by Lane Cossett
Mrs. Bennet was bright red, and Elizabeth was fearful of what she might say in the face of such rudeness.
“I think cook would always be glad to speak to someone who has not lived long in the area,” she said, quickly. “Now, Mama, did you not have some questions about the wedding feast?”
Elizabeth looked challengingly at Miss Bingley. She knew it was not her place to speak of the breakfast, but she was only hoping to prevent her mother from speaking what was on her mind.
“All the arrangements are made,” said Mrs. Hurst happily. “Caroline has been working so very hard and there is no one better to plan such an occasion,”
Miss Bingley smirked at her sister’s compliment. “I do try my best. I do believe it is important that anyone running a house should be able to make their guests welcome.”
Mrs. Bennet was beginning to drum her fingers on the table. Elizabeth felt quite sorry for her. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst considered themselves superior in every way to the Bennets, but their behaviour was certainly no better.
Miss Bingley started to offer second cups of tea. Everyone politely accepted, but Elizabeth was certain none of them really wanted any.
“Before you leave, Mrs. Bennet, I will ask Cook to come and speak to you,” said Caroline Bingley.
Mrs. Bennet nodded but did not speak. Elizabeth knew her mother was very annoyed indeed.
18
Mr. Darcy returned to Darcy House in Belgravia Square feeling disappointed. As he marched through the door of his London home, he was greeted by his housekeeper, Mrs. Hopkins.
“May I fetch you anything, sir?” she asked as she took his hat and cane.
“A drink and something light to eat.”
He’d had nothing to eat for several hours and he was feeling very hungry indeed. Mr. Gardiner had invited him to dine, but he had been eager to leave. It had been a frustrating visit.
Mr. Darcy went along to his study and sat down in the chair, stretching out his long legs. He’d thought Mr. Gardiner would be able to tell him something useful, but in the end it amounted to very little. Mr. Gardiner had revealed that he was worried about his brother-in-law.
“Mr. Darcy, I am sharing this with you, because I know you are discreet.”
Mr. Darcy waited for a revelation, but there was none. “And why are you worried, sir?” he had asked when Mr. Gardiner had said no more.
“My brother-in-law has always been a very private man, given to reading a great deal. He has never particularly enjoyed the company of others and yet more recently that has changed.”
Mr. Gardiner paused, and Darcy was beginning to wonder where the conversation would lead. Was Mr. Gardiner about to say Mr. Bennet had a mistress? It did not seem very likely.
“Changed in what way, sir?” Darcy had asked.
Mr. Gardiner had been unable to say very much. “I understand from my sister that he has become very secretive. Even my nieces report he has been away from home and yet no one seems to know where. It is most odd.”
Mr. Darcy did agree it was strange, but he was not sure he would trust the word of Mrs. Bennet. She was a silly, ill-educated woman. He found it difficult to believe she was related to the man sitting in front of him.
“You have no idea what this change means?” Darcy had asked.
Mr. Gardiner had sipped his wine before answering. “No, I am afraid I do not. It is all I can tell you.”
Mr. Darcy had felt a deep sense of disappointment. He could not see that what he had learned was any use in his quest to get Mr. Bennet to change his mind and allow him to propose to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Mr. Gardiner had added one further thing before he left. “Mr. Darcy, our family owes everything to you but if it is my brother-in-law’s wish that you do not marry Elizabeth, I would hope you would not do anything rash.”
His words were clear. Mr. Darcy looked at him directly. “I would not run away with Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” he had assured him. “I care too much for her to do that.”
Mr. Gardiner had looked relieved. “I thank you for that. Elizabeth is very fond of her father and to be torn from him would make her very unhappy.”
Darcy had hastened to reassure him. “Be in no doubt, sir, that I want to marry your niece, but I will only do that with the blessing of her father.”
Darcy had spoken the truth. He could never tear Miss Bennet away from her family even if she had agreed to elope with him, but he was not a patient man. He wanted to make her his wife as soon as possible.
The door opened, and Mrs. Hopkins brought in a tray with some ale, ham and freshly baked bread.
She placed them on the small table next to him.
“Thank you.” The smell of the freshly baked bread was delicious.
“Sir, I was wondering whether you were going to dine at home this evening?”
Darcy thought for a moment. He normally enjoyed the solitude but tonight he was in need of some company. “No, I will be at my club.”
“Very well, sir.”
Mrs. Hopkins left the room and Darcy partook of his simple meal. When he had finished, he got up and went to his desk where he wrote a note to Sir. Jeffrey Honeyfield explaining that he was in town and he would be at White’s at seven. Darcy hoped he would be free to meet him.
When he had sealed it, he summoned Mrs. Hopkins and asked her to have the note delivered at once. His housekeeper took the note and the tray away.
Darcy sat back and relaxed. He looked at the picture above the fireplace. It was one of his mother. It had been painted just before Georgiana had been born. How pretty she looked. How his father had missed his wife. He had never been the same after her death. There had always been an air of sadness around him. And now his father was gone too.
His responsibility now was to Georgiana and to the Pemberley Estate. There were times when his duties felt heavy upon him. He was very fond of his sister, but he did not pretend to understand her. The family had been pressing him to find her a suitable husband. Only Colonel Fitzwilliam and himself were aware that Georgiana had nearly eloped with George Wickham, the scoundrel that was now married to Lydia Bennet. He was ever thankful that he had arrived in Ramsgate and stopped the proposed elopement before it had taken place. To have lost his sister to someone as dishonourable as George Wickham would have been a tragedy indeed.
Darcy once more reached for some paper. He was no great writer, but he liked to write to his sister as often as he could when he was away from her. It was difficult to know what to say. She had met Miss Bennet and liked her, but he had not told her he hoped to propose to her. The pain caused by Mr. Bennet’s refusal still hurt sharply, but he tried to set it aside as he wrote a few sentences telling her he would be in Hertfordshire for Mr. Bingley’s wedding before returning to Pemberley.
After that he asked after her piano studies and hoped she was applying herself well. He read over what he said. It was very formal and sounded rather cold. He added another sentence saying that he looked forward to seeing her, which he hoped would please her. He blotted the letter and then folded it, sealed it and wrote the address.
Relieved it was completed, he left the letter where it was, knowing Mrs. Hopkins would see that it was posted. He went upstairs to rest before he changed and left for the club. He hoped Sir Jeffrey would join him. He was his barrister but despite their formal relationship they were friends and there were a number of issues that he wished to consult him on regarding Pemberley.
19
Elizabeth was relieved when they all left Netherfield. The carriage had only just set off when Mrs. Bennet started to complain.
“I am surprised they seemed to be offering so little food. I believe it will be a very poor show.”
“Mother, I do not think that will be the case,” said Elizabeth.
“Do you not think so, Elizabeth? Well, I do… I had not thought Mr. Bingley would be so mean. This is their wedding day.”
Elizabeth tried to stay calm. “Isn’t it kind Mr. Bingley has arranged some mu
sicians?”
Mary looked disconsolate. “I thought it was disappointing that Miss Bingley would not accept my offer to sing. I am sure the guests would enjoy it.”
Kitty smothered a giggle. “No one wants to hear singing. We will want to dance. Don’t you think so, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth smiled at her sister’s eager face. “Kitty, I do not know. We will have to wait and see.”
Mrs. Bennet sniffed disapprovingly. “Miss Bingley was very secretive. We should have been told more. Do you not think so, Jane?”
Jane was gazing out of the carriage and did not answer her mother.
“Jane. Jane, do listen.” Mrs. Bennet tapped Jane on the arm.
“What is it, mama?”
Jane’s voice sounded quieter than ever. Elizabeth was worried about her. She hoped the hints Miss Bingley had dropped about another woman had not hurt her sister. Mr. Bingley clearly adored Jane. If there had been a woman in the past, it would mean nothing to him now.
“I said, I do not know why everyone is being secretive about the wedding,” said Mrs. Bennet crossly.
Jane faced her mother. “Mama, they are not. Everyone is being very kind. The Bingleys did not want you and father to have to do anything.”
“Father says we should be grateful,” piped up Kitty. “He says he is being saved a great deal of money.”
“Your father is always complaining about money,” said Mrs. Bennet, her face a picture of discontent. “It is a pity he wastes so much himself.”
Elizabeth quickly defended her father. “Mama, that is not fair.”
“Is it not, Elizabeth? Well, naturally you would defend him, you always have done so. But your father is often away now. He seems to enjoy himself while we have to make economies at Longbourn.”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to argue, but then closed it again. Her mother might have been exaggerating, but it was true her father had been away on several occasions. He never really talked about where he had been and he had inevitably returned home very tired. It was strange.
* * *
After they returned to Longbourn, Elizabeth was eager to talk to Jane and she suggested to her sister that they went into the garden and cut some flowers.
“Do not let Jane damage her hands,” said Mrs. Bennet immediately. “She cannot have cut fingers on her wedding day.”
“We will be careful, mother,” promised Elizabeth.
Having shed their coats and bonnets, they both tied on aprons, which were hanging on the back door, and picking up baskets and scissors, they went out into the back garden. At first they were silent as they went along, cutting off the heads of dead flowers and cutting fresh ones. Elizabeth felt a little puzzled. Normally she and Jane had so much to say to each other and she could not understand Jane’s sudden reticence. She picked some beautiful pink roses and held them up to Jane. “These have a beautiful scent.”
Jane stopped cutting and sniffed them appreciatively. “They are beautiful, Lizzy. I am going to miss this garden.”
“You will soon have new ones to tend.”
Elizabeth saw a frown cross Jane’s face.
“I know Miss Bingley has plans for the gardens at Netherfield. I have many other things I will have to learn about running the house.”
“That doesn’t mean you cannot have your say,” said Elizabeth stoutly. “Jane, you must not always listen to Miss Bingley.”
“Elizabeth, I know you do not like her.”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to argue, but she could not. “I do not… but it does not matter. What is important is that after your marriage, you are the mistress of Netherfield.”
“Even if I am his second choice?” asked Jane as she snipped the heads of several dead flowers.
Elizabeth tried to keep her tone light. “You are not going to let that worry you, Jane. Mr. Bingley loves you. I am sure Miss Bingley only said it to upset you.”
“She would not do that, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth inwardly screamed. Jane always saw the good in people. “Yes, she would, Jane. She is one of the most unpleasant women I have ever met.”
Jane lifted up her head in shock. “Lizzy, that is not fair. She has been nothing but kind to me.”
“Oh, Jane, she is not kind to you.” Elizabeth sighed. Tears were glistening in Jane’s eyes. She did not want to hurt her sister, but she had to understand that Miss Bingley was only concerned with herself. “I am not sure she even likes you.”
Jane’s top lip started to quiver and she started to cut off the heads off more flowers in quick movements. Elizabeth had rarely seen her so angry. She had upset her sister badly.
“I am sorry, Jane. Perhaps I should not have said that.”
Jane’s voice sounded unnaturally tight. “No, you shouldn’t, Lizzy. I believe you are only trying to cause trouble. Miss Bingley told me you were going to be jealous.”
Jane stopped cutting and, picking up her basket, started going back to the house.
Elizabeth picked up her own basket and followed her, calling after her. “Jane, please stop.”
Her sister did not turn around, but Elizabeth quickly caught up with her. and she stood in front of her, blocking her path. “Jane. I am not jealous. How can you say such a thing?”
Jane’s pretty face was contorted with anger. “Are you not, Lizzy? It seems because you cannot marry Mr. Darcy you are doing everything to spoil mine.”
Elizabeth had never heard such harsh words slip from Jane’s mouth. It caused her almost as much pain as learning that she could not marry Mr. Darcy.
“Jane, I would never do that. I want you to marry Mr. Bingley.”
Jane stared at her and then the tears that had brightened her eyes cascaded down her cheeks. “Oh, Lizzy, I am sorry. I don’t know what has become of me.”
Elizabeth was worried. She put down her basket and hugged her sister. “Do not worry. It is wedding nerves. You will soon be yourself again, I promise you.”
As she held her sister, Elizabeth could not help wondering what was happening to them all. The laughter that had peppered their daily lives had disappeared and now there were tears and ill temper between them.
She would be glad when the Gardiners arrived to stay. She only hoped her aunt and uncle would have some sensible advice for them all.
Jane’s tears were not prolonged and by the time they all sat down to dinner, all trace of them were gone. Jane performed her usual task of comforting her mother, who was worried that the feathers she intended to add to her wedding bonnet were showing signs of wear.
Elizabeth watched her sister with disquiet. She really hoped it was only wedding nerves that was upsetting her sister.
20
Two days later the Gardiners arrived in time for the wedding.
“Lizzy, Jane, Kitty. How lovely it is to see you all,” said Mrs. Gardiner as she descended from their carriage. She hugged each one of them in turn. “Jane, you look as beautiful as ever and so serene. I would not have expected anything else.”
“And what about me?” asked Kitty. “Did you bring me a present?”
“Kitty!” Elizabeth and Jane admonished her together.
Kitty looked sulky and many years younger than she was. Mrs. Gardiner, a good woman who was looking very beautiful in a blue silk coat and bonnet, gently tweaked Kitty’s cheek. “Kitty, do not worry, and yes, I did bring you a present, but you will have to wait until we have unpacked.”
Kitty looked delighted and went running into the house, calling for Mrs. Bennet.
Jane looked embarrassed. “I am sorry, aunt. Kitty is very rude.”
Mrs. Gardiner took her arm. “Do not worry, Jane. I am sure Kitty is missing Lydia and it is not easy seeing her sisters marry.”
Elizabeth thought how kind her aunt was. Kitty’s behaviour really was deplorable.
“And Elizabeth, how are you?” asked her uncle after he had spoken to their coachman.
“I am very well, uncle. It is good to see you. Everyone has been looking forward to your
arrival.”
“And where is my sister?” asked Mr. Gardiner.
“She is upstairs in her room with Mrs. Phillips,” said Jane.
Mr. Gardiner merely nodded. “Then I shall not disturb them. I will greet them later. I am sure they have much to talk about.”
They all entered the house. Mrs. Hall was in the hallway and greeted the Gardiners warmly.
Mrs. Gardiner asked after Mrs. Hall’s sister, who had broken a leg when they had last stayed at Longbourn. Mrs. Hall looked delighted that she remembered and told her that her sister still walked with a stick but was doing very well.
Elizabeth again thought how kind her aunt was. Already the feel of Longbourn felt happier. When their outdoor clothes had been removed, Jane took her aunt’s arm and led them into the parlour after asking Mrs. Hall to bring them some refreshments.
Mary was sitting in the corner reading, but she put down her book immediately and greeted their aunt and uncle.
“I hope that you have not found your journey too onerous. It is known that coach travel is not always comfortable for one’s skeleton, especially people of a slender nature.”
“Then it is very good that I have some bulk to protect me,” said Mr. Gardiner, who was slightly rotund. “How is your music, Mary?”
Kitty, who had just come into the room, groaned but Mr. Gardiner ignored her and listened as Mary launched into a detailed description of the piece she was struggling to learn. She even offered to play for him. Mr. Gardiner, who had endured Mary’s playing often before, smiled vaguely at her.
“Perhaps later, Mary. I know you ladies have much to gossip about. Is your father in his study, Elizabeth?”
Lizzy nodded.
“Then I will go and disturb him. I will see you all later.” He opened the door just as Mrs. Hall arrived with pastries and drinks. Elizabeth could not help hoping that her uncle would talk to her father about her situation. Having received no letter in reply to her own, she was eager to know what her aunt and uncle thought. However, she had to be patient and wait until she had the chance to speak to her aunt and uncle alone.