sister! What is wrong with me not wanting to have more thefts in my home? You can allow her to steal from your home if you want, but I definitely do not want any more thefts in my home. Both of you are banned from our home! I will not be put in a position of having to watch out for a thief whenever you two come here. I will not expose my children to you two.” Mrs. Gardiner was not successful in keeping things quiet. It felt good to speak her mind to her sister-in-law.
Mrs. Bennet huffs and narrows her eyes at Mrs. Gardiner; she is fuming again. How dare her sister-in-law treat her like this?
Mrs. Gardiner does not back down from Mrs. Bennet’s glare; she glowers at Mrs. Bennet, unwaveringly. She has had it with her sister-in-law. How can a mother treat her child like she has treated Elizabeth? Mrs. Gardiner cannot fathom treating Athena like that; she loves Athena like the air she breathes.
Lydia protests loudly. “I will not steal from my own home; that is ridiculous!”
“You are ridiculous! You have stolen from your own sister so stealing from your Father’s home is the same thing! Do not try to be righteous, now!” Disdain, disgust, abhorrence, and repulsion are apparent in Mrs. Gardiner’s criticisms and on her face.
“Do not talk to my daughter like that; you have no right, Madeline.” Again, due to embarrassment, Mrs. Bennet defends Lydia. Mrs. Bennet’s ill-conduct simply piles on.
Mrs. Gardiner tried to calm down but these two women are too much. “I will talk to her like the thief that she is! I have every right when she comes into my home and steals from people staying in my house; she steals from her own sister for God’s sake! Are you both daft?! I have no right?! I have every right to call the magistrate on her for theft, but I and your own brother would be the gossip of our neighborhood if anyone finds out that my husband’s youngest niece stole from her own sister! You both are preposterous!” Mrs. Gardiner chuckles curtly and sarcastically. She cannot tolerate these two women anymore. She let it go in the past with her sister-in-law because she thought that Mrs. Bennet would correct herself if she was informed of her ill behavior. However, she has not and continues not to correct herself. As a matter of fact, she worsens.
Mrs. Bennet turns to Elizabeth and says, “You see what your jewelry has caused, Lizzy?” Mrs. Bennet makes the mistake of addressing Elizabeth.
Elizabeth’s eyes bulge out as she stares at her absurd Mother. “My jewelry caused my STUPID, IMMORAL youngest sister to steal?!” She cannot restrain her building anger at both of these women – her own family.
As soon as Lydia hears Elizabeth call her stupid she screams, “I am not stupid; you are Lizzy!”
Elizabeth ignores Lydia and determinedly continues with her Mother, in disgust. “Mama, you are unbelievable, again! I have no more sympathy or pity for you. I refuse to ever speak to you again; I have had it!”
“I have had it with you, Lizzy!” Mrs. Bennet retorts crossly.
Elizabeth plows on. “I have to say that you have not been a good mother to me, but I know not every woman can be. The decent women will always try their best for all their children. The decent women will not love and favor two children, ignore two other children, and despise and disparage another child for their entire lives. You are a bad mother, and it is my misfortune to experience that personally. I will never speak to you again.” Elizabeth declares with sincerity.
Mrs. Bennet says something but Elizabeth effectively ignores her and raises her voice louder than Mrs. Bennet to overpower her into silence as she speaks to Lydia. Mrs. Bennet’s voice is shrill but it cannot overwhelm Elizabeth’s, so she stands there fuming. Elizabeth does not care to notice. Elizabeth scowls at Lydia as she states, “As for you, you are a DESPICABLE, STUPID, LYING THIEF! I never knew you could be so awful, sinful, and immoral. I will never acknowledge you or your husband ever again, so you both better never try to claim any familiarity with me and Mr. Darcy anywhere. I cut all ties with you!”
“I hate you, Lizzy!” Lydia shouts lividly.
“I could not care less! You are less than NOBODY to me now – you abhorrent, rotten, wicked liar!” Elizabeth’s glowering face is filled with disdain and her voice is dripping with repugnance. With clear revulsion, she walks straight into her Aunt’s chambers without looking back.
Mrs. Gardiner follows Elizabeth to her chambers while Mrs. Bennet huffs furiously and says, “You are an ungrateful child, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth could not let her Mother’s comment go without correcting it for the last time. Her Mother cannot keep making idiotic comments about Elizabeth and expect to think that she is correct in her statements. Elizabeth abruptly turns around to face her Mother with all the rage that has built up after all these years.
“What should I be grateful for from you?! Yes, I am grateful that you gave me life; however, just because you gave me life, does not mean you can treat me badly all my life and justify it! Does that make you a good mother? NO, IT DOES NOT!! YOU ARE A BAD MOTHER, AND I AM ASHAMED OF YOU! YOU BOTH ARE A DISGRACE!” Elizabeth closes the chamber door without waiting for a response. She cannot take it anymore.
“I am so sorry, Lizzy. I could not hold my tongue anymore. I should have so that it did not escalate.” Mrs. Gardiner explains her flaw.
Elizabeth breathes heavily like she had just run through the fields of Longbourn. “I could not hold back either, Aunt. I honestly have no more words or explanations for their behavior. I am going to put all this aside. I can no longer keep feeling sorry for them and then feel disappointed and angry. It is done, and I feel lighter. I am angry, but I feel resolved with my decisions.” Elizabeth tries to calm her breathing.
Mrs. Gardiner stands next to Elizabeth and rubs her arm to calm her. “Yes, you should put it all aside. Enjoy your honeymoon and your new life. You have to think of William now.” Mrs. Gardiner wisely advises and encourages Elizabeth.
“Yes, William is my priority, now.” Elizabeth takes a deep breath again as if to clear her mind of all this misery. “I will forget about this… mortification.” Elizabeth deliberately breathes slower and then focuses on William to calm her. “I do not mind telling you, Aunt. I love William so much. I feel extremely blessed to have him; I could not ask for a better husband.” Elizabeth candidly and proudly declares. “Perhaps, God pitied me, thus he blessed me with William. I cannot imagine how my life would be without him. Actually, I get scared when my mind wanders to that thought.”
“I am very happy for you, Lizzy. You sound like the most loving and proud wife.” Mrs. Gardiner pats Elizabeth’s arm warmly. “Alright, here are the four jewelry boxes.” Mrs. Gardiner hands them to Elizabeth as she opens them up one at a time. “You have your wedding jewels already. All the others are accounted for here.”
Elizabeth looks at all of her jewelry and then says, “Thank you for keeping them for me, Aunt. I truly am sorry that my jewels were able to tempt the devil out of Lydia.”
“You are quite welcomed, Lizzy. I am sorry that Lydia did what she did; it was unpardonable, especially when she keeps blaming it on everyone else except herself. I could not believe it when we found out that Lydia had stolen your brooch. I think I was in as much shock as when we found out that she was with child.” Mrs. Gardiner reveals frankly. She and Elizabeth have always been able to talk to each other honestly and unambiguously.
Elizabeth sighs heavily as she closes the jewelry boxes and sits down in the sitting room with despair clearly pressing upon her shoulders. She tells her Aunt that she is worried for her Father, Mary, and Kitty; they will have to live with their Mother and deal with the repercussions of this. Their lives will be harder with their Mother being so outrageous.
Mrs. Gardiner tells Elizabeth that she does not think her Father will allow her Mother to continue to be so of
fensive; his eyes have really opened. Mrs. Gardiner does not want Elizabeth to dwell on this subject any longer, so she asks her when they plan to go back to Pemberley.
“I am not certain yet because it will depend upon William’s businesses. I am trying to decide whether to remain in London for William’s birthday or not. I would like to have a family dinner with all of his family, a few very close friends, and your family along with Jane and Mr. Morgan for William’s birthday. Since everyone is currently in London then it might be more convenient to stay here until after his birthday celebration. I was thinking of having a surprise birthday dinner for William, Aunt.”
“That should be fun, Lizzy.”
“I think he would not want me to bother with his birthday. Can you believe that?” Elizabeth smiles with the utmost content at the mention of her wonderful husband. “I will have to plan it secretly.” Elizabeth soon forgets about her Mother and Lydia, for a bit. Thinking about William eases her heart and mind; he makes her so exceedingly happy that sometimes she feels guilty for being this blissful.
“When is William’s birthday?”
“It is Sunday, February 22nd. I will check with him about his business schedule. I have to think of an excuse for us to stay in town until after his birthday. Well, I will let you know as soon as I decide, Aunt.”
“Alright, if you need any help, let me know.”
“Thank you, Aunt. Will you mind if I go speak with Jane, Mary, and Kitty for a bit before I leave?”
“Of course not, Lizzy. I will be with the children, then.”
“I will visit with my cousins before I leave.”
“Alright, Lizzy; take your time with your sisters.”
All the sisters express their stunned state when they found out that Lydia was the thief. Elizabeth thanks Kitty for her involvement, but she is sorry that Lydia will dislike Kitty for it, now. Kitty conveys that she is not bothered by that knowledge because she sees how very wrong Lydia is. Kitty is glad to be of help in righting this tremendously wrong deed. She can no longer see herself associating with Lydia. She feels more foolish and imprudent when she thinks of how easily she used to follow Lydia’s lead. Elizabeth shares with her three sisters what happened earlier between her, Lydia, and their Mother. She just wants them to understand their Mother’s and Lydia’s state of mind when they are back in Longbourn. Once again, Jane, Mary, and Kitty are shocked into silence.