Page 29

MOTHERS’ MEETING

T he ladies settled down in the second parlour. Tea was ordered and a bright convivial atmosphere surrounded them, despite the situation with Georgiana.

“So, Elizabeth, you married in October,” Lady Catherine began.

Elizabeth blushed and remembered the last time she and Lady Catherine spoke together about her marriage.

“Tell me, have you and Darcy taken more time for yourselves? I know that at the time of your marriage, your energies were spent helping others and neglecting the need for an heir,” Lady Catherine bluntly asked.

Elizabeth flushed bright red. “We do take more time for that part of our marriage. It was difficult to begin with, as Jane was sicker than she is now and needed more care. However, with my sisters and brother here, we managed to take turns so that Darcy and I could have time together. When my father shot him, my first concern was him getting well, but his recovery is assured and he is getting stronger by the day.”

Mrs Bennet giggled at her daughter’s discomfort. “I believe it did not take long for you to resume your attempts at an heir.”

Elizabeth glared at her mother. More than once, well-wishers who were concerned about the health of Darcy had interrupted them. “Nobody would know anything if our room had not become a circus!” She grumbled.

Lady Matlock laughed. “Your husband is loved by many, Elizabeth. Now that he is up and about, your rooms will become private once more. Tell me, are you taking more note of your monthly visitor?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“And has she visited recently?” Lady Matlock asked.

Elizabeth chewed her lip and shook her head. “I am not sure when she last visited. It has all been so chaotic.”

“You were suffering with dizziness and exhaustion while Fitz was recovering. Has the dizziness continued?” Lady Matlock continued interrogating Elizabeth.

Elizabeth nodded again. “It eased a bit once I started to eat better, but it has not gone away.”

The ladies asked several more questions of a personal nature. At the end of it, they all agreed that though it was still early, Elizabeth was displaying signs of conception. Elizabeth, Catherine, and Miss Bingley relaxed and asked the elder ladies many questions about what they should expect and how best to look after themselves during this time.

“Tell me, Caroline,” Mrs Bennet began. “When did you discover that Mary was my son and not a daughter?”

Miss Bingley’s mouth turned up in a half smile, half grimace. “The day we met. It was an odd day. I have to confess that I did not understand your neighbourhood. Everyone was acting so strangely and it was so different from the life I was accustomed to.” She took a deep breath and looked at her hands. “I did not make a very good impression. I grew up in the town of Bingley, in Yorkshire. My father owned many mills, but the one in Bingley was his pride and joy because it was the first one that he and his father had owned. My father aspired to join the gentry and he educated us all the same way that a gentleman’s sons and daughters would be brought up. When my eldest sister came of age, we began staying in Town for the season or visiting Bath. Life in the cities is not the same as life in the countryside. Anyway, the day we met everyone was focused on my brother’s flirting with Jane and then the display that Mr and Mrs Darcy made. Nobody noticed what I was doing any more than they took notice of Mark. He was the quietest of what appeared to be a gaggle of five sisters. Mark and I were instantly attracted to each other. It was magnetic and it was beautiful. I was hesitant when Mark approached me. He spoke in a low tone and asked me to speak to him away from the crowds. He needed to tell me something that was not generally known. I went with him, not knowing that my life was about to turn on its head. He told me his tragic story. I could not believe how cruel his father was. I did not wish to believe that a young man could live as a girl. I told him that. He did the only thing he could think of. He took my hand and placed it between his legs. I would have slapped him for it, but instead the realisation that he truly was Mark seemed to allow our attraction to increase. We were slightly embarrassed, he let go of my hand and I let it drop. We knew that to give in to our attraction would spell scandal, in one way or another. It could not be helped. We gave in to our passion. We were alone and for the first time in his life, he had met someone he did not have to hide with. For the first time in my life, I knew what it was to love and to be loved. There was no pretence between us, just raw unbridled passion. We had fallen in love and we knew it was a forbidden love. We were gone from the party for a long time, yet nobody appeared to notice when we rejoined the festivities. I watched as Mark turned back into dour Mary and my heart broke a little. We had made a pact that we would ease each other’s way and we kept that promise. By the time Mark came to Netherfield to care for his sister, I knew that we were expecting. Mark promised to stand by me, but the truth was not yet out about him not being Mary. He promised to find a way. Once the truth was out, we made it clear to my brother that we planned to marry as soon as we could and here we are. You know the rest. Mark and I cannot stay away from each other.”

“It is no secret that you and Mark already share a bedroom,” Mrs Bennet sniped. “I have to confess that I was conflicted about that at first. I was happy to see Mark courting and finding someone to love, but not happy at his scandalous situation. However, you are as good as a daughter-in-law ever could be. I am sorry about our family imposing on yours as we are.”

“I know I am not an easy person to live with and it has been difficult to get used to. However, I love Mark so very much. It is a pleasure and honour to know that my brother has been willing to take in Mark along with his mother and sisters. I am sorry for ever being an unpleasant person about it,” Miss Bingley answered.

“We all have our eccentricities,” Elizabeth told her. “I am hoping that Fitz will be well enough that we can move back to our own homes soon. We truly appreciate that we have been able to stay for such an extended amount of time.”

“Please do not rush that move, Elizabeth.” Miss Bingley blushed. “It’s rather nice having you and Kitty here also expecting. Louisa has done nothing other than tell me I’ve behaved like a whore, though Mark is my betrothed. When Louisa is expecting, she won’t talk about any of it and she certainly won’t tell me what I am to expect.”

“Mr and Mrs Hurst seem to not engage much,” Elizabeth observed.

“That’s because they do not get on very well with Mr Darcy!” Miss Bingley laughed. “Your husband and my brother have been friends since childhood. However, Mr Darcy was not always so withdrawn. I believe that he used to be friends with quite a wild crowd that included Mr Hurst, Mr Wickham, and a few others. I believe, however, there was a heartbreak after which Mr Darcy became the man you now know. Overnight he stopped gambling and drinking to excess and became suspicious of the motives of everyone around him. Mr Hurst called him weak and told him that he thought himself to be better than those around him. My brother still loves to socialise and flirt ridiculously, but your husband and my brother have calmed down and it has been many years since either of them were anywhere near to being called wild and irresponsible. Mr Hurst has not given up his wild ways. Even after marrying Louisa four years ago he continues his womanising, heavy drinking, and loves to gamble too. Louisa constantly thinks that I am a threat to her marriage, though I would not look twice at Mr Hurst or a man like him. I’ve known a few and almost fell for their lies too. I am glad to say that the only man who I have been truly weak with was and is Mark.”

“Fitz doesn’t like to talk about his days at Cambridge. He always tells me that he is not proud of his time there and asks to change the subject,” Elizabeth answered.

“He did nothing truly egregious, Elizabeth. You need to have no fear. I believe that he simply does not like to be reminded of the first woman who broke his heart,” Miss Bingley told her. “I’m not even sure if it was true heartbreak. His pride was hurt, though.”

Many different stories of courtship, marriage, and motherhood were exchanged, along with tales of childhood antics as the ladies got to know each other and relaxed in the knowledge that the next generation was on its way. The double wedding was planned for just over a week and despite the serious nature of Miss Darcy’s situation, there was something contagious about the excitement of the wedding and the girls expecting that refused to be overshadowed.