Page 19 of Moments Frozen in Time (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
ELIZABETH
I did my best not to show my anger at my parents as I prepared to make my way to Netherfield that morning.
When Jane had received the note from Miss Bingley, I had done all I could to prevent Jane from riding to Netherfield on horseback, but Mama had prevailed.
No, she was insistent that, despite the clouds that indicated rain was on its way, Jane ought to ride Nellie.
Not a half hour after Jane left, the rain fell in torrents. I paced in the music room, far enough away from both my parents that I could let loose the frustration I felt.
The whole evening I worried about Jane. When she did not return, I presumed it was due to the weather, which had not improved all evening. It did not stop raining until late in the evening, and by then, the roads were certainly a mess and too difficult for Jane to traverse on her own.
When I woke, it was too wet and muddy to walk to Oakham Mount.
I had hoped to speak to Mr. Darcy, for he could have told me how Jane was doing.
It was not long after that a messenger arrived from Netherfield with a note from Jane.
Wrapped around it was a second note, unsigned, letting me know that arrangements would be made so I could stay at Netherfield as long as Jane did.
I knew it had come from Mr. Darcy. Intuitively, I knew that he was behind the note being delivered so early, and I wondered what else he had arranged. For a moment, I closed my eyes as I considered the gentleman, but I shook away those thoughts and returned my attention to Jane’s note.
As was typical for Jane, she minimised her illness, stating that she would soon be seen by the apothecary, and she did not wish anyone to worry should we hear of it.
However, it was her next words that made me know it was worse than she stated: excepting a sore throat and headache, there is not much the matter with me.
To my frustration, I was forced to wait until after breakfast to see about Jane.
I almost felt that it would serve my parents right if I departed without a word—Mrs. Hill would not tattle if I told her my plans, not until someone asked where I was.
But still, I wanted to see their faces when I told them that Jane had taken ill.
Their reactions should not have surprised me.
When the rain had begun to fall the night before, Mama had been delighted, crowing that now Jane would be required to stay the night, giving her time with Mr. Bingley.
“He is sure to fall in love with her, and she will certainly return to Longbourn engaged.”
However, upon hearing that Jane was ill, Papa responded as sardonically as I had come to expect from him: “Well, my dear, if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness—if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley and under your orders.”
“Oh! I am not afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling colds. She will be taken good care of. As long as she stays there, it is all very well. I would go and see her if I could have the carriage.”
Papa only teased Mama then, before finally stating that the carriage could not be had today. Finally, I let them know of my own resolve to walk to Netherfield.
Again, their responses were everything I expected.
Papa merely smirked at me as though he knew something I did not, whilst Mama exclaimed that I would not be fit to be seen if I walked all that way in the mud.
Nonetheless, I was determined, and nothing they said would change my mind.
Now, I wished I had not bothered to wait and had gone earlier as I had considered.
Through all this, my sisters sat silently, watching the exchange with blank expressions.
When I stood to go, all three of my sisters quietly followed, barely glancing at our parents.
If Papa noticed, he did not comment, but I thought I observed a thoughtful expression cross Mama’s face when she watched my younger sisters.
“What will you do, Lizzy?” Lydia asked when we entered my room.
For a moment, I said nothing as I pulled one of my older gowns from the closet.
On the floor sat a small trunk I had never quite unpacked after returning from my summer visit to our aunt and uncle in London.
It already held a few of mine and Jane’s belongings—items we might need if we were to remain at Netherfield for more than a day or two.
“I am hoping Miss Bingley will extend an invitation for me to stay and nurse Jane,” I told my sisters as I set the gown aside.
“This trunk has the essentials we will need. Can you make sure it is sent over once I send word? If I left it up to Mama, she would likely pack Jane’s finest gowns—even though she is unlikely to be seen by anyone but me and the servants. ”
Kitty and Lydia laughed, but all three—Kitty, Lydia, and even Mary—nodded in agreement.
“It was awful of Mama to send Jane on horseback, was it not?” Kitty asked after a pause.
“Terribly selfish,” Mary said sharply, surprising us with the force of her words. “She sent Jane out in the rain, hoping she would be forced to remain at Netherfield—just to gain Mr. Bingley’s attention. It is no better than what that man’s sister does to Mr. Darcy.”
I blinked, startled at her observation. “Miss Bingley?”
Mary gave a single, emphatic nod. “She is the worst sort of fortune hunter. I have seen how she watches Mr. Darcy… and you, Lizzy, when we are in company. Mr. Darcy always seems drawn to you, and it clearly angers her. Be careful whilst you are at Netherfield. Even if she is persuaded to invite you to stay to help Jane, she will not be pleased about it.”
“I am not worried about Miss Bingley,” I replied, feeling much less brave than I let on.
I had noticed Miss Bingley’s hateful stares whenever I spoke to Mr Darcy, even though I did not try to monopolise his attention.
“In fact, I expect to spend most of my time in Jane’s sickroom, but I suppose it would not be polite if I were to completely ignore my hosts. ”
Without bothering to wait for my sisters to leave the room, I began changing into the gown I had taken from my closet.
“Why are you wearing that old thing?” Lydia protested. “You will scarcely look fit to enter Netherfield in that.”
“I will be walking to Netherfield, Lyddie,” I replied with a slight smile once I had the gown over my head. “Miss Bingley could not think less of me than she already does, but it will not do for me to ruin one of my best gowns as I traipse through the mud to get there.”
“We will go with you, at least as far as Meryton,” Lydia said after a moment. “That way, you will have company for part of the way, and Mr. Johnson said he expected he would receive a new shipment of books soon. I hope that the one we have ordered will have arrived.”
I smiled at my sisters. “The three of you can read together in the evenings, and if you have any questions for me, write them down and I will answer when I return. You could also send a note to Netherfield for me, but I would not want to put the Bingleys’ servants out to ask them to send a letter back. ”
The girls nodded and went to fetch their outdoor things to accompany me. As Mr. Darcy’s note had intimated that he would be awaiting my arrival, I flattered myself with the hope of meeting him before I reached Netherfield, that we might pass a portion of the way in walking and conversation.
Just the thought of Mr. Darcy was enough to bring warmth to my cheeks. What had begun as a simple friendship had started to feel like something more, and I found myself wondering whether he thought of me even half as often as I thought of him.
It was foolish—idle fancy at best. How could a man like Mr. Darcy truly think of me in such a way?
Perhaps he liked me; I could easily believe that given how he sought me out to speak to me.
But liking was not love, and it was certainly not an offer of marriage.
No—he would be expected to wed someone far above my station, and I must not forget it.
Shaking my head, I tried to dispel the thoughts. There was no sense in dwelling on what I knew to be futile. And yet, I could almost hear my grandmother’s voice reminding me to be patient—that some things were worth waiting for even if they seemed impossible in the present.
My sisters were waiting just outside when I joined them. I was surprised to see Mary amongst them.
“I thought you might prefer to stay home and read or practise at the piano,” I murmured.
She leant closer and whispered, “The younger girls need company—with the militia so newly arrived in the area, I thought it best not to leave them completely unsupervised. They have tried hard to improve themselves over the last weeks, but still, with so much temptation, I would hate for them to suffer a lapse.”
Grateful, I gave her a small smile and looped my arm through hers. Together, the four of us set off towards Meryton, talking and laughing as we went .
When we arrived in the village, I watched my sisters as they scurried towards the bookshop, and I nearly laughed.
Two months ago, I would not have imagined my sisters choosing books over ribbons and officers, but it seemed as though a miracle had been wrought.
Glancing towards the sky, I knew that I needed to hurry if I wished to arrive at Netherfield before noon.
I had not gone far before I heard a voice call my name. To my surprise, there on the path, seemingly waiting for me, was Mr. Darcy sitting on Mithras.
“The fields are too muddy to walk through,” he said by way of greeting.
“I thought I could offer my assistance and let you ride Mithras with me leading him. You have said you were never taught to ride, and this will give you a chance to practise whilst also protecting your gown. I would not wish for you to appear at Netherfield at a disadvantage, and Miss Bingley is in a particularly foul mood this morning already.”