Page 6 of Superior Connections

“W e had a pleasant time, did we not?” Bingley asked on their way back to Netherfield.

“We did.”

“Lady Rosseford is quite a woman! I did not know Mr Bennet had an aunt. Apparently, the Bennets have better connections than we believed.”

“I am not sure how well-connected Lady Rosseford is. I have never heard of her or of Lord Rosseford. But she is quite a force,” Darcy admitted with a smile. “She made sport at my expense the entire evening, but somehow it did not bother me.”

“Why would it bother you since half the time she spoke about how handsome you were?”

“Bingley, there is no need for you to mock me too.”

“I am not. You are a handsome man. Everyone says so. Including Mrs Bennet.” Bingley laughed. Darcy smiled again.

“Did you hear what she said to that Mr Collins?”

“That was quite a spectacle. But the man is a spectacle by himself.” Darcy felt a lump in his throat when he realised that the clergyman actually intended to propose to Elizabeth. There could have been no another reason for the conversation about a clergyman’s wife. The lady’s intervention left no doubt as to her opinion, but what Elizabeth and her parents thought of such a prospect, he could only assume. For someone in their situation, such a proposal could be prudent and acceptable. But would Elizabeth consider it? Mrs Bennet was surely eager to see her eldest daughter married to Bingley and would do anything to make it happen. Might she also push Elizabeth towards a man like Collins?

“So, Darcy, what do you think of Miss Bennet?”

“Miss Jane Bennet?”

“Who else? Did you observe her, given what we discussed the other day?”

“She was as pretty and serene as always. I did not notice anything peculiar. We were at dinner with her family — she could not do or say anything to reveal her feelings for you.”

“True. And yes, she is exceedingly pretty. She is an angel, truly.”

Darcy said nothing, and the carriage stopped in front of Netherfield. To him, Miss Jane Bennet’s flawless beauty held little attraction compared with Elizabeth’s pretty face enhanced by wit, charming smiles, and sparkling eyes. She had looked flushed and nervous throughout the evening, and he had assumed it might be related to him. But was her unease caused by joy or displeasure? He even wondered who had carried her to dinner and back to her chamber. The sensation of having her in his arms was still vivid and alluring, and he continued to think of her during the night, which affected his sleep greatly.

“So how was dinner?” Miss Bingley asked in the morning. “Did Mrs Bennet allow anyone to speak, besides herself?”

“In fact, it was delightful. We had a pleasant time. Even Darcy agreed.”

“I am most surprised to hear that. But I was even more surprised to find out that Mr Darcy had quite an adventure two days ago when he heroically saved Eliza Bennet. Apparently, the entire neighbourhood speaks of it, but we were not informed,” she ended sharply.

“I assumed it would be of little consequence to you,” Darcy replied.

“Darcy told me ,” Bingley said. “There was no need to tell anyone else. Miss Elizabeth suffered an accident, and Darcy happened to find her and helped her to return home. Not much of a story there, Caroline.”

“It is interesting that Eliza suffered the accident precisely when Mr Darcy was passing by.”

“Actually, it was the other way round,” Darcy responded. “I happened to be riding where Miss Elizabeth is accustomed to walking. As Bingley mentioned, there is no story to be told. Now, please excuse me. I have several letters to write today.”

∞∞∞

Elizabeth’s ankle felt more swollen and painful in the morning, so after his examination, Mr Jones recommended complete bed rest for the day. Elizabeth did not attempt to oppose it, only asked Jane to bring her a book so she could read.

After breakfast, the rest of the family decided to visit Meryton. By taking Lady Rosseford’s large coach as well as the Bennets’ smaller one, they could all be comfortably accommodated, including Mr Collins, but Mr Bennet declined.

From her bed, Elizabeth watched them leave, then she began to read. Half an hour later, her father came to talk to her.

“It is good to have a little peace and quiet in the house, is it not, Lizzy?”

“It is. But you know I am not as much bothered by noise as you are, Papa.”

“I know. Mary is the only one who has inherited a little of that trait from me. So how are you feeling?”

“Very well, Papa. You have no reason to worry, truly.”

“Yes, Mr Jones told me the same. Dinner last night was very enjoyable.”

“It was. Though your aunt tormented both Mr Collins and Mr Darcy.”

“At least my cousin will not bother you with a marriage proposal now. Your mother is distressed about that, but she would rather lose a husband for you than say something against my aunt. That is the privilege of those who own a title.”

“Privileged or not, I am deeply grateful to her. Mama encouraged Mr Collins in his silly scheme of proposing to me, and it would have been a real scandal when I refused him.”

“Your mother rarely sees reason, but she does want the best for you all.”

“I know, Papa.”

“My aunt intends to take you all to London as soon as her home is habitable. Which might be after the new year.”

“All of us? That would be extraordinarily generous of her.”

“Yes, well…I am having a bit of a disagreement with her. But I am telling you this in confidence, Lizzy. You must not even tell Jane.”

“Of course, Papa. What is it?”

“She wishes to gift you girls a dowry of four thousand pounds. Each!”

“What?” Elizabeth exclaimed. “This is impossible, Papa! Unacceptable!”

“I agree. Of course, your mother and sisters would be thrilled by such an idea. But I still hope to convince her to change her mind.”

“But Papa, why would she do that? Why waste her money on us?”

“Well, apparently, simply because she has it, she said. She is worried she is getting older and might end up dying alone. I feel she is trying to buy our affection in some way.”

“Papa, that is an awful thought. You must convince her that she is part of our family, and we — I can at least speak for Jane and myself — shall always treat her with care and affection. We do not need her money for that.”

“I already used that argument, with little success. I think she also feels guilty about our situation. She believes her father, my grandfather, decided to place the entailment on the male line because of her elopement. He was so angry with her that he disinherited her and declared women were not to be trusted with any assets. She lived in relative poverty for the first two years in India, and she declared she could not allow her only nieces to be exposed to such a risk.”

“This is complete madness, Papa. I do not even know what to say.”

“Me neither, my dear. This is why I told you. I have had all this on my mind and nobody to talk to about it. I hope you understand why I asked for your secrecy.”

“I understand, Papa. If you will allow me, I shall speak to Lady Rosseford myself.”

“I shall mention to her that you might, but I doubt you will meet with any success. She cares about you enough to provide you with a generous dowry but not enough to listen to you.”

“You are probably right. Your aunt is an interesting lady, Papa.”

“She is. And I sense there are still many things I do not know about her. In this matter with your dowries, I am torn between relief and shame. I have not done much for my daughters, and I have been a neglectful landlord. For years, our expenses have exceeded Longbourn’s income, and I have wasted most of my savings. A dowry would ensure all your futures, of course. But I cannot expect my aunt to compensate for my weakness.”

“I agree, Papa.”

They spoke for a little while longer, then Mr Bennet returned to his library. Being alone, Elizabeth’s anxiety and amazement increased. Four thousand pounds was not much of a dowry when compared with that of Miss Bingley or, she suspected, Miss Darcy; but for the Bennet sisters, who had only ever expected one thousand pounds each from their mother, it was extraordinary. And the thought that someone would give away twenty thousand pounds to nieces who were virtually strangers was simply unbelievable.

Curled up in her bed, Elizabeth fell asleep and woke only when the sound of voices filled the house. The rest of the family had returned, and they brought news.

Jane was the first to come to see her, then Lydia and Kitty.

“Lizzy, we met Mr Wickham and Mr Denny!”

“You did?”

“Yes! And they came with us to Aunt Phillips’s house. And they said they will come to the ball, and I hope we shall dance with them!” said Kitty.

“Mr Wickham asked about you, Lizzy,” Lydia added. “He said he might call tomorrow, with Mr Denny.”

“I told them you may not be able to greet them,” Jane added gently. “They seem to take a genuine interest in your health, Lizzy.”

“That is very kind of them,” Elizabeth replied.

“And we went to Lucas Lodge too. Sir William and Lady Lucas were very impressed when they saw Lady Rosseford. And she asked us to call her Aunt Dorothea. Is that not nice, Lizzy? Oh, and she bought each of us a new bonnet and new gloves!”

Lydia and Kitty were restless and did not stop talking until they had related everything that had happened that day. Elizabeth listened and smiled, imagining what her younger sisters would do if they received a four-thousand-pound dowry.

∞∞∞

Following the apothecary’s advice brought Elizabeth the desired reward: by the following day, her ankle looked and felt almost well. She tried to walk on it, and while still uncomfortable, it hardly hurt at all. Mr Jones gave her permission to join the family for breakfast and dinner provided she rested in between.

“If things progress as I expect, you may go to the ball tomorrow night, but you will need comfortable shoes, and you must not attempt to dance at all.”

“I would be pleased if I could just sit on a chair and watch the other dancers. I hope just to be able to join my family and friends.”

“I believe you will manage that, Miss Lizzy. However, you should talk to Mr Bingley, and if you feel any discomfort, you should go somewhere and raise your foot to rest it.”

“I am sure I could use the library. There is hardly ever anyone in there,” Elizabeth jested, but Mr Jones did not seem to understand the joke and simply shrugged.

Her sisters cheered seeing Elizabeth at breakfast, and the reunion pleased her too. Mr Collins nodded to her, remaining silent, distant, and obviously resentful.

“Sir William has invited me to spend the day at Lucas Lodge,” he said. “I shall leave soon, and I might not return until after dinner.”

“You are entitled to do whatever you please, Mr Collins,” Mr Bennet replied. “If you wish to stay all day at Lucas Lodge, do not allow us to ruin your pleasure.”

“Sir William seems to be a fine gentleman,” Lady Rosseford approved. “And I very much enjoyed Miss Charlotte Lucas’s company.”

“Charlotte has been my friend for fifteen years or more,” Elizabeth added. “I cannot praise her enough.”

“Yes, but she is not very pretty — everybody says so,” Mrs Bennet declared. “And she has no dowry either, whatever Lady Lucas might say. She has little chance of marrying, so she might remain a spinster.”

“Mama!” Elizabeth cried.

“There are bigger flaws in a young woman than to have no dowry,” Mr Bennet interjected. “A decent, wise man, with a reasonable income, in want of a wife, would appreciate Charlotte’s qualities enough to overlook her lack of dowry.”

“Sadly, decent, wise men are as scarce as decent, wise women,” Lady Rosseford uttered.

Mr Collins showed no emotion and expressed no opinion. After breakfast, he left, but the tranquillity did not last long; they were all gathered in the drawing room when Tom announced Mr Wickham and Mr Denny.