“I love you, too, and I promise I shall try harder. I only pray that God will intervene and somehow take care of us when your father is….” She suddenly broke down, unable to finish her sentence.
“Mama,” Elizabeth and Jane said simultaneously, Jane sitting on her other side and taking her free hand.
“Mama,” Jane pleaded. “Please, I know it is difficult, but you must not think such thoughts. Papa is yet alive and may be for some time. You will make yourself ill if you continue to carry on this way. Uncle Gardiner and Uncle Philips have both promised to help us if needs be.”
“Yes, yes, I know, but at times it is more than I can bear.”
“Dear Mama,” Jane continued, “please allow me to take you back to your room so you can rest. It is getting late, and we have a long journey tomorrow.”
“Yes, yes.” She rose allowing Jane to assist her. “You are right, I should go to bed.”
“Lizzy, I shall see Mama to her room and be back after I check on our sisters.”
“Thank you, Jane. Goodnight, Mama.”
“Good night, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth gloomily watched Jane and Mrs. Bennet walk arm and arm from her room.If only Mama had not let her fears get the best of her. Perhaps Mr. Darcy would have asked me for a courtship after all and she would not have to worry so.Wiping a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand, Elizabeth moved to the bed where she propped up her foot, then reclined and closed her eyes.
Tomorrow I shall see Papa. He will no doubt say something wry about a girl liking to be crossed in love every now and then, but I care not. Soon I shall be home. Home with all of my dear family, and there I shall wait for word from Uncle and William.
The Gardiners’ Residence
The Next Day
Monday morning began early at the Gardiner Residence. The family had broken their fast together and once the carriage was properly loaded, the ladies boarded and were ready to return to Longbourn.
Mr. Gardiner made a point of speaking privately to Elizabeth before she left the house. “Elizabeth, I have written a letter for you to give to your father with more details of this sorry business. I still think it would have been better if we had postponed your trip until tomorrow. Let us hope the travel does not aggravate your foot.”
“Thank you, Uncle. It pains me a little, but I shall happily endure the trip today since I will be seeing Papa all the sooner.”
“Rest assured. Once I meet with Lady Catherine this afternoon, I intend to straighten out this matter with Mr. Darcy, even if it means I must travel to Kent to do so. It may take a couple of days, but as soon as we have communicated, I shallsend an express to Longbourn letting you and your father know what is being done. You must not despair, my girl.”
“I am trying not to, Uncle. Please forgive me for being such a burden. I cannot thank you enough for the great kindnesses you and Aunt Maddie have shown all of us.”
“My dear, you must never consider yourself a burden. We are family, after all.”
She hugged him. “I shall be waiting for your letter, Uncle.”
Following their departure, Mr. Gardiner went on to one of his warehouses where there was some trouble at the docks with a shipment. Little did he know that William had sent a rider with an express that same morning. When it arrived at his home, Mrs. Gardiner sent it on with Daniels to her husband’s warehouse office knowing that he would want to read it before his meeting with Lady Catherine.
Matlock House
Late Afternoon
The Parlour
Unfortunately, the trouble at the docks necessitated that Mr. Gardiner visit one of his distributors in another area of Town. Because of this, he had sent Lady Catherine a message saying he would not arrive until four o’clock for their meeting. It also meant that he did not have the opportunity to return to his office and therefore did not see William’s express before going on to Matlock House.
“Mr. Gardiner,” spoke Lady Catherine following the introduction. “I am happy you saw fit to see me this afternoon. I must say your niece was quite obstinate, and we did not get on at all.”
“I am sorry to hear that, Your Ladyship. In general, I find Elizabeth to be very reasonable. It is of no matter, for ultimately I am the person you need to consult with. Since Elizabeth is not of age, her father has given me written permission to act in his stead.”
“So I gathered and shall come to the point. As I explained to your niece, my nephew is prepared to offer her eight thousand pounds to walk away from this affair and to have no further contact with our family. It is a large sum of money for one who has so little, and surely you will agree that it should not be ignored.”
“Indeed, it is a large sum of money. Might I see Mr. Darcy’s letter to review the terms of his offer?”
“His letter?!” the woman huffed. “There is no letter. I am Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and my standing in our society alone should be considered enough credibility to complete our negotiations.”
