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Hertfordshire Road - Elizabeth

A s they passed familiar landmarks, Elizabeth found herself recalling happier journeys along this road. How different things were now, with the shadow of illness hanging over their family. She silently prayed that their return would bring some comfort to their ailing father.

Jane reached over and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “He will be glad to see us,” she said softly.

Elizabeth nodded, unable to voice her fear that their father might be too ill to recognise their return.

Elizabeth’s eyes strained to catch the first glimpse of Longbourn’s chimneys on the horizon. Each turn in the road brought a fresh wave of anticipation and dread. She found herself holding her breath, as if by doing so she could somehow hold back the reality that awaited them at home.

Elizabeth was happy to be going home, as she had missed her father a great deal and was concerned for his health. She was also relieved to be away from Mr Darcy. It would be much simpler without him. Her mother would be easier at home than she had been in town.

Mary was very pleased to see them, although she looked pale and tired.

Lydia and Kitty were in high spirits and telling them all that they had missed while they had been away.

Jane listened to their tales. Elizabeth, however, took Mary off to the side and asked about her father. Mary did not have good news for her.

“He is still very weak, some days are better than others,” Mary said. She seemed to have aged slightly since they had been away, there were lines around her eyes and she looked tired. “He started vomiting two days ago and has been complaining of pain. I believe he is sleeping now.”

“Oh Mary, you look tired. You have not been taking care of yourself. I should have been here.” Elizabeth said.

“He has spoken of little else than you returning.” Mary spoke quietly, “you always were his favourite.” There was no bitterness in her voice, she was merely stating a fact.

Elizabeth slipped away from the others soon after to see her father.

He was in his room, the door was slightly ajar.

There was no sound within, as she stepped closer she became aware of a strange smell that was coming from the room.

She entered the room quietly, Mary had said that she thought he was asleep.

He was laying down sleeping. He had never been a large man, but he seemed to have shrunk during her time away, his skin was pale.

Elizabeth had never felt more helpless than she did at that moment as she stood looking at her now gravely ill father.

He moved slightly in his sleep, clearly in pain.

Elizabeth stepped out of the room again and, for the first time since his illness started, was completely overcome by emotion.

Elizabeth was not left long to herself, for Mrs Bennet was soon looking for her.

* * *

Darcy House - Darcy

Darcy did not sleep well that night, his mind was too active. He needed more time to think away from Elizabeth. She was too distracting, he could not think clearly when she was around. Some time away from her would put things in a different light.

He dressed carefully, as he was to meet with his uncle in the morning and have a rather serious conversation with him.

Lady Catherine, he hoped, would have left for Kent taking Mr Collins with her.

He was not in a mood to be polite to him, or put up with his aunt.

His uncle had a much easier temper to deal with.

Georgiana was waiting for him in the breakfast room, she looked worried. However, she did not speak at first. He greeted her and started his breakfast. She was playing with a ribbon on her dress.

At last she asked, “You told Miss Elizabeth that you would be going to Hertfordshire in a few weeks, is that still your plan?”

He looked into his tea cup for a second or two deciding how to answer. “Unless my plans change, yes, I am planning on returning to Hertfordshire.”

She smiled brightly and asked no more.

He left for the Earl’s house soon after.

He did not want to put off the visit any longer than he had to.

A servant greeted him at the door and showed him into one of the sitting rooms. Lady Catherine was there, as well as the Earl and Countess, but she was on the point of leaving, Mr Collins waiting nearby, looking very nervous and out of place .

Darcy greeted his aunts and his uncle, Lady Catherine was not in a good mood. She was clearly not happy with the results of her trip.

“Come Mr Collins, it is time for us to return to Kent,” She said as she stood. She turned to Darcy before she left and said, “Darcy, I had hoped for better from you. Be careful, I will be watching.”

His uncle showed his sister and Mr Collins out, while Darcy turned his attention to his other aunt.

“Good morning, Lady Matlock,” he said gently. She looked around in surprise, she had clearly not noticed him entering the room.

“Fitzwilliam, you have come to see the Earl.” Her voice was as always soft. “He was here but a moment ago, I wonder where he has gone?”

“I believe he will be back shortly, he is saying goodbye to Lady Catherine and Mr Collins.”

She returned to her work and he walked towards the window and looked out onto the street below. Where Lady Catherine was being handed into her carriage. Lord Matlock returned.

“Darcy, I think we had best speak in my room so as not to disturb my wife.”

Darcy bid his aunt farewell for the moment and followed his uncle.

“Rowena and Richard mentioned to me this morning that you might be coming to call.” Lord Matlock began once they were in his study and the door was firmly closed behind him.

“They suggested the idea to me last night.”

“I see. I was surprised by Catherine arriving so hurriedly. She, however, seemed to think it justified. She spent a great deal of this morning speaking of it. I would like to hear your side of the matter.”

“There is very little to tell.”

“However little there is, I would like to hear it.”

“I have spent the last few months in Hertfordshire at a friend’s house, Bingley’s to be precise. I became acquainted with the Bennets. The eldest two daughters and the mother you met the other evening.”

“Rowena was very insistent on inviting them, but they were pleasant, sensible girls. And the younger of the two, Elizabeth, is engaged to Mr Collins?”

“Indeed. I believe he is their father’s cousin.”

“But you have formed an attachment to her?”

“I have. I was surprised, very surprised, by the engagement between them. I had reason to believe she could not stand him.”

His uncle was silent for a minute or two. “I can’t say that I found Mr Collins to be an agreeable young man. I am quite astonished by Catherine’s choice in him. Pray, continue.”

“Georgiana, and through her Lady Rowena, discovered the nature of my feelings towards Miss Elizabeth Bennet and they, I believe, have been acting in an unladylike manner.”

“Rowena did own up to some slight error in judgement. But what of you, did you suffer a similar slight error in judgement? "

“I believe sir that my behaviour might be considered by some and in a certain light not that of a gentleman. However, I have acted in the only way in which my conscience would permit me to do so.”

“I see,” his uncle said again. “As you know, I do not share my sister’s opinion regarding yourself and Anne.

It was a plan designed by two school girls, sisters who could not stand the thought of being parted for most of their lives.

I am of the opinion that your own dear mother would have abandoned the plan if she had lived to see you become an adult, but as things are we can only guess what she would have thought if she were here.

” The Earl paused, deep in thought, before continuing, “And what do you intend to do next?”

“I have been considering that point myself.”

“And the results of your consideration? I ask Darcy, for a very simple reason. I will speak plainly for there can be no misunderstanding on this point, I cannot permit you to bring scandal down on this family. Two of my own daughters are unmarried, as is your sister, Georgiana. Henrietta, I believe, is on the point of an engagement. I cannot risk anything happening to ruin them.” The Earl’s tone was serious.

“You don’t owe me the duty of a child, but I hope that due to the closeness of our relationship and the good sense that I know you to have, you will think hard before you make a rash decision. ”

His uncle was not angry, but Darcy knew he would be if he crossed him on this point.

“My plans are not yet settled. I can assure you that I do not intend to act in a rash manner. I will be returning to Hertfordshire in a week or two after I have been to Pemberley, I have some business to attend to in the north.”

“And when you return to Hertfordshire?”

“I mean to discover, if I can, the reasons for the engagement. I do not, I cannot believe that Miss Elizabeth is marrying Mr Collins as the result of an attachment.”

“Let us agree on another point. If the engagement should not last - there can be not even a whisper of your involvement in the affair. For the sake of appearance it would be best if he were the one to break it off. Don’t you agree?”

Darcy smiled for the first time since Lady Catherine’s arrival the night before.

“Completely.”

“What of Georgiana, can you be sure that she will not try to intervene again?”

Darcy’s thoughts turned to Georgiana. How would his actions affect her? If he pursued Elizabeth and it led to social censure, would it harm Georgiana’s prospects? The last thing he wanted was to cause difficulty for his beloved sister.

“She is to remain in town until the situation in Hertfordshire is more stable. Although she is to write to Miss Elizabeth.”

“That will do for the time being. There will be a reason to see them often if I am not mistaken. Your friend, Bingley and the elder sister, Jane Bennet?”

“I believe there will be a reason very soon indeed.”

His uncle nodded slowly in approval. “Good, good.”

Darcy bid his uncle farewell and returned home, his mind still churning with the weight of their conversation. He had much to do, he was to leave for Pemberley the next morning and there were many letters he needed to write.

As he prepared for bed, Darcy’s mind raced with the potential societal fallout.

If word got out about his involvement in breaking Elizabeth’s engagement, it could damage not only his reputation but hers as well.

The thought of subjecting her to scandal and gossip made him question the wisdom of his plans.

As he lay awake that night, Darcy found himself torn.

His heart urged him forward, insisting that a life with Elizabeth was worth any risk.

His head, however, cautioned restraint, reminding him of the potential for disaster.

He wondered, not for the first time, if there was any way to reconcile the two.

Sleep eluded him as he grappled with the decision that lay before him.

* * *

Saturday 18th of January 181 2

Longbourn - Elizabeth

Elizabeth spent most of the next few days in her father’s room.

He was very pleased to see her as well as Jane.

He had missed them dearly, although he had been impressed with Mary during the time they had spent in town.

She was soon to learn that he was not nearly as pleased with the younger two girls.

Mary had tried to conceal the aspects of their behaviour that would bring him pain, but he had gathered some of the details.

But Elizabeth was quite convinced of her younger sister’s lack of decorum and sense.

She had witnessed enough of the conversation between them to show how their time away from the watchful eyes of their eldest sisters, as well as the indulgence and attentions of their mother.

There was more talk of officers than suited a gentleman’s daughters and the manner in which they spoke of them should not be repeated, among themselves, let alone in polite company.

“Oh Lizzy, we have had such fun while you were away.” Lydia announced that afternoon, “it was such a good joke. One of the officers you have not met yet was telling me of a joke some of the men pulled, which resulted in them being flogged, but what do you think they did?”

“If they were flogged for it I am not sure I would like to hear what it was.” She replied.

“Aye, you are so strange. But it is such a good joke, I must tell you!” Lydia was quite adamant.

“They took the Commanding Officer’s breeches and cut a rather large hole in the back of them.

” Lydia laughed loudly. “And he did not notice straight-away, it was only when he was inspecting the men that he realised.”

“Mr Wickham said it was one of the funniest things he had ever witnessed.” Kitty added.

Elizabeth and Jane shared a glance. They stayed away a long time after all the others had gone to bed to talk the day after their return home.

“We cannot let them leave the house on their own any longer,” Elizabeth said soberly.

“Their behaviour might just have been misunderstood. Mary does not have much experience in these matters. What might to her be a lack of control and a wantonness in behaviour might to us merely be lively spirits and a youthful outlook?”

“Oh Jane, you are too kind, too sweet,” Elizabeth looked at her sister fondly. “But you must see it is not so. Merely think of their manner of speaking of the officers? They have run wild, even my mother sees it.”

Jane sighed and admitted that they might need to keep an eye on them until their spirits calmed themselves.

“There is one other matter that concerns me, Mr Wickham is still in the neighbourhood.”

Jane looked alarmed, “But surely you do not think he would try anything? They have no money that could tempt him?”