Page 36 of Elizabeth in Scotland (Elizabeth and Darcy Abroad #2)
The journey back to England seemed to last an eternity.
Elizabeth tried to distract herself from the boredom and jolts of the carriage ride in vain, for her thoughts were as uncomfortable as her body.
Her heart ached in a way she had never experienced before, and while she tried to persuade herself otherwise, she knew it was her longing for Mr Darcy that left her no peace.
Not even her books could bring her solace, for Elizabeth found herself reading the same page over and over, unable to remember the last sentence her eyes had passed over.
In the end, she gave up and spent much of the long journey home simply looking out the window and thinking.
When they arrived back at Longbourn’s gates, they knew they were in for an uproarious welcome.
Lydia and Kitty were the first to come bustling out of the house and wave to them from the porch, then Mrs Bennet, Mary, and finally Jane.
Her father climbed down from the carriage and handed her out.
Almost immediately, they were surrounded, and a thousand questions were thrust upon them.
“How was the journey?”
“What is the estate like?”
“Have we inherited the house after all?”
Elizabeth hugged each of her younger sisters and her mother.
Her heart clenched to see that Jane held back and would not come off the front stoop to greet them.
Elizabeth was dumbfounded. She had not expected such treatment from her beloved eldest sister.
Poor Jane! Something must weigh on her terribly to keep her so aloof.
Her father held up his hands and called for quiet.
“I can report with gratitude and humility that we have been granted the house, though only after a long and arduous test. But the other potential heir was indeed the best of gentlemen, and we did not have occasion to see the Darcys as opponents for long. Indeed, we have come to see them as the best of friends.”
“Oh, we are saved! Thank the Lord for that!” Mrs Bennet said, clapping her hands in front of her. “Did I not say it would be so?” She turned to Kitty and Lydia and hugged them both. “Now you have only to find husbands, and your futures will be secure.”
“Mama!” Elizabeth protested laughingly. “Did you not hear my father? We are saved now, whether or not we find husbands!” With that, she followed her family into the house.
Weary from the long journey, Mr Bennet soon disappeared into his study to reacquaint himself with his books and collections of flora and fauna.
She doubted they would see him much in the days to come, for the journey had taken its toll on him, and she was sure he was eager to settle back into his quiet routine.
Elizabeth walked up the steps toward Jane, who still stood aloof and silent. “Hello, Jane,” she greeted her cautiously. “My, how I’ve missed you.”
Jane looked down her nose at Elizabeth. “Welcome home.”
Her tone seemed anything but welcoming, but Elizabeth tried to push her surprise aside. She joined her on the terrace and hugged her. Jane returned the gesture stiffly, and Elizabeth quickly stepped away. “I was surprised not to receive a letter from you. Did one go astray?”
Jane sniffed. “Forgive me. I have been so busy since you and our father left. I did not realise you were going to demand a letter,” she snapped.
Elizabeth stood motionless for a long moment, trying to overcome her shock. She blinked. “I did not mean for it to sound demanding. I only wondered.” She looked away and busied herself with taking off her travel gloves and bonnet before going into the house. “Did you receive my letters?”
“I did,” Jane said, but with a bitter tone so unlike the Jane she was accustomed to, Elizabeth glanced at her in surprise. Something had gone badly wrong, but she hardly knew what. Far worse, she had not the least idea how to make it right.
Luncheon was served a little while after their arrival, and Elizabeth was relieved to eat knowing that they would be fed well, and would not have to bump along the road anymore. She was sorely in need of a rest. After the meal, she would beg for some time away from the family to lie down.
“Well, tell us all about Scotland and Strathalt House. Does it have a goodly portion of property attached to it?” Mrs Bennet asked.
“There is. About five hundred acres,” her father replied.
A general gasp of pleasure was expressed around the table at their good fortune.
“The estate sits near Loch Ness, and has the most beautiful views you could imagine. Tell them, Lizzy,” her father encouraged her.
Elizabeth, seated between Lydia and Mary, looked about the table.
Jane sat across the table from her, next to Kitty, which was an anomaly in itself.
Something must be terribly wrong for her to forgo her usual place and sit as far away from Elizabeth as possible.
She cleared her throat, swallowing down her emotions as best she could.
“Ah, yes, they are beautiful, to be sure. The way the mist rises off the loch in the mornings, and how the heather dots the hills —” she knew she was waxing poetic, but did not care.
“It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We even saw Nessie one morning.”
“Who is Nessie?” Kitty asked eagerly. Elizabeth replied with the story of their early morning expedition, beginning a lively discussion of the Loch Ness Monster and a heated debate about whether the monster was real or a figment of their imagination.
All the while, Jane ate quietly, or at least made a show of it by pushing her victuals about her plate.
Elizabeth was eager for luncheon to be over so she could have a private conversation with her sister.
Surely they could sort out whatever had gone wrong between them if they could only speak in confidence.
“And who is this Mr Campbell we’ve heard about from your letters?” Mrs Bennet asked after a while. “Did he show you the deference you deserve?”
“He was most gentlemanly,” her father assured her. “Lizzy, tell them about him.”
Elizabeth suppressed a sigh, for she did not feel much like talking about their travels.
No one else seemed to notice, but something was seriously wrong with Jane, and it unnerved her to see her so changed.
“Mr Campbell is a dear soul. He is the steward of the estate, a very learned man, and he takes his role in overseeing the property seriously. It has largely been up to him to see that the house remains intact, and his dedication and care are the reasons we have been given such a beautiful house to inherit.” She glanced sidelong at Mary.
“Mary, I thought you would be quite taken with him, judging by his intelligence and seriousness. Not to mention his love of reading the scriptures and sermons Mr Sinclair had compiled in the library.”
“Me?” Mary asked in astonishment. Elizabeth smiled, for while Mary was taken aback, it was obvious she was not displeased.
“Precisely. I told Mr Campbell a little about you, and he seemed very much interested to know more. Perhaps the next time Papa goes to Scotland, you ought to go as his companion.” She smiled at her middle sister. “I am confident that you would find you have much in common with Mr Campbell.”
Mary smiled through her blush. “I am humbled that you would think of me, especially for such an estimable, scholarly man. Indeed, it is quite a compliment, sister. I thank you.”
“Of course,” Elizabeth said. As she looked about the table, her eyes fell on Jane. With an effort, Elizabeth concealed her shock. From her sister’s expression, it was obvious that something had made her even angrier, but what could have displeased her so?
The conversation shifted, with her mother sharing news that a letter had come for her father while they had been away.
“I took the liberty of opening it, as it was from your heir.” Her mother rolled her eyes heavenward.
“Your cousin Mr Collins wrote to see if he might come for a visit, and expressing his wish of making some amends for the entail. Of course, I wrote back immediately to explain the situation, and put him off until your return. But we must have him now, for I am sure it cannot be delayed any longer. Ugh, I believe it will be a dreadful visit.”
“Just because he is to inherit Longbourn through the entail does not mean he is an ogre, my dear,” her father said.
“Yes, let us hope and expect that he is a pleasant, honourable gentleman,” Mary chimed in. Her mood seemed much improved since hearing the news of Mr Campbell.
“He hinted at wanting to make amends to the girls for inheriting Longbourn. I wrote to him as soon as I received your letter that you were to return. He should be arriving any day, I expect.”
Elizabeth looked to her father, who sighed heavily.
No doubt he had been looking forward to some respite before having a guest at the house.
But it could not be helped now. “We shall have to stand by our word instead of putting him off again,” her father said.
“I suppose it will not hurt to meet him.”
“Well, whether or not Mr Collins can make any worthwhile amends for taking Longbourn away from us, we have other pleasing news. As you well know, a gentleman by the name of Bingley has let Netherfield Park. We were introduced at the last public assembly by Sir Lucas, and he seems very taken with Jane.” Her mother beamed at her eldest, who gave a pleased smile in return.
“I would not doubt if he was to propose to her very soon.”
Elizabeth’s heart stopped. She had always known that this day would come eventually. But she had hoped she and Jane had at least a little more time to make amends of their own. “Is this true?” she blurted.