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Longbourn - Elizabeth

T he Bennet family returned to some semblance of normality over the next week.

Mary played and read, while Jane and Elizabeth looked after their father and tried to keep his spirits up.

It was now too late in the season for Elizabeth to walk much out of doors, though she did visit her friend Charlotte Lucas once or twice.

Mr Bennet continued to worsen - he was not coping well with the winter, even though there was a good fire in most of the rooms.

There was an early snow that year. The grounds of Longbourn lay silent under a thick blanket of snow, the bare branches of the oak trees bowing under the weight of their wintry burden.

Icicles hung like crystal daggers from the eaves, catching the weak winter sunlight and scattering it in rainbow hues across the frosted windowpanes.

Elizabeth just prayed that Mr Bennet would make it through the winter; she knew he would get better again when the weather improved.

On the Monday after Mr Collins’ departure Mrs Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife and their four children, who came as usual to spend Christmas at Longbourn.

Mr Gardiner was a sensible, gentleman-like man, greatly superior to his sister, as well by nature as education.

The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well bred and agreeable.

But as they had followed Mr Bingley to town there was little danger of that.

Mrs Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs Bennet and Mrs Phillips, was an amiable, intelligent and elegant woman, and a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces.

Between the two eldest and herself especially, there subsisted a very particular regard.

They had frequently been staying with her in town, as indeed Jane, Elizabeth and Mrs Bennet would be doing after Christmas.

The house was alive with the bustle of Christmas preparations.

Garlands of evergreen adorned the banisters, their piney scent mingling with the aroma of spices from the kitchen where Mrs Brown, the cook, was busy preparing festive treats.

In the corner of the drawing room stood a small fir tree, brought in from the estate’s woods and decorated with strings of dried berries and small candles, ready to be lit on Christmas Eve.

The first part of Mrs Gardiner’s business on her arrival, was to distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions.

When this was done, she had a less active part to play.

It became her turn to listen. And such news there was!

Lizzy’s engagement to Mr Collins and the hope that Jane would likewise be soon engaged to Mr Bingley, that he would be returning from town any day now.

On hearing more details of Elizabeth’s engagement Mrs Gardiner grew a little worried, she knew of course of the engagement for Mrs Bennet had written and told her all about it, but there was nothing about the way the family spoke of him or about why Lizzy was much quieter than normal and did not speak of Mr Collins herself unless asked a question about him.

It made her uneasy. She resolved to speak to her about as soon as she could, but in the end found that Jane approached her about it first.

Later that evening, Mrs Gardiner found a moment alone with Elizabeth in the parlour. She approached her niece, who was absently running her fingers along the spines of her father’s beloved books.

“Lizzy, my dear,” Mrs Gardiner began gently, “I hope you don’t mind my asking, but I’ve noticed you seem… different. Is everything truly well with your engagement?”

Elizabeth’s hand stilled on a worn copy of Shakespeare’s sonnets. She turned to face her aunt, her expression a mixture of surprise and resignation. “Aunt, I-” she hesitated, weighing her words carefully. “Mr Collins is… a respectable match.”

Mrs Gardiner’s brow furrowed. “Respectability is important, certainly, but it’s not everything in a marriage. Lizzy, you know you can confide in me. Are you happy with this arrangement?”

Elizabeth’s eyes darted to the door, ensuring they were alone. She lowered her voice. “I entered into this engagement with open eyes, Aunt. It may not be a love match, but it secures my family’s future and I will have comfortable home. That must be enough.”

Mrs Gardiner placed a comforting hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “Oh, my dear girl. I admire your sense of duty, but I worry for your happiness. Have you considered-”

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Elizabeth quickly composed herself as Kitty entered the room, oblivious to the serious discussion she had just interrupted.

Mrs Gardiner gave Elizabeth’s hand a squeeze, her eyes conveying that this conversation was far from over. Elizabeth managed a small smile, grateful for her aunt’s concern, even as she felt the weight of her choices pressing down upon her.

The news of Elizabeth’s engagement had started to make its way around the surrounding neighbourhood and she received many congratulations.

The most interesting reaction to the news was indeed Mr Wickham, for he seemed to be offended by her engagement.

She had begun to consider him a friend, but he would hardly speak to her now.

She was surprised by this and a little annoyed.

Sadly since the news that Miss Elizabeth Bennet was engaged to Mr Collins was now common knowledge, thanks to her mother having a hard time keeping such news to herself, there would be no escaping the engagement.

Jane took this particularly ill, as she had not had time to find another solution for her dearest sister.

Elizabeth, however, had never expected Jane to be able to find a way to free her from the engagement. It was done, she had agreed willingly with her no misunderstanding of his character. There was no going back now. She would be Mrs Collins before long.

As promised, shortly after he had left Hertfordshire, Mr Collins wrote to her.

The letter arrived on a Tuesday, Mr Collins’ precise handwriting stark against the cream envelope.

Elizabeth’s fingers trembled as she broke the seal.

As she unfolded the pages, a faint scent of incense wafted up, reminding her of the stuffy parsonage that was to be her future home.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself before beginning to read.

Mr Collins had written a very long formal letter to her, which it took her quite a long time to read through and even longer to reply to.

But she did so, she decided it would be best to tell him about the little goings on since he had left and not to mention anything too personal and of course not to mention anything about her father’s state of health.

She was relieved when it was done and even more so when she realised that it would be a week or two before she would need to reply again.

* * *

Tuesday 10th of December 1811

Longbourn - Elizabeth

Mrs Bennet was overjoyed when not two weeks after Mr Bingley had left for town he came back to Netherfield.

Almost as soon as news of it reached her, she had sent a note inviting him to dine with them one evening.

Mr Bennet was thought to be well enough to sit through the meal, although he had little appetite at the moment.

A reply was received that he and Mr Darcy would be delighted to join them for a meal, however his sisters and Mr Hurst had remained in town and would be joining them later.

Mrs Bennet was pleased enough with this, even if it did mean that Mr Darcy would be there as well.

There was no alternative, but to try and lessen the evil she decided to invite just a few others.

However both Jane and Elizabeth intervened on this matter, their father was not well enough for such a gathering, it would already be hard for him with the Gardiners, Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy.

Elizabeth had begun to regain some of her cheerfulness and good humour, she was resolved on not thinking about Mr Collins or the life that was before her and determined to enjoy what time she had left.

There was also the hope that if Mr Bingley did as they hoped and Jane was so well married that she would be able to break off the engagement.

This thought scared her a little. It was not the breaking off of the engagement that scared her, it was that she would be hoping too much for it, and then it might not happen and she would still have to marry Mr Collins.

The thought of him touching her still made her feel sick to her stomach.

No, it was best that she did not think about it at all.

At last, Tuesday arrived and Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley were there in very good time. Jane had dressed with a great deal of care and looked as handsome as she ever had before.

As evening fell, Longbourn took on a warm, inviting glow.

Candles flickered in every window, their light reflecting off the snow outside and creating an almost magical atmosphere.

The crackle of fires in the hearths and the gentle tinkling of china as the table was set added to the sense of anticipation that filled the air.

The evening began well enough, the Gardiners were looking forward to meeting both gentlemen, someone had mentioned that Mr Darcy’s estate was Pemberley and it turned out that she had grown up in a town not five miles from the estate.

The gentlemen arrived and were introduced to Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Mr Bennet was having a slightly better day and had some colour in his cheeks.

Mr Bennet was thought to be well enough to sit through the meal, although he had little appetite at the moment.

As he lowered himself into his chair, Elizabeth noticed how his hands trembled slightly.

His face, once ruddy with good humour, now appeared ashen and drawn.

Throughout the meal, he barely touched his food, and his usual witty remarks were few and far between.

The dining room was a picture of winter elegance.

Holly and ivy wound around the chandelier, casting intricate shadows on the walls.

The table gleamed with the family’s best silver, polished to a high shine for the occasion.

Through the windows, guests could glimpse the moonlit garden, a serene landscape of silver and shadow.

As the first course was served, Elizabeth noticed Mr Darcy’s eyes flickering between her and Jane. She wondered what thoughts were passing behind his inscrutable expression.

“Mr Darcy,” Mrs Bennet chirped, leaning forward with an eager smile, “I hope you find the soup to your liking. It’s a particular favourite of Lizzy’s.”

Elizabeth felt her cheeks warm as Mr Darcy’s gaze settled on her. He paused, spoon halfway to his mouth, before murmuring, “Indeed. It is excellent.”

Mr Bingley and Jane, as was their habit, were soon in deep conversation with each other, with the only change being the notable difference in the way that Jane received his attentions.

Lydia could not tell the difference, but it was evident to the others.

Indeed Mr Darcy seemed quite surprised by it.

She was encouraging him, where before she had only smiled she now laughed.

As the music from the pianoforte filled the room, Elizabeth watched Jane and Mr Bingley from across the parlour.

They stood close, heads bent together in conversation.

Jane’s laugh, soft and melodious, floated above the music.

Mr Bingley’s eyes never left her face, his expression one of pure adoration.

For a moment, Elizabeth felt a pang of envy, quickly followed by guilt.

But Elizabeth noticed that Mr Darcy’s attention was soon drawn away from Jane and Mr Bingley by her Aunt Mrs Gardiner. “I understand Mr Darcy that you live in Derbyshire? I lived in Lambton as a girl.”

“But that is not five miles from Pemberley!” he exclaimed.

They talked about Derbyshire, about people they both knew.

He had never said so much to a person he had only just met as he did that evening, he was in fact so engaged in conversation that he hardly noticed that Elizabeth and Mr Gardiner were standing close by.

She had never seen him speak with such animation, this was not the Mr Darcy who she knew; this was a different Mr Darcy .

Mrs Gardiner turned to her husband, “My dear, do you think we could stop in Lambton on our way to the lakes?”

“I don’t see why not,” he turned to Elizabeth, “we have not spoken of the lakes since we heard your news, you must set a date my dear, so that we will know if you can come with us.”

“Yes indeed we must,” was her soft reply. “Mr Collins will be returning in the spring and I believe we are to set a date then.” She turned suddenly as there was a strange noise. Mr Darcy had been taking a sip of his wine as she spoke and was now coughing violently.

There was a general concern for his health, and it was recommended that he be given some water to help with the coughing, it fell to Elizabeth to lead him out of the room and into the morning parlour so that he might have some peace to gather himself.

She ran to the kitchen for a glass of water and quickly went back to give it to him.

He drank deeply from the glass. She had turned to go when she heard his voice, “Miss Elizabeth…”