Saving Jane

by Martin Hunnicutt

  As Miss de Bourgh drove away from the parsonage, Elizabeth approached her aunt standing at the garden gate to ask, “Aunt, what are you attempting here?

  “I have a better understanding of the world than you. A woman has little chance of happiness in this world of men – we cannot do anything without our husband’s approval and permission. I want each of my nieces settled with good husbands – not as the wife of a fool or evil man.”

  “But what of happiness?”

  “Happiness is impossible to find when you do not have enough food, warm clothing or a secure roof over your head,” Mrs. Gardiner told her daughter.

  “Aunt, I fear that Mr. Collins will give Jane none of these things. He will ruin Longbourn when he inherits. He cannot manage the servants in this house – how will he manage the tenants on the farms?”

  “Can Mr. Darcy bring Mr. Collins under the tutelage of the steward here at Rosings?” asked Mrs. Gardiner of her niece.

  “He already made the arrangements but Mr. Collins resists the suggestion.”

  Mrs. Gardiner turned her full attentions to Elizabeth, “The gentleman will attempt to assist your family in all matters I believe.” The two women were silent for a moment before Mrs. Gardiner continued, “I am pleased with your happiness Lizzy. It is very telling that Mr. Darcy comes without his sister every morning and you walk with Mr. Bingley and Jane as chaperones.”

  “Mr. Darcy is a gentleman at all times,” Lizzy insisted and her aunt smiled.

  “Of course my dear, but I believe he will not wait much longer before declaring his attentions.”

  Elizabeth blushed to hear her aunt’s estimations but also smiled with the lightness of her heart.

  “Your mother never knew what to do with you. She hoped for a good match for Jane and always thought young Mr. Lucas would do for Kitty or Mary. And it appears that Mary is asserting herself to capture Mr. Lucas’s attention – she is just as pretty as you since she took to wearing her hair in a more becoming fashion. When Kitty is a year or two older, we shall find a husband for her among the young gentlemen or rich tradesmen.”

  Now Elizabeth saw her aunt smile. “I always worried about you and Lydia most. You both have the spirit to be wild and free-spirited – like your Aunt Phillips.”

  Elizabeth looked surprised to be characterized as ‘wild’, and her aunt laughed. “Yes, Miss Lizzy! You are just as wild as Lydia but you took to books and your father gave you words and thoughts to spur your ambition for a good life.”

  “Aunt, you have depths of understanding that I had not realized.”

  ++**++

  The next day, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy brought Miss Darcy to tea at the parsonage. Seated beside Elizabeth, Georgiana shared an interesting story with her friend.

  “There was a great deal of conversation last evening at Rosings. After tea, my aunt was very pleased when my brother announced his intention to extend our visit for an additional fortnight.”

  “Is that unusual?” Elizabeth asked glancing at Mr. Darcy who feeling her eyes on him from his seat near Mr. Collins and Jane, turned toward Elizabeth. When their eyes met, Elizabeth felt warmth spread across her entire being.

  “This is the only time my brother has remained at Rosings for a fortnight complete and he has never extended a visit.”

  “I have greatly enjoyed his company,” Elizabeth admitted.

  Georgiana smiled and leaned close to whisper. “And each day, he and I speak in confidence – he wants to know of all of our conversations.”

  Elizabeth blushed. “Does he correct my comments to you?”

  “Indeed not. He laughs with me and encourages me to follow your lead in all matters.”

  To change the subject, Elizabeth asked, “Did that announcement spur all of the conversation you mentioned?”

  “It was only the beginning. My aunt was pleased by my brother’s announcement but then my cousin Anne created a great disturbance with her own announcement. She informed Lady Catherine that she has decided that upon her marriage to my brother that they would make Rosings their seat and leave Pemberley to me.”

  “Her marriage?” Elizabeth asked quietly though her heart pounded loudly. “I thought your cousin did not favour the match with Mr. Darcy?”

  “Oh, she does not intend the match but merely said such to pique my aunt’s temper,” Georgiana assured her, laying her hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “My brother was speechless, but Anne proceeded to debate the merits of Rosings as the home for her married life with my aunt removed to the dowager house. When Lady Catherine raised her voice in argument, my cousin proved equal to her mother with temper and volume.”

  “I am amazed,” Elizabeth replied.

  “This morning, Aunt Catherine had not come below stairs before we walked out to come to the parsonage, but Anne had taken her morning walk, broken her fast and consulted with the cook concerning changes she wanted in the menus. My aunt will be surprised to find ham instead of chicken for supper tonight but Anne has asserted herself.”

  Elizabeth managed a small smile as she said, “I fear Lady Catherine will not enjoy her daughter’s exercise of her majority.”

  “My brother met with them both earlier this week and reminded my aunt of the conditions of my uncle’s will. The whole of Rosings is Anne’s without encumbrance upon her marriage.”

  ++**++

  Chapter 27.

  Mr. Bingley’s Unexpected Visitor

  The party from Hunsford was invited for supper at Rosings on Wednesday evening following Easter. There was talk of visiting the stables to view a new foal born Monday evening but with the setting of the sun, the gentlemen suggested the ladies wait until tea the following day. They were about to adjourn to the dining room when Livingston, Lady Catherine’s butler came to the door and announced, “Forgive me your ladyship, but there is a young woman in the foyer who insists on speaking to Mr. Bingley.”

  “A young lady?” asked Lady Catherine, frowning toward her nephew’s guest. “What young lady?”

  “Her card bears the name of Caroline Bingley, madam.”

  “Your sister appears to have invited herself to supper, Mr. Bingley,” Lady Catherine said coldly. “Please see to this matter quickly and quietly.”

  Dismissed with the wave of one hand with a fluttering handkerchief, Charles bowed before leaving the room and following the butler toward the front of the house.

  “Really Darcy, do all your friends in trade have family members appear at your door unannounced and uninvited?” Lady Catherine said disparagingly.

  In turn, Miss de Bourgh fussed, “Mother, Darcy’s friend was just as surprised as the rest of us.” Then Miss De Bourgh turned to Mr. Collins. “Don’t you agree sir? Mr. Bingley looked surprised and quite caught off guard.”

  Without even glancing toward the Bennet ladies, Mr. Collins began a monologue on Miss de Bourgh’s powers of observation and intelligence.

  “Miss Elizabeth, I believe my brother desires to speak to you,” whispered Georgiana at her friend’s side. Glancing first at Georgiana who inclined her head toward her brother, Elizabeth turned toward Mr. Darcy with a grimace on his face standing behind the opposite sofa before he cut his eyes toward the door.

  “I shall discover what is needed,” Elizabeth whispered as she rose from her seat, curtsied to Lady Catherine, and moved toward the door that remained opened. Behind her, she heard Mr. Collins praising Miss De Bourgh’s sharp mind as Jane, Mrs. Gardiner and Mrs. Jenkins agreed in pleasant voices while Lady Catherine demanded praise for her own powers of observation.

  “I need your help,” Darcy whispered. “Bingley must deal with his sister and he needs our support.”

  Stepping into the hallway, Elizabeth found Mr. Bingley leaning with both hands on a table top. Darcy followed Elizabeth closely and they stepped near to Charles who shuddered before standing straight and turning around.

  “Darcy, I shall not allow a repeat of last summer,” the younger man swore. “She cannot invite herself and then...”r />
  Darcy placed one hand on Bingley’s shoulder before saying, “I am not concerned Charles. Miss Bingley cannot lodge in Rosings; my aunt will never invite her to stay a single night.”

  “What shall I do with her then?”

  From behind the men Elizabeth said, “Perhaps Mr. Darcy could ask a favour of Mr. Collins to lodge Miss Bingley at the parsonage.”

  “Is there room for another guest and her maid?” asked Charles.

  “Someone would have to relocate to the stable I fear,” Darcy said. “I shall ask nonetheless.”

  He took Elizabeth’s hand for a moment and she smiled with her eyebrows rising, reminding him of their previous conversations regarding his contentious acquaintances and family. “Miss Elizabeth, would you go with Mr. Bingley to interview his sister while I return to speak to Mr. Collins?”

  Nodding her head, Elizabeth looked at Mr. Bingley who grimaced. “Darcy fears I shall lose my temper with my sister and he knows that with your attendance, I shall remain collected.”

  Darcy was already at the door to the parlour but he paused to catch Elizabeth’s eye, and smiled briefly before returning to the conversations around his aunt.

  Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth were directed by Livingston to a small sitting room just off the foyer at the front of the house where Lady Catherine received her steward and other tradesmen when necessary. The room was bright this evening as a footman finished lighting the tapers in sconces on the wall.

  Bingley stepped into the room, approaching his sister directly. “Caroline, why have you come to Kent?”

  Rising from a wooden chair, Miss Bingley smiled and greeted her brother as though nothing was amiss. “Charles, finally I have found you! Mr. Darcy has kept you from town long enough. How many weeks must you hide in the country? Can we not open the house for the season?”

  Seeming to notice Elizabeth for the first time, Caroline sneered. “And what brings you to Kent, Miss...?”

  “Caroline, I am certain you remember Miss Elizabeth Bennet from the Darcy home last fall. She is the particular friend of Miss Darcy...”

  “They are hardly good friends, Charles. They have a short acquaintance from last fall,” Caroline interrupted her brother though she blushed.

  Narrowing her eyes, Elizabeth remembered Mr. Bingley’s distress and determined to remain gracious. “Miss Bingley, I was not aware that your brother kept a house in town.”

  “Yes, it is a very fashionable house in Mayfair,” answered Miss Bingley.

  “And I have not renewed the lease,” Bingley replied. “My family encourages me to join the class of landed gentry and my intention is to find an estate to lease for a few seasons. I do not intend to incur the expense of a house in town while I discover if I enjoy the life of a country squire before investing.”

  “But I must – we must have a house in town,” Caroline retorted. “How are we to entertain and enjoy the season without a house in London?”

  Now, Bingley turned toward his sister. “Again I ask and you will answer – why are you here Caroline? You were to stay with the Hursts until Louisa’s confinement ended.”

  When Miss Bingley frowned and did not answer her brother, Mr. Bingley pressed his sister for an answer. “What have you done Caroline?”

  She sighed and finally gave an explanation. “The Hursts would not allow any parties as Louisa neared her time. I was bored and invited a few friends for tea. Louisa is as large as a house and when I mentioned her size in front of friends, she grew emotional and tearful. Then Mr. Hurst ordered me from the house and told the coachman to bring me here.”

  Knowing his sister too well and imagining the details that his sister had left out, Charles shook his head. “Oh Caroline, what have you done?”

  Attempting to deflect Charles’ attention, Miss Bingley began fussing about their brother-in-law. “This entire spring, Mr. Hurst knew where you were hiding but would not tell me!”

  Glancing at Elizabeth who attempted to look anywhere but at the brother and sister, Bingley sighed, “Caroline, I have been not been hiding – I have been working with Darcy at his different estates – I am learning what to expect if I purchase my own estate. If Mr Hurst has thrown you out of his house, there is no one left who will house you. What am I to do with you?”

  “Get Mr. Darcy to make me an offer of marriage and I shall no longer be your problem!” Caroline stated without reservation.

  Elizabeth frowned but before she could admonish Miss Bingley, the very gentleman coughed behind them. Turning as one, they found Mr. Darcy and his sister standing at the doorway. Charles blushed with embarrassment but Caroline advanced toward Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy with a glint in her eye.

  Quickly moving from the door, Mr. Darcy guided his sister ahead of him and around another chair to maintain a suitable distance from his friend’s sister. Miss Bingley halted her advance when the gentleman had manoeuvred a pair of chairs between them. As Georgiana moved to stand beside Elizabeth, Darcy addressed the unexpected guest directly, “Miss Bingley, I feel that I must speak plainly. I have assured Charles several times that I shall never make you an offer of marriage.”

  Perplexed and unhappy with this declaration, Caroline insisted, “But I am the perfect lady to set your table! I organize the best dinners...”

  “When I need a new housekeeper, I shall seek your services as a servant!” he insisted.

  Blushing Caroline argued, “But I am a lady of good taste with a large fortune!”

  “Then allow your brother to arrange a match with a gentleman who is in need of a fortune and wife with fashionable taste. For myself, I am unable to comprehend your appearance at the home of my aunt. Lady Catherine declines to house you and we must impose on Mr. Collins to house you in the parsonage.”

  “The parsonage?” cried Caroline, her disappointment clearly visible on her face.

  Darcy’s voice grew colder. “This is the last time you can impose upon my family, Miss Bingley. The only other room is in the stable with the horses.”

  Her colour high, Miss Bingley’s voice grew loud. “I have never been so insulted in all my life! I shall tell everyone in town of this treatment!”

  Darcy’s face remained impassive as he replied, “If you feel it is necessary to repeat any portion of these events, I remind you that it will only further harm your reputation. Will people not wonder why we refused to house you when you appeared uninvited and unwelcomed at the home of my aunt?”

  “Why would you treat me thus, sir?”

  “Miss Bingley, you ignore polite suggestions. I have told you that you should seek elsewhere for company and matrimony but you have failed to heed my requests.”

  Caroline stood speechless for a moment as Darcy bowed and escorted Elizabeth and Georgiana out of the library.

  ++**++

  In the parlour, Anne de Bourgh encouraged Mr. Collins to provide the unexpected guest with a room for the evening. “My cousin’s friend has a great need that we can assuage; does not the word of our Lord encourage us to help others?”

  “But the parsonage is full at the present time with Miss Bennet, her aunt, cousins and sister visiting there,” Mr. Collins said timidly. “All the bedrooms and servant’s rooms are filled.”

  “Then you must come and stay at Rosings, Mr. Collins,” Anne insisted. “Mamma, I insist Mr. Collins stay with us while Miss Bingley remains at the parsonage.”

  Anne turned toward the patient butler, “Livingston, have the housekeeper prepare the guest room next to Mr. Bingley.”

  “Really Anne, you take too much on yourself...” Lady Catherine tried to interrupt, but her daughter waved her mother’s objections away.

  “It shall be as I say. Mr. Collins, we shall break our fast tomorrow morning with scripture lessons and coffee.” Turning toward her mother, Miss de Bourgh asked, “Will you join us for scripture tomorrow morning Mamma?”

  “Anne, you know I break my fast in bed and do not come downstairs before noon,” Lady Catherine replied testily.

&
nbsp; “Oh yes, I had forgotten.” She seemed to consider her own schedule for a moment and then announced, “Mr. Collins and I shall spend the entire morning with Fordyce’s Sermons in the library.”

  And so the arrangements were settled to everyone’s contentment except for Lady Catherine who worried at her daughter continued assertiveness, Mr. Collins who worried that he was imposing upon the beneficence of Rosings, and Caroline Bingley who worried she was now regulated to the shelf with old maids as her dream of becoming Mrs. Darcy faded quickly.

  ++**++

  “Mr. Darcy provided his carriage for you?” Caroline asked as the party travelled the short distance to Hunsford. “He never provided his carriage for me in town!”

  No one paid attention to her comments and Mrs. Gardiner directed the conversation with discussion of moving among the bedrooms.

  “I shall move into Mr. Collins’ bedroom and allow Miss Bingley to have my room.”

  Upon arrival at the parsonage, Jane directed the servants to prepare the two bedrooms.

  “But Miss Bennet, there is only one set of clean sheets,” the housekeeper informed the future mistress.

  Without pause, Jane directed the housekeeper, “Move the sheets on Mrs. Gardiner’s bed to the master bedroom, and put the clean sheets on the bed for Miss Bingley. We shall have an early wash day tomorrow.”

  “But wash day isn’t for three days Miss Bennet...”

  ++**++

  The parsonage was busy the next morning as Jane laboured with the maids to complete an extra wash tub of sheets and garments to spread over the shrubbery in the garden before breaking her fast. With it being Nanny Brice’s morning to rest, Elizabeth gave Edward his lessons and played with Emily to free her aunt to work with the housekeeper. Early in the day, there was a knock on the door and the maid ushered Charles Bingley into the parlour.

  “Forgive this intrusion in your morning Mrs. Gardiner but I came to speak with my sister.”

  Mrs. Gardiner welcomed Mr. Bingley before she explained, “We have not heard or seen Miss Bingley as of yet, sir. Let me inquire with the kitchen if she requested a tray earlier this morning.”