Page 26

Longbourn - Elizabeth

M r Bennet was slightly better three days after their return and was able to join the rest of the family downstairs.

Although he did still look rather pale, he expressed himself pleased with a change of room.

Mrs Bennet fussed around him and got Hill to build up the fire, as he took his usual seat close by.

“There, Mr Bennet, I think you will do very well there,” his wife said as she took her seat.

“Thank you, Mrs Bennet. Lizzy, my paper if you please?” Mr Bennet said, and then more quietly so that only Elizabeth could hear as she brought it to him, “Sit by me, my child? While I catch up on what I have missed.”

Elizabeth moved her chair a little closer to her father and picked up the book she had been reading. Jane was sitting at the table writing a letter. Mrs Bennet returned to her work and they sat in silence, other than Mary’s playing which they could hear from the other room.

Elizabeth watched her father’s tired face as he read his paper.

The weight of her decision to marry Mr Collins pressed upon her more heavily than ever.

She had made the choice to secure her family’s future, but at what cost to her own happiness?

And with Mr Darcy’s impending return, she feared her resolve might weaken.

Jane glanced up at her father from her letter every now and then, as did Elizabeth. Both were keenly aware of his every movement. Mrs Bennet too seemed to be paying more attention to her husband than her work.

Mr Bennet turned the paper over, as he commented; “There is no need to watch me like a hawk watching a field mouse. I am not going to drop dead at any moment.”

“Mr Bennet, how can you say such things?” Mrs Bennet said, quickly returning her attention to her needle work.

“I am sorry father,” Elizabeth said, “we are glad to see you downstairs again. Do you think you will be well enough to be able to accompany us to Church tomorrow?”

“We shall see Lizzy, we shall see.”

Lydia and Kitty were heard coming downstairs and bickering as they came. “Why did you have to take mine? Jane would have let you wear hers?” Kitty said crossly.

“You know very well that I wore hers last week and cannot wear it again!” Lydia replied equally crossly.

“Girls, it is not ladylike to be arguing.” Mrs Bennet called to them in the hall.

“Oh, we are not arguing Mama,” Lydia said as they came into the room. “We are off to Meryton to see Aunt Phillips.”

“Is it not a little cold to be walking to Meryton?” Elizabeth said, with a meaningful glance at Jane .

“Not at all, there is no snow on the ground. It has quite cleared and Sir William Lucas does not think there will be any more until next week,” Lydia said.

“We’ll come with you then. I need some lace for the bonnet I bought in town.” Jane said, folding her letter.

“Oh, but you are not ready and we wanted to leave now,” Lydia complained bitterly.

Jane turned to leave, but addressed Lydia and Kitty before she went, “If you had given us notice that you were planning on going out we should have been ready. But as it is you must wait until we are.”

Elizabeth looked at her father before she went upstairs to get ready. “Papa, you do not mind if we go with them do you?”

“No, my dear, you must enjoy yourself with your sisters and not worry about an old man like me,” Mr Bennet said.

Mrs Bennet had followed Jane out of the room and was calling up after her, “Jane, you must take care to dress warmly. We cannot have you catching cold when Mr Bingley is to return so soon.”

Elizabeth and Jane were soon ready. Lydia and Kitty were sitting waiting for them in a degree of ill humour, but cheered up slightly as they left.

“Mr Bingley is returning soon to Netherfield then?” Kitty asked Elizabeth, as they were walking together. Jane was walking with Lydia.

“Yes, he said he would be here very soon.” Elizabeth told her, “and he does not bring his sisters with him again?”

“I believe Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst are to remain in town until the winter is over.”

“So he is coming on his own then?”

“No, Mr Darcy is to join him in a week or two.”

As Jane spoke of Mr Bingley, Elizabeth’s mind wandered to Mr Darcy.

The prospect of his return filled her with a mixture of anticipation and dread.

How would she face him, knowing the turmoil his presence caused in her heart?

And what of Mr Collins? Her engagement hung over her like a shadow, a constant reminder of her duty to her family.As they approached the town, Elizabeth found her thoughts drifting to London, to the ball where she had danced with Mr Darcy.

The memory of his intense gaze and the warmth of his hand in hers sent a shiver through her.

She quickly pushed the thought aside, reminding herself of her engagement to Mr Collins.

But the conflict between duty and desire raged on in her heart.

Kitty was thoughtful for a moment, and then asked, “Mama said you had dinner with the Earl of Matlock and his family, was it not very grand?”

Elizabeth laughed at her sister’s sudden interest in the subject. “It was indeed. The younger brother is a Colonel, you know.”

“Really, and was he handsome?”

“Sadly no, but he is a very charming gentleman.”

“What a shame he is not handsome, it is such a pity.”

“There are other things which are more important Kitty. His character is by no means wanting. He was very attentive and pleasant.”

“And a Colonel. I would very much like to marry a Colonel.”

“I could not imagine if he were killed while fighting the French. It is a dangerous profession.”

“But then you are to marry Mr Collins.”

“That is true. But you are very well aware that I would not be marrying- there is father’s health to consider.”

“I knew there was more to it. Lydia did not believe it, but I know you did not like him any more than we did. He is the most odious man. ”

“Kitty, it is not done to say such things, even among ourselves. And remember that I am engaged to him.”

When they reached Meryton they went to call on their Aunt.

Who was always very happy to see them, especially Elizabeth and Jane as they had been away, and they gave her a full account of the dinner with the Fitzwilliams and the Middletons’s ball.

Although Elizabeth let Jane speak of the ball, as she was not sure if she could do so yet without blushing.

The call lasted longer than Lydia and Kitty’s visits normally did, but they left in high spirits.

A few officers did come over to greet them, Mr Wickham among them.

He soon fell in with them, Elizabeth careful to remain with Kitty leaving Jane to keep an eye on Lydia.

However she saw that she was struggling to keep Lydia in check.

Kitty was easier to manage and followed Elizabeth’s example in polite inquiries of their health.

Lydia, luckily, had not worked out what they were trying to do.

They walked on for a few minutes before Miss Elizabeth, tired by the antics of her youngest sister, declared that they were needed at home. Lydia protested but did at length agree.

Elizabeth sighed at her younger sisters’ antics.

Their frivolity seemed even more pronounced now, in light of recent events.

She wondered how Mr Collins would react to such behaviour in his future sisters-in-law.

The thought of him as part of their family still felt alien to her, especially when compared to the easy rapport she had felt with Mr Darcy.

Mr Bennet was well enough the next morning to attend church, although he was obliged to return to his room on their return. Elizabeth spent the afternoon with him, reading to him. She only left him once he had fallen asleep. She joined the others for tea.

Mrs Bennet was rather nervous and complained a great deal. “I do not understand why Mr Bennet delays your marriage Lizzy,” she said as Elizabeth entered the room .

“I do not know why Mr Bingley has not spoken to Jane yet. Are you sure my dear he has not even hinted?”

“Quite sure Mama,” Jane said firmly, she had gone rather red.

“It will be all your father’s fault if he dies before Lizzy is married to Mr Collins. Whatever will become of us then?”

“Mr Collins is to return very soon Mama and Mr Bingley will be here within the week,” Elizabeth said quietly.

“Aye, that is true. At least your father was able to go to church today. If he had not gone then it would have been talked of. But we must hope that it does not snow again for Mr Bingley’s return or his journey might be delayed.”

“He said he would be here very soon,” Jane reassured her mother. “And his sisters will be joining him in the spring.”

“Well, when Mr Collins is here I shall be easy.” Mrs Bennet said, “Lizzy you must write to him and ask if he can come sooner than we had talked of. Yes, that is the very thing.”

“I wrote to him just yesterday, but I will mention it the next time I write.”

“What nonsense is this? Of course you must write to him and entreat him to come. Then the whole unpleasant business at the ball will be forgotten.”

Elizabeth realised it was useless to disagree with her mother. Although the idea of hastening Mr Collins return did not fill her with pleasure.

As Elizabeth lay in bed, her mind whirled with conflicting emotions.

The relief of being home and seeing her father recovering warred with the anxiety of her impending marriage.

And beneath it all, a current of anticipation ran through her at the thought of seeing Mr Darcy again.

She chastised herself for such thoughts, but found she could not entirely banish them.

* * *

Darcy House - Darcy

The morning light filtered through the curtains as Darcy sat at his desk, penning a letter to Bingley about their imminent return to Netherfield.