Page 35 of The Countess and Her Sister

The journey north took four days and four carriages; Mr. Bingley was very proud of himself for managing the journey so smoothly.

He sent word ahead to each village where they planned to break their journey, and procured the lodgings that so large a party required.

He began each new day of travel by asking young Thomas to inspect the carriages with him, explaining how the equipages worked and coaxing him not to be afraid of the horses.

Jane was charmed by it, and Elizabeth could not have been happier for her sister.

A great deal had altered, not only in Jane’s confident and expressive behavior, but in the subsequent relief that Elizabeth felt.

She had not realized the exertion she had taken upon herself in attending to her sister’s discomfort at their return to society, and in its place she began to fill her time with Mr. Darcy, and thoughts of her own future.

As the ladies were all obliged to share rooms at every inn, Jane encouraged Elizabeth to share with Georgiana, and Elizabeth could not but be pleased at her young friend’s delight in the scheme.

Though the girl had taken the news of her brother's courtship as if it were an engagement already, Elizabeth found herself indulging Georgiana’s enthusiastic fancies as they spoke of life at Pemberley, their shared pastimes, and how Georgiana longed for a sense of sisterhood like what Jane and Elizabeth shared.

Fond as her companions all were of one another’s society, there was often a great flutter of exchanging places in carriages each time they stopped to change horses.

Naturally, Richard and Rebecca made a game of it.

They wagered with Lady Gardiner that she could not compel Mr. Darcy to recite poetry along the next stretch of road, they made secret tallies of who could provoke Miss Bingley to spout haughty nonsense the most, they competed to tell the Gardiner children increasingly outlandish fairy tales, and for an entire afternoon they convinced Mr. Bingley that they were conversing in German when they began uttering pure gibberish at one another.

In such high spirits, the journey felt like as much of an entertainment as their destination, and the four days passed quickly.

Elizabeth and her relations were the first to end their journey, for Matlock Hall was twenty miles south of Pemberley, and both Cameron Court and Montrose lay between the two larger estates.

Sir Edward Gardiner broached the subject of Montrose when he and his wife dined with Lady Augusta and her daughters on their first night at Matlock Hall.

The excitement of their journey had turned to exhaustion once they had all settled into their rooms and taken baths before the family meal.

Elizabeth was tired in a way that was not unpleasant, though she had hoped for an easier conversation than what she and Jane were met with.

“I hope you will think of your sisters while we are here,” Sir Edward said to Jane before looking to his wife for affirmation.

Lady Gardiner gave a tight smile. “Despite Fanny’s treatment of you – perhaps because of it – it could hardly be fair to exclude or shun your sisters, who have done you no offense.”

Rebecca scoffed as Jane shifted uneasily in her seat.

“The Bennet girls were too young to be brought out before Jane was in mourning, and she had only been out of mourning six weeks, though I doubt that awful woman kept to herself all that while. The sisters may have done Jane no wrong, but they cannot expect to be a priority so directly!”

Elizabeth began to speak for her sister when, to her surprise, Jane spoke up with a stiffening of her spine.

“My sisters shall be perfectly welcome at Matlock Hall any time we are not entertaining our other friends. We are not all so near that daily calls will be possible, but surely we will be visiting from time to time. If my sisters behave well with us, I will consider introducing them to our friends, but I do not believe that affection alone entitles them to move amongst our circle. I do not expect that Mrs. Bennet will see the sense in allowing them any connection to Matlock that excludes herself, no matter the benefit in it. However, I have informed the staff that she is not to be admitted to the house.”

Rebecca clapped her hands. “Well done, Jane!”

Jane smiled at her aunt and uncle. “You may see Mrs. Bennet at Montrose as you choose, of course, but I will not allow her in my home, nor near my son, until she demonstrates a significant reversal of her previous behavior, and a modicum of contrition. It is not easy to say so, but I believe it is for the best. As to our sisters, I think we ought to write to them jointly, Lizzy, and determine a day for them to visit.”

Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully. She and Jane had not seen their sisters or Mrs. Bennet since their father died, little more than a year ago.

Kitty and Lydia were inconsistent correspondents, and Mary was little better.

Mrs. Bennet had written only twice, and after the vitriol in the first, the second letter was returned unopened.

“I cannot think what to expect of such a visit,” Elizabeth sighed.

“It may be rather awkward,” Lady Gardiner said gently. “Fanny may have told them ungenerous falsehoods, or they may feel neglected, in that youthful way that is not exactly rational.”

“You should plan an activity, Jane,” Lady Augusta told her daughter. “Rather than face some stilted conversation or unpleasant scene, arrange an activity that will amuse them, and it will guide your visit in the right direction.”

Jane smiled brightly. “That is sound advice, Mamma.” After a few minutes of silence, Jane began to muse aloud.

“I am sure that we shall spend more time at Matlock Hall in the future. I am of a mind to redecorate the house, if Richard confirms that I can afford the expense, which surely must be the case. I hope I shall not offend you in my alterations, Mamma.”

Lady Augusta nodded. “I understand perfectly, dearest. By all means, make the home quite your own. I hope I am beyond sentimentality over drapes!”

“And I think I may appeal to my sisters in that aspect – we can tour the house and they can speculate as they choose on what color schemes and fabrics and patterns I might use, perhaps even a little shopping in the village.” Jane gave a triumphant smile.

“That is brilliant, Jane,” Elizabeth cried. “They can hardly be cross with us, nor sullen and silent, with such a fascinating undertaking – even I should like very much to set that orange chair in the music room ablaze.”

Rebecca choked on her wine. “That was a gift from me to Mamma when I was fourteen.”

Lady Augusta thinned her lips. “I hate orange, as anybody sensible ought to.”

Though the evening took a merrier turn, Elizabeth was torn between a deep pride in her sister’s newfound confidence, and a sense of dread regarding her mother and sisters.

The next day, she and Jane set about composing a note to the girls, arranging for a visit that afternoon, and providing Jane’s carriage for their use.

Jane and Elizabeth agreed that it was best to get the first visit over with at once, and hope for the best in what they would encounter.

“To invite them to come immediately, rather than arranging a visit in a day or two, shall spare them Mrs. Bennet’s complaints,” Elizabeth said.

Jane nodded. “And if we send the note with the Gardiners, they can bring our sisters back here, and manage Mrs. Bennet. I hope they can calm her temper.”

“Do you think she would deny our sisters permission to come here without her?”

Jane twisted her lips to one side and then the other as she considered.

“I am their best chance for making fine marriages, which is all Mrs. Bennet ever thinks of. She must understand that. If she is willing to inhibit their opportunities to bend me into submission, she may be disappointed. I would sooner see her sent to London with the Gardiners, if they will have her, or to our Aunt Phillips, than allow her to have any part in my sisters’ eventual entrance in society. She will do them no favors.”

Elizabeth squeezed her sister’s hand. “I am proud of your determination, Jane, and I think your judgement very sound. Our sisters should not be denied any opportunities they can reasonably prove themselves worthy of; if Mrs. Bennet is wise, she will not impede them.”

Mrs. Bennet was not wise, and gave her brother and his wife a great deal of trouble before eventually relenting, though she insisted that her girls must not travel there and back in the same day; assuming all the gentlemen of Jane’s large party, which the servants must have talked of, to be staying at Matlock Hall, Mrs. Bennet would have her girls stay the night.

When Mary, Kitty, and Lydia arrived, they were eager to meet Jane and Elizabeth’s friends. “La! And Cameron Court is let again! We were vastly fond of the last family that was there. But how lively the neighborhood shall be,” Lydia cried.

“I heard there are three gentlemen in your party, and all of them handsome – and Colonel Fitzwilliam makes four – he was so very handsome when I saw him in his uniform at your wedding, Jane,” Kitty crooned.

“You are certainly well informed,” Elizabeth teased them.

“Mrs. Hill has a cousin who works at the Gold Stag in Duffield, and when she saw your party change horses, she sent word to us,” Lydia said proudly. “We know you have come with four gentlemen and three other ladies – too many ladies, but I daresay they are not as pretty as me.”

“Or me!” Kitty laughed.

Rebecca grimaced at the girls. “It is only the seven of us here – the rest of our party continued on to Cameron Court and Pemberley.”

Lydia slumped. “Oh – that is who our new neighbors are? I thought we were getting them and you.”