A Case of Some Delicacy

by K C Kahler

  “Oh yes, it is a fine day for walking,” Mrs Bennet said as she came towards Jane. Then she added in a low voice, “You and Mary will tire before you reach the top, and Lizzy and Mr Lucas will continue on, no doubt.” She winked.

  Jane re-joined John and her two sisters, and they set off. Jane sensed that both Mary and John were as determined as she to cheer Elizabeth. Their concerted efforts and the wonderful view at the top of Oakham Mount succeeded somewhat. Upon their descent, Mary and Elizabeth walked ahead arm in arm, chatting.

  “How much do you know?” John asked.

  Jane looked up at him. “Everything. She confided in me last night the whole of it.”

  “Good. I could tell you were ignorant of her troubles, and I was quite bewildered by it. I thought you two shared everything.”

  “Normally we do. In the beginning, she wished not to worry me. Then she feared my disapproval. I was too absorbed in my own concerns to notice anything was amiss.”

  “You cannot blame yourself. You and I both know who must bear most of the blame. Thank goodness for your mother’s timely invitation yesterday. Otherwise, I would have had no excuse to decline Mr Bingley’s day of sport. Honestly, Jane, I could not vouch for my behaviour if forced to spend the whole day with him after seeing how she suffers.”

  “I had a similar reaction when I learned all. But Elizabeth defends him, and Charles has unwavering faith in his friend’s good character. I keep thinking there must be some horrible mistake, some dreadful misapprehension.”

  “But why does he not come explain himself?”

  “I do not know,” Jane answered sadly.

  * * *

  Sunday

  Jane and Elizabeth waited outside the church for the rest of the Bennets. Jane was disappointed that Charles had not joined them. He did not always attend services with her at Longbourn parish, but she thought he would have done so today since they had not seen each other since Friday.

  “I believe the weather is about to turn,” Elizabeth said, watching the clouds roll across the sky. The air was strangely thick with moisture and the leaves swirled around them in the gusting wind.

  Charlotte and John approached. “Reverend Woods is deafer than ever,” John said.

  “Yes, and his thunderous sermons will make us all deaf someday,” Elizabeth quipped.

  “Lizzy,” Jane said in reproach, but she was relieved to hear Elizabeth joking again.

  John clutched his hat against a strong gust of wind. “We had better return home, Charlotte. I fear the sky is about to open up.”

  “Will we see you tomorrow, John?” Jane knew that John had been the most successful in cheering Elizabeth.

  “Probably not. I am to spend the day with Gus, and then we have an engagement to play cards with some of the officers tomorrow night. That Wickham fellow was quite adamant that I join them.”

  Elizabeth and Charlotte said nearly simultaneously, “Be wary, John.”

  “Good lord! I am more than capable of holding on to my fortune in a card game. Do not worry so.” He bowed formally to Jane and Elizabeth, “Always a pleasure, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth. Shall we, Charlotte?”

  Lydia arrived. “John! Are you not coming to Longbourn today?”

  “I cannot ignore my family for another day, no matter how diverting the company at Longbourn. They have just got me back, after all.” He indicated his parents and siblings waiting nearby.

  She sighed. “I suppose. But it is ever so much more fun when you are there.” He smiled and tipped his hat before leading Charlotte away. Lydia added quietly, “Especially with Kitty not talking to me.”

  Only Jane and Elizabeth heard the last part. “Perhaps you should try to make amends, Lydia,” said Jane.

  They walked towards Longbourn behind Mary, Kitty, and Mr and Mrs Bennet. “Me? But she is the one who was so cruel.”

  “You know she does not mean it when she says such things, and your retaliation was much worse because you knew what you were doing.”

  She pouted. “Nobody takes my part. None of you care that I am suffering.”

  “You seemed happy enough when the officers visited yesterday,” Elizabeth pointed out.

  “Why should I not enjoy their attentions? They talk to me and listen to me.”

  “As long as you recognise their attentions for what they are and nothing more. Do not go fancying yourself in love after a few smiles and compliments.”

  Lydia glared and spoke over the wind. “Because that is all Mr Darcy ever gave me, is that what you mean? Of course I was a silly, deluded fool to think someone like him could ever care for me.”

  “If we never discuss Mr Darcy again, it will be too soon.”

  Lydia was taken aback by the uncharacteristic fierceness in Elizabeth’s tone, but not for long. “That’s right. Why should any of you give a second thought to my injured feelings when you are all so happily matched with your own suitors? Jane has Mr Bingley, Lizzy has…has John, and even Kitty has Henry Long now! It is not fair! I wanted to be the first of us to wed—or at least the second.”

  Jane interjected in her sternest voice, “Enough, Lydia. If you only think of love in terms of rivalry and competition with your own sisters, clearly you know nothing of love.”

  Lydia ran off ahead of the rest of the party as large drops of rain began to fall.

  * * *

  Monday

  The storm had raged all night. The wind died down in the morning, but the rain continued, sometimes falling as tiny ice drops as the temperature hovered near freezing. From the window, Jane could see downed branches and rivulets of running water everywhere. Surely the roads were impassable. She would not see Charles for the third day in a row. John coming to visit was also unlikely.

  She looked towards Elizabeth, who sat at the other window, staring out into the rain. Kitty sat near the fire sketching. Lydia had gone up to her room immediately following breakfast. She was not speaking to any of them, and Jane could not be sorry for it. Lydia continually brought up Mr Darcy’s name, and Elizabeth’s composure was strained. Jane knew not what she could do to comfort her dear sister. She had never felt more powerless.

  Jane turned back from the window to take up her handiwork when she caught sight of Mary standing in the doorway, looking positively shocked. “Jane, may I see you in the kitchen?” Her steady voice revealed no hint of alarm

  Neither Kitty nor Lizzy paid any heed as Jane left the room. Mary pulled her to the kitchen where Mrs Hill and Thomas, Longbourn’s long-time groomsman, were seated.

  “What is the matter?” Jane asked.

  “There is news from Netherfield. Dreadful news. Becky usually attends Longbourn parish with her family on Sundays and then spends the whole day here with them. Yesterday, however, she returned to Netherfield immediately following the service. She knew she was needed. The situation is very dire there.”

  Mary paused, and Jane felt an awful panic rise up in her. “Has something happened to Charles?” she managed to whisper.

  Mary shook her head. “No, not Mr Bingley. Thomas, tell her, please.”

  “My girl tol’ me there were a shooting accident on Saturday. Mr Bingley’s gentleman friend—his gun misfired and, well, there were burns to the face.”

  “Oh no, Mr Darcy? But he lives?”

  “As of yesterday, he lives. The real worry is infection, I expect. Mr Jones was sent for immediately, and riders were dispatched to Mr Darcy’s physician in London as well as to his family. Becky said the whole house was in an uproar. I hope the physician was able to make it through the storm. No one can use these roads now.”

  “Mary…” Jane and Mary stared at each other. How could they tell Elizabeth?

  Thomas added, “I mean to send my boy to see Becky in the mornin.’ He don’t mind the mud. Becky is a might upset at the whole thing. She always said the men o’ the house were good fellows—much kinder than those two high-and-mighty ladies. I’ll be keepin’ the gentleman in my prayers.”

  “Thank y
ou, Thomas. I wish to send a note tomorrow with Tommy, if I may.”

  “Of course, miss.”

  Jane and Mary stood together in the hallway for several minutes.

  “She must be told. We cannot keep this from her,” Jane finally said.

  “Yes, but I certainly do not wish to be the one to do it.”

  “I shall do it. I will take Lizzy to my room where no one will see. But you must tell Kitty and Lydia.”

  “Very well. Though I shall have little stomach for Lydia’s theatrics.”

  They nodded and entered the sitting room.

  “Lizzy, will you come to my room?”

  * * *

  Dinner was a strained affair. Three sets of eyes were focused on Elizabeth, who said nothing and ate less. Mrs Bennet was completely focused on Lydia, who wept periodically, crying out “Dear Mr Darcy!” Kitty did not know what to say or do.

  Elizabeth retreated to her room even as the last course was being cleared. Jane hurried to follow, but was halted by Mr Bennet’s hand on her arm. He whispered, though no one would have heard him over Lydia’s wailing, “Jane, stay with her. I am sadly lacking in sympathetic words. I fear I can offer little to her now.”

  “I shall stay with her all night, Papa.” Jane hurried to her sister’s room and entered without knocking. Elizabeth sat at the vanity, staring blankly at herself in the mirror. Jane unpinned her hair and began to brush it, the only sound in the room that of the rain pelting the window pane.

  Mary entered after softly knocking. She sat in a chair near the bed but said nothing.

  “You two do not have to follow me around as if on eggshells.”

  “You ought not be alone now.” Jane plaited Elizabeth’s hair. “But let us go to my room. It is warmer, and the bed is more comfortable. There are advantages to being the eldest.”

  Elizabeth made no protest when Jane tugged on her arms to make her rise. As the three of them crossed the hallway, they heard Lydia’s cries from downstairs. “…marred by burns! What about his dimples?!”

  Jane shut the door behind her, relieved that it was thick enough to block out further lamentations. “Perhaps Mary will read to us. Would you like that, Lizzy?”

  Elizabeth climbed listlessly into the bed.

  “I have just the book in my room,” Mary said. “Let me retrieve it.”

  She moved towards the door but stopped in her tracks when Lydia’s voice could be heard through it. “I want Jane! Where is she?”

  Lydia burst into the room and threw herself into Jane’s arms. “Oh, Jane! May I stay with you tonight? Kitty is being horrid!”

  Kitty stood in the doorway. “I did not say anything!”

  “That’s just it! You offer no words of comfort while my Mr Darcy is dying!” Lydia bawled.

  “Calm yourself. We are all very worried about Mr Darcy. But Lizzy is staying with me tonight.” She motioned towards Elizabeth.

  “But I am the one who is upset!”

  “We are all upset, Lydia,” said Mary. “But not all of us are as vocal about it as you are.”

  “Lizzy never even liked Mr Darcy because he said she was not handsome. She is probably glad this happened!”

  Just as Jane was about to reprimand Lydia, Elizabeth threw off the covers and ran from the room, knocking Kitty out of the way. She slammed her bedroom door behind her.

  Jane followed Mary into the hallway. Kitty stood with her ear to Elizabeth’s door. “I think I hear her crying,” she whispered. “Lizzy never cries.”

  Jane tried the doorknob; it was locked, as she suspected. She had a key, but she dare not use it with Lydia near. “That’s it. Everyone goes to bed in their own rooms. Now.”

  “Why should Lizzy be crying?” Lydia demanded. “I am the one who suffers through such a tragic loss.”

  “Lydia,” Mary hissed, “if you were not so stupidly selfish, you might for once in your life think about someone other than yourself.”

  Lydia ran to her room and slammed the door.

  “Kitty,” Jane said to her stunned sister, “you may stay in my room tonight. I am staying with Elizabeth.”

  Jane retrieved the key to Elizabeth’s door. “Mary, I think I had better go in alone.”

  “Wake me if you feel I can help.”

  Jane nodded and turned the key in the lock. “Good night to both of you.”

  Tuesday

  My dearest Charles,

  We are all so very distressed by the tragic events at Netherfield. You must be overset with morbid worry and obligations. Do not hesitate to call on Longbourn if we can help in any way. My love, you are, as always, foremost in my thoughts. I pray the next news we have from Netherfield is happier than the last.

  Yours always,

  Jane

  Jane sealed the note and went to the kitchen. She handed it to Tommy. “Thank you so much for braving such a long walk in the mud and for carrying my note to Mr Bingley.”

  Tommy looked up at his father, who nodded in encouragement. “It is no trouble, Miss Jane.”

  “You be sure to come back here to warm up after your return. We will have your boots cleaned and Cook will have a special treat for you.”

  He grinned. “Thank you.” Then he bundled himself up and went out the back door. He sank an inch into the mud with each step. The sun was finally out, and it was bitterly cold again. Jane hoped that the mud would either freeze or dry out enough to allow travel. Until it did, they must wait for Tommy’s return.

  She went into the sitting room where all her sisters were gathered save one. Lydia was upstairs with their mother. Elizabeth stared out the window, Kitty stared at Elizabeth while fiddling with a bonnet, and Mary wrote an extract, though not with her usual vigour.

  An hour later, Hill summoned Jane and Elizabeth to the kitchen. John Lucas was standing just inside the kitchen door with horribly muddied boots.

  “Come in, John.”

  He held up his hand. “Jane, Lizzy, I had planned to spend the day with you all until I met Tommy on my way here. What precisely has happened at Netherfield?”

  Jane proceeded to tell John everything she knew.

  John nodded as he glanced at Elizabeth. “I have seen such injuries before. If I had known sooner… There are herbal remedies, effective remedies. I need some time to prepare the ingredients. But then I shall go to Netherfield to offer my help. Lizzy, do you wish to come with me?”

  Elizabeth jerked her head up. “Come with you?”

  “You will regret not speaking with Mr Darcy if…” John trailed off, leaving the worst unspoken.

  “I shall have a lifetime of regret no matter what happens. But it is not my place. I am nothing to him.”

  “I have seen the way he looks at you. You are most definitely something to him.”

  She shook her head and whispered, “It is not my place. His family should be there. I keep thinking of his poor sister. Oh, John, you must help him! His physician may not have arrived before the roads became impassable.”

  “I promise I shall do anything I can. Are you sure you do not wish to come with me?”

  “I am not sure of anything anymore.”

  John embraced her while looking helplessly at Jane. “Now that you mention his family, I may have news on that front. Last night when I was with the officers—yes, Gus and I braved the mud for a card game—I heard tell of a very grand carriage passing through Meryton. It carried three fine ladies, and the driver asked for safe direction to Netherfield.”

  “It must be Lady Catherine, Miss de Bourgh, and Miss Darcy. That is as it should be.”

  Jane asked, “How did the carriage successfully manoeuvre on these roads yesterday?”

  “I suppose they knew the urgency of the situation and risked getting mired somewhere along the way. The worst of the mud is here, because we are nearer the stream. The roads in the village are not as bad.” John put on his hat and bid them farewell.

  As he walked away, Jane saw he did not sink as much as Tommy had. Perhaps the mud was free
zing. Perhaps the roads would be passable soon.

  Lydia spent the morning with her mother, not wishing to face any more chastisement from Jane or Mary. Their words would not leave her mind, no matter how much she cried in Mrs Bennet’s arms. What did Mary mean—think about someone else? Think about Lizzy? What Kitty had said was correct: Lizzy never cried. So why was she crying?

  Lydia could not imagine ever wishing to cry again if she had been assured a life with John Lucas. In truth, he was the real reason for much of Lydia’s behaviour of late, though she could never admit it to anyone. She resented that three of her sisters now had suitors before she did. Lydia was rather mortified by the strength of her jealousy. It had made her behave terribly to Kitty, it had made her flirt shamelessly with Mr Wickham of all people, just so John would see, and it had made her lash out cruelly at Lizzy last night.

  The Mr Darcy situation was merely an excuse for her to release her emotions. Of course learning of Mr Darcy’s engagement had been a great shock and disappointment, and now she worried for his well-being. It would be dreadful for such a handsome young man in the prime of his life to meet such an end. And what of his orphaned sister? Lydia could not imagine having her entire family taken from her.

  “Shall we join your sisters for luncheon, my dearest?” Mrs Bennet said, stroking Lydia’s hair.

  “Yes, I suppose.” She must begin to make amends. But how Lizzy would receive her? There was only one way to find out.

  Lydia and Mrs Bennet made their way to the sitting room where the others were gathered. Elizabeth was sitting at the window, staring out into the garden. Lydia went to her. “Lizzy?

  She turned her face towards Lydia, revealing the dark circles under her eyes. Lydia swallowed. “I am sorry I said such an appalling thing to you. I know you would never wish ill on anyone.” Elizabeth turned her face back towards the window. “Perhaps…perhaps I underestimated your friendship with Mr Darcy. You did stay at Netherfield with him, and you did have all those literary discussions with him. You…you do not dislike him at all, do you?”