An hour later,Jane waited with Mrs Bingley and Miss Bennet for Mr Jones. Mrs Bingley – being tall and slender like Jane – had loaned her a handsome but comfortable morning gown. Jane liked the gown very much, and thought she would have to order one like it for herself and another for her dear Cassandra when she returned home.
After her examination by Mr Jones, Jane felt well enough to receive Mr Bingley, Mr Bennet, and Sir William Lucas in the private parlour her room shared with Miss Bennet. Once introductions were made, Mrs Bingley and Miss Bennet sat to observe the discussion along with the apothecary, in case she felt unwell, as her host endeavoured to make her feel welcome.
“Do you have everything that you need, Miss Jane? Is there anything Mrs Bingley and I can procure for your comfort?” Mr Bingley asked earnestly.
What a kind young man, I am so happy that there is such a husband for my Jane Bennet.She endeavoured to put him at ease. “Mr Bingley, it is so very kind of you and Mrs Bingley to open your home to a stranger. I assure you that your wife, your sister-in-law, and your housekeeper have done everything in their power to see to my comfort. Thank you so much.”
“Miss Jane, do not thank me, it is my privilege as a gentleman to offer you shelter and hospitality,” Bingley insisted. “Please, do not worry about what is to become of you. I have already sent to London for investigators, and we shall find your family; you are quite welcome here until we locate them.”
“You should take care with your enthusiasm, sir, before you extend open invitations to perfect strangers. You might come to regret it.” She smiled mischievously.
“The lady is correct, Bingley.” Mr Bennet nodded at Jane. “One ought never offer an open invitation to a stranger, charming or harmless as they might appear.”
“Mr Bennet, I am told that I was found on your estate,” Jane opened. “I fear I do not know any estate named Longbourn, and indeed, I have never been to a village called Meryton in my life.”
“Not that you can remember, that is.” Mr Bennet raised his brow.
“Yes, that is what I meant to say, but yet I feel certain that my words are correct,” Jane said. “If anyone in Meryton was expecting me, I think you might have heard by now. Has anything been found to explain my origins? Anything at all?”
“Miss Jane, my own gamekeeper swears that either you fell from heaven, or you can fly, for there are no tracks to show how you even made it to Oakham Mount,” Mr Bennet informed her.
Sir William Lucas spoke. “Miss Jane, as the magistrate for this district, I have taken the liberty of sending word to the other local magistrates in Hertfordshire. There has been no word of someone missing a lady, although there has been a string of robberies by highwaymen on the outskirts of Ware in recent months. Usually at least a carriage–if not one or more victims–is found though. None of the recent victims are missing a companion, though it has been some weeks since there was a robbery in the area, and it is hoped that the culprits have moved on.”
“Oh dear,” Jane fretted. “I do hope no one has been terribly hurt.”
“There have actually been two ransom demands, but the victims in question were thankfully released after the payments were made by their families.” The magistrate shuddered. “I do hate to think what might have befallen you to make you appear injured and out of nowhere.”
“A thorough search has been made of all the outbuildings for miles,” Mr Bingley added. “In case some criminals are hiding nearby. We searched them all yesterday, and then again today.”
“Heavens! That sounds like a great deal of trouble,” Jane worried.
“It is no great difficulty,” Sir William assured her. “All of the local families are concerned by the thought that villains might be hiding in the area; the local gentlemen had no trouble finding tenants and workers to search the countryside. After all, the tenants live here too. If there are bad men about, their wives and daughters could be at risk, and for far worse intentions than money.”
“Oh!” Mrs Bingley objected. “Sir William, I am relieved that the local men are doing what they must to ensure the safety of the village, but perhaps Miss Jane has been through too much in recent days to contemplate such upsetting thoughts.”
“Quite right, Mrs Bingley. Of course you are absolutely correct,” the magistrate agreed apologetically. “Miss Jane, I will ask you a number of questions about your identity, background, family, connections, and education. I understand that you have no memories that you can recall, but we hope that by asking you questions, perhaps we might help you remember something.”
Jane agreed, and the next half hour was spent with Sir William and Mr Bennet asking her questions, to which she could give them no information. Even Miss Bennet asked several questions, as well as Mr Jones. Feeling that she must not look like a complete idiot, Jane conceded some small memories, including that her sister was named Cassandra, and that she had brothers, but no knowledge of how many. She admitted some intelligence of Bath–and–for her own dignity–answered truthfully everything they asked about books, poetry, and her education, until her head began to pain her again in earnest, and Mr Jones recommended that she rest.
Miss Bennet helped her back to bed, Mrs Bingley poured her a cup of tea, and the apothecary administered a headache powder. Assuring them that the headache was not as terrible as the night before, and hoping that she would only need an hour of rest before feeling well again, Jane laid down upon the soft feather pillows and fell asleep.
A few hours later, Jane woke to find a young lady of about seventeen or eighteen sitting quietly by her bed and sketching in a small book. Her hair was light brown, and if Jane’s eyesight was correct in the low light, she had very pretty hazel eyes and a small, well-formed mouth and nose. Her complexion was bright, but not rosy as was the fashion. She might not have been a raving beauty, but she was a very pretty girl. Cassandra might have even said she looked like Jane herself.
The young lady lifted a handkerchief to her mouth and coughed lightly, then noticed Jane watching her. “Oh, you are awake! I beg your pardon, Miss Jane. I am Kitty Bennet.”
“Miss Bennet’s sister.” Jane sat up and looked around the room.
Daisy hurried in from the dressing room. “How do ye feel, miss? Has yer headache lessened?”
“Yes, I believe it has.” Jane returned her attention to Kitty. “Have you come to take my likeness?”
“Yes, I have, Miss Jane.” Kitty Bennet bobbed her head. “Lizzy and the others went to dress for dinner over an hour ago. They are all probably arriving in the dining room now. I am to sit with you. We will light a number of candles, if your head does not pain you too much, and then I will sketch you for Sir William and my brother Charles. I promise, it will not take long. Then I will dine with you, if you like, and keep you company until Lizzy returns.”
“That sounds delightful,” Jane said pleasantly. “Are you certain you would not rather dine downstairs with your family?”
“Oh no!” Kitty exclaimed as Daisy went around the room and began lighting candles everywhere. “I am to spend the night, and I will be the first young lady outside of Netherfield with any information about you, and this time,Iwill be the one to tell it, not Lydia! My youngest sister was so angry that she would not meet you with me that she threw a fit, but Mama does not give way to her anymore. Not since last summer…”
Jane smiled as Kitty trailed off, realising that she was nearly telling family secrets. Jane wondered what had happened with Lydia and Wickham. There was obviously a story there, and she wondered how she would uncover it.
