Page 13 of Superior Connections

I n the days after the Netherfield ball, there was no peace and quiet at Longbourn. The disclosure of Lady Rosseford’s wealth had shocked Mrs Bennet and her younger daughters, and the news that she had also purchased Stoke Park had astounded them. Mrs Bennet tried to find out more details about the lady’s worth from Mr Bennet, but the gentleman feigned ignorance. As much as she wished to, Mrs Bennet did not dare to ask the lady herself.

Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley came to take their farewells before their journey to London — a departure that caused great distress to both Jane and Mrs Bennet. They had both expected a marriage proposal, which now seemed delayed indefinitely, and while the former carried her sorrow with her usual grace, the latter spent every moment whining about their bad luck. Mr Bingley did not confirm his return to Netherfield for Christmas but expressed his hope of seeing them again soon, either in Hertfordshire or in London, which to the majority of the family was puzzling and disquieting at the same time.

Lady Rosseford’s plan to take Elizabeth and Jane to town was some compensation for the disappointment caused by Mr Bingley — but not enough.

Being the only ones with full knowledge of Mr Bingley’s sudden change of plans, and spending quite an amount of time talking about it, a bond was created between Lady Rosseford and Elizabeth that was stronger than the ones the lady had forged with the other Bennet sisters. Although Elizabeth was the niece who disagreed with her the most, Lady Rosseford seemed to appreciate her determination and obstinance. The only subject Elizabeth did not dare broach with her aunt was the one she was most interested in: Mr Darcy. His generous intervention on behalf of Mr Bingley, his humble acceptance of his errors and faulty manners, and — most astounding and disquieting — his declared admiration for Elizabeth and her fine eyes was bewildering.

Lady Rosseford was highly amused by the story, but to Elizabeth, it was puzzling. The scene he had described had taken place at Lucas Lodge, even before Jane fell ill at Netherfield. How was it possible that Mr Darcy had spoken of her fine eyes so long ago? And to Caroline Bingley, of all people? It was no wonder Miss Bingley — who had probably taken Mr Darcy’s remark in earnest — held so much resentment towards her. But had Mr Darcy’s remark been serious, or was it just a simple joke? If that were the case, why would he even tell them about it?

Mr Darcy was certainly not a man easy to know, nor one willing to reveal his true character and wishing to please. And those were precisely the reasons why his actions bore greater significance.

Four days after the ball, Mr Collins returned to Kent, which should have been a relief for the Bennets were it not for a most alarming report brought by Sir William and Lady Lucas: before he had departed, Mr Collins had proposed to Charlotte, and she had accepted him. With Jane not engaged yet and Charlotte on the road to becoming the mistress of Longbourn, things could not be worse for Mrs Bennet. But a week later, with the arrival of the Gardiners, things improved for the better so much that Mrs Bennet’s nerves almost failed her.

One evening at dinner, after the Gardiner children had gone to bed, Lady Rosseford said with solemnity, “There is something I have been trying to resolve for a while, and finally your uncle has given me the answer I sought. I want you to each have something from me that will not become the property of your husbands once you marry. Something you may hold and keep and do whatever you please with.”

The whole family — except for Mr Bennet and Elizabeth — listened in silent fascination.

“I intend to give each of you the sum of four thousand pounds. The money will be in your names, but your father and your uncle Gardiner will manage it until you are twenty-one years old. Your uncle will invest the money, and you will receive an annual interest from it, which you may use for your expenses or invest further.”

“Four thousand pounds? Each?” Mrs Bennet eventually cried. “Each girl? Dear Lady Rosseford, this is beyond generous! This is beyond all my prayers! Beyond belief! Dear Lord, what will become of us? Am I dreaming? I must be!”

“Dear Frances, such emotion cannot be good for your nerves,” the lady said with a smile.

“Oh, dear God! We are rich!” Lydia cried too. “Now I can marry anyone I want! I am rich! Richer than Maria Lucas and Charlotte Lucas and everyone in Meryton! Except Mary King, who has a dowry of ten thousand pounds, but she is not so pretty!”

“Lydia, behave yourself!” Mr Bennet demanded in apparently low spirits. “You are not rich, and you cannot marry whomever you want. Our aunt has done you a great favour, and I expect you to appreciate this opportunity and to try to educate yourself. You too, Kitty. Hopefully, by the time it is your turn to join Aunt Dorothea in London, you will not make fools of yourselves and will not embarrass her.”

Lydia glanced at her mother, but she did not receive the usual approving look.

“I wish for you to be happy, girls, and in order for you to be so, I agree with your father,” Lady Rosseford said. “And, my dear Frances, since you were so upset about Mr Collins’s engagement and feared for your future, Stoke Park can be your home for as long as you wish, either during my lifetime or after my death.”

Never in her life had Mrs Bennet been so overwhelmed by emotion. She covered her mouth with her palm while tears fell down her cheeks. Lady Rosseford and Mrs Gardiner were tearful too, while Lydia cried out again, “Stoke Park? We shall live at Stoke Park? Truly? It is the biggest house in all of Meryton! Maybe in all of Hertfordshire! Oh dear, I shall die of happiness!”

“I hope it has a large library,” Mary whispered.

“Your aunt Gardiner will help me hire some servants. You may go tomorrow with your father and uncle and visit the house, and I shall be happy to hear your suggestions if you wish to change anything.”

The news exceeded everyone’s expectations, and even Elizabeth — who had known about all of it — was affected. To be able to witness so much happiness offered to her family was truly overwhelming. From her chair, Lady Rosseford was watching the scene with apparent composure. When she saw Elizabeth’s smile, she smiled back.

The news from Longbourn spread to Meryton in the following days, and the Bennets’ good fortune was the subject of gossip on everyone’s lips; Mr Bingley’s departure and his failure to propose to Jane lost its importance by comparison. Mr Wickham and Mr Denny called again, but even Lydia was too occupied with her new happiness to show much interest in the officers.

Concerned by Mr Darcy’s repeated warnings about Mr Wickham, Elizabeth spoke to her father, pleading with him to be careful with Lydia and Kitty, especially after she and Jane had left. Mr Bennet listened and promised vigilance, but Elizabeth feared he did not take the matter as seriously as he should. Mr Wickham, however, showed less interest in the Bennet family, and rumours suggested that he had been charmed by Miss Mary King. Elizabeth insisted that her father warn Miss King’s uncle, but Mr Bennet refused to involve himself.

The good fortune of her family made Mrs Bennet generous enough to accept Mr Collins’s engagement to Charlotte Lucas and even congratulate Sir William and Lady Lucas with a semblance of politeness. However, since the Lucases continued to brag about it, Mrs Bennet did not fail to mention that, when he had first arrived at Longbourn, Mr Collins had intended to pursue Elizabeth, but she had rejected his attentions.

Elizabeth found the strength to congratulate her friend at the first opportunity, though her heart was heavy. However, Charlotte seemed so content, so eager to wed and to move to her new home, that Elizabeth had to admit Lady Rosseford was right on that subject too.

“Dear Eliza, you must promise you will come to visit me in Kent,” Charlotte said. “Papa and Maria will come in March. You must come with them.”

“Charlotte, I cannot promise that, as much as I would like to. We shall go to London after Christmas, and from that moment on, my plans must align with Lady Rosseford’s. I expect her to need us all the time, at least in the next few months. But I promise to write every week, and I hope you will answer me if you are not too busy with Lady Catherine.”

“I know you disapprove of my choice, Eliza, but I am sure I shall find the happiness I seek.”

“I wish you all the best, Charlotte,” Elizabeth said, embracing her friend.

By mid-December, the servants were all in place at Stoke Park, and several men from the neighbourhood had been employed to help with repairs, furnishing, and cleaning to bring the house to life.

Two days before Christmas, Lady Rosseford felt tired and was kept to her bed with a headache. She refused any particular assistance but simply wished to rest. Despite her opposition, Elizabeth stayed with her and watched her sleep. It was the third time she had known the lady to be unwell in their short acquaintance, and she felt worried. The most urgent thing that needed to be done in London was to choose a well-regarded physician to take the lady under his care. Perhaps Mr Darcy knew a good doctor to recommend to them.

As much as she wished to deny it, all sorts of little things made her think of that gentleman. She realised she had forgotten to return his neckcloth. She had placed the cleaned garment in her reticule and — much to her own mortification — she would sometimes take it out and simply hold it, to feel it in her hands. As time passed, instead of forgetting about him, his image and the recollections of the moments they had spent together became more vivid, and the sensations more intoxicating and more distracting.

It was the first time she had missed a man and felt longing — and the seeds of jealousy began to take root. He had requested permission for Bingley to call on them in London but had not asked on his own behalf. He had made no promise nor mentioned any future plans, so he might easily forget her; that is, if he had ever thought of her as more than a mere acquaintance.

Jane’s spirits had suffered dreadfully when Mr Bingley left, and Elizabeth continued to try to comfort her, as did the rest of the family. Elizabeth’s distress was no less painful, but she did not confess it to anyone, and there was nobody to comfort her.

The forthcoming journey to London was anticipated with eagerness and anxiety by both of the eldest Bennet sisters. Each hoped to see a certain gentleman, and both secretly feared the reunion would cause great disappointment.

Christmas was a joyful time at Longbourn with so many of their family members gathered together, but during the last week of the year, Jane received a letter from Caroline Bingley that made her cry. She handed it to Elizabeth, who was shocked and appalled to read some of the lines.

I have no news to share about my brother as I am currently living with Louisa and her husband, and we have not seen much of Charles following some disagreements. It seems country life did not suit him, and since arriving in town, he has spent his time attending and hosting parties, which Louisa and I never attend as we find them inappropriate for honourable young women.

I doubt he will return to Netherfield in the near future, and Louisa and I have no plans to do so either. Therefore, we can only hope we shall meet in London.

There was more, but Elizabeth had read enough. She tried to conceal her unease, as Jane was watching her with tears rolling down her cheeks.

She was tempted to dismiss the information as malicious and untrue; however, a trace of doubt arose in her mind. Mr Bingley had been encouraged to meet other women, to search his heart and examine his desires, comparing Jane with others. Had he taken such a suggestion seriously? Was he truly indulging himself in dishonourable company? Had he already forgotten Jane? Was his heart so shallow and his mind so immature? And was Mr Darcy aware of all this? Perhaps joining his young friend at those parties?

Under Jane’s scrutiny, Elizabeth tried to form a reasoned opinion.

“Dearest, you know too well that Miss Bingley would say or do anything to prevent her brother marrying you. I believe they have quarrelled, and she is living with the Hursts now. But as for the rest, I would suggest waiting until we are in London and observing Mr Bingley’s behaviour for yourself.”

“Please do not tell anyone else about that part of the letter, Lizzy. I do not wish anyone to blame Mr Bingley without clear evidence. And if it is true, if he has forgotten about me, I shall be less ashamed if no one else knows.”

“Of course, dearest. You may always depend on my secrecy.”