Page 23 of The Fire at Longbourn (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

“May I inquire as to how Mrs. Bennet and Miss Mary are doing?” Mr. Darcy inquired, taking a sip of tea.

“They are doing well,” Elizabeth answered. “Mary’s head improves by the day, and Mr. Jones says that her arm is healing well.”

“As for my wife, she is able to hobble around now,” Bennet chimed in, “though she will not be walking long distances anytime soon. Not that she was ever inclined to do so. The only truly excellent walker in our home is Lizzy.”

Elizabeth blushed and said, “I do enjoy being out of doors very much.”

“Vigorous exercise is very healthful,” Darcy declared, his mind shifting back to less than a fortnight previously, when Elizabeth had marched three miles to succor her sister when Miss Bennet fell ill at Netherfield.

Miss Elizabeth had arrived with bright eyes, windblown hair, and pink cheeks, and even now, the memory of her vibrant beauty made his breath catch.

“Mr. Bennet,” Bingley said, rising to his feet, “much as I dislike tearing myself away from Jane, I believe we need to conduct some business? After all, the sooner we arrange for the marriage settlements, the sooner I can marry my lovely bride.”

Jane blushed and beamed, and Bennet stood up with a grin. The two gentlemen left in perfect amity, which left Darcy with the not unpleasant task of entertaining Miss Elizabeth while Mrs. Hurst spoke with Miss Bennet.

“Did you perchance have the pleasure of reading Newton’s Principia yet?” Darcy asked.

Elizabeth chuckled ruefully and said, “I fear I merely glanced at a few pages, closed the book, and spent a few minutes reading The Vicar of Wakefield again, which is from the circulating library. Thankfully, it was in my room when the fire began, and thus was spared the flames.”

“That is a great blessing,” Darcy agreed solemnly. “One would not care to displease the proprietor of a circulating library. Such men can be rather fierce about damaged and lost books.”

Elizabeth laughed and said, “You are correct, of course. Mr. Egerton is usually the calmest of men, but he manages a frightful glare when one of his precious tomes is blemished in any way.”

“I cannot entirely blame him,” Darcy said. “I too love books and cannot imagine the distress your father feels at the loss of his library. For that matter, I know that you too enjoy reading, and thus must be grieving the loss of all those books as well.”

“I am,” Elizabeth agreed soberly, wrapping her hands around the warm teacup.

She pondered for a moment and then raised her eyes to his and said, “It is very sad, but I confess that as much as I mourn the library, I feel more worried about the people who depend on Longbourn for their livelihood. Our family lost our books, along with everything in the kitchen and four bedchambers, but there are so many servants who depend on Longbourn, so many tenants who need assistance with refurbishing their cottages and for building fences and the like. If the rents go to fixing Longbourn and purchasing replacements of what we have lost, what will we do about leaking roofs? Will the tenants suffer unnecessarily? I have never thought about such things but...”

Here she trailed off, and her face flamed red. What was she thinking, to speak so openly to Mr. Darcy of all people?

To her surprise, the gentleman’s expression was softer than usual, and he said approvingly, “It is admirable that you are considering the needs of all those who depend on the estate for their livelihood. You are entirely correct that the servants and tenants and farmers, and even the blacksmiths and storekeepers in small villages, depend on the local estates to one degree or another. My dear father presided over three years of poor harvests some two decades ago. Fortunately, Pemberley was in good heart at the time with significant resources, which allowed him to assist the tenants so that no one starved.”

Elizabeth blew out a relieved breath and said, “Yes, and that is the sad reality, is it not? That people might actually starve? Our suffering is small enough really; we have lost the library and kitchen and four bedchambers, but we have enough yearly income to eat and clothe and shelter ourselves. The question is how much to pour back into repairing the mansion, and how much to keep back for the needs of the land and its people.”

“Those are difficult questions, certainly,” Darcy agreed.

Elizabeth sighed and then shook herself.

“All the same, I remind myself often that the situation could be far worse. But come, that is enough about Longbourn. Will you not tell me about Pemberley and Derbyshire? I have an aunt who currently lives in London, but she grew up in Lambton in Derbyshire. She has often told me how beautiful the area is, with the hills and valleys, the streams and waterfalls.”

“Lambton is but a few miles from Pemberley!” Darcy said in some surprise. “Does your aunt visit the village often?”

“Unfortunately no, as her husband, my Uncle Gardiner, is in trade, and his business keeps him tied to the city most of the time. My aunt and uncle and cousins usually come to Longbourn for Christmas week, though this year I do not know what we will do. But in any case, they find it relatively easy to travel some five and twenty miles, but not as far north as Derbyshire.”

“I met a Mr. Gardiner a few days ago at Longbourn,” Darcy commented. “He seems a very pleasant and intelligent gentleman.”

Elizabeth cast a suspicious glance at Darcy, but it seemed that the master of Pemberley was not being sarcastic. “He is the very best of men,” she agreed, “and my Aunt Gardiner is delightful as well. Jane and I have often spent several weeks with them in London.”

“Do you enjoy London?” Darcy asked curiously.

“I do, though I would not care to live there all the time. But yes, the museums, and the theater, and Hyde Park; they are most enjoyable. I also treasure my little cousins who are none of them ten years of age yet...”

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Louisa Hurst poured Jane another cup of tea and cast a quick peek toward Darcy and Elizabeth. They seemed to be speaking amicably enough, and thus Louisa felt free to speak of more vital issues.

She refilled Jane’s cup and handed to her future sister-in-law. “I am sorry about Caroline’s absence,” she said carefully. “She … wished to be here but is feeling poorly. She asked me to pass on her well-wishes.”

“Of course, and I hope she feels better soon.” Jane said, peering curiously at Louisa as she sipped her tea.

She could not help wondering at Louisa’s careful wording and even more careful tone, which suggested a shading of the truth.

Was it possible, as Lizzy contended, that Miss Bingley disapproved of the engagement?

“I am certain she will,” Louisa agreed, as she looked around the drawing room.

“I have always liked this room,” she remarked.

“Of course, I am sure you will have many changes to make, as the mistress of Netherfield. This will be your home and of course must reflect your wishes and desires.” Jane swiftly lowered her cup to its saucer.

“I have no desire to sweep in and cause a great commotion,” she protested.

“Indeed, your and Miss Bingley’s taste is most excellent!

I doubt I will make many changes at all. ”

“Much of it was already here when Charles hired the house,” Louisa remarked.

“Almost all the furniture is to let. I understand Mrs. Blythe – the housekeeper, I believe you have met her? – had a hand in choosing some of it. A most competent woman, and we are grateful for her. The house was already exceedingly comfortable when we moved in, and thus we have only provided knickknacks and decorations, cushions and whatnot.”

“It is a lovely house,” Jane agreed, “and very well furnished. I do not think it would be necessary to redecorate.” She took another sip of tea, relaxing.

She knew Lizzy had been concerned that Charles’s sisters would not accept her, but Louisa had been nothing but kind and gracious, and Jane was grateful for her easy acceptance.

As the conversation continued, Louisa found herself feeling relieved; she was still smarting from Caroline’s histrionics, and Jane’s agreeable charm was a balm to her soul.

She would be a good sister-by-marriage, Louisa reflected, a refreshing counterpoint to Caroline.

She was … glad, she realized, that Charles had asked for the hand of Miss Jane Bennet.