“But we sent a note,” Miss Bennet faltered. “Surely he must have understood.”
“It does not make sense.” Jane shook her head insistently. “Mr Darcy seems like a rational man. He is responsible for such a large estate and many people depend upon him. He would instantly comprehendyour uncle’s obligations. The only explanation is that somehow the message was not received, or misunderstood.”
“Oh Miss Jane, do you really think so?” Miss Bennet clutched her arm.
“Miss Bennet, I believe we must assess the situation and Mr Darcy’s behaviour carefully, and when circumstances present the opportunity to bring the matter to light, we shall consider our options.”
“I believe that you should call me Lizzy from now on, Miss Jane, as my family and friends do.” Elizabeth gave her a bright smile of hope. “After all, you now know all of my secrets.”
“Thank you Lizzy, that is very kind. Please call me Jane.”
“I think perhaps I should continue to call you Miss Jane in company, otherwise, my sister and family will be confused,” Elizabeth observed. “Otherwise, I shall have to call Jane Mrs Bingley.”
“Well, you cannot do that, my friend,” Jane laughed. “That is quite acceptable to me.”
The two began to walk back towards Netherfield as Elizabeth put her arm around Jane and said, “You are a good friend, Jane. I am so happy that I confided in you. You have given me hope.”
Chapter Six
Saturday 5 December1812
The next morning, Jane woke slightly sore, but another long hot soak helped to relieve her aches. She had retired before dinner the night before, when a piercing pain in her head overtook her while she was in the music room with Miss Darcy and her companion. She took her breakfast in her room, then was visited by Mr Jones, who assured them that the lingering soreness and returning megrims were to be expected after such injuries, and thatMiss Janewas recovering splendidly.
It was after the noon hour before Jane descended the stairs on the arm of a footman. She made her way into the living room where Jane and Elizabeth were having tea with Mrs Bingley’s callers, who were introduced as Mrs Bennet, Lady Lucas, Mary Bennet, and Miss Lucas.
Mrs Bingley and Elizabeth spent several minutes attempting to direct the ladies to polite conversation, but Mrs Bennet was having none of it, eyeing Jane and tapping her teacup.
“Miss… Jane, you say? How is it that you appeared as if by magic on my husband’s property with no recollection of your origins? What sort ofgentlewoman travels with absolutely nothing? No letters of introduction on your person? No chaperone or companion?”
Jane cleared her throat politely. “I regret that I cannot account for myself, ma’am. I only recall waking up out of doors to find Miss Bennet tending me. What lovely daughters you have, too, might I add, Mrs Bennet. I have not had the opportunity to get to know Miss Mary or Miss Lydia yet, but I hope to do so soon. You must be very proud of them.”
Mrs Bennet narrowed her eyes, not taking the bait to change the subject. “Hmm. And yet you speak quite well for a woman without any memories! A little too well, if you should ask me.”
“I regret that I am not inclined to attempt a less coherent manner of speech in order to convince you, madam.” Jane simply could not help herself. She had gone days without a caustic remark, and she bristled at Mrs Bennet’s manner. Itwastrue that she did not have amnesia, and that Mrs Bennet’s mistrust was perhaps merited. But it was also true that the truth could not be revealed. One simply could not tell a person that they were a fiction. She could only imagine how poorly they might take the news. She did not wish to wind up in her story’s version of Bedlam. Comforted by the knowledge that she meant no one any harm, and would certainly return home at the earliest opportunity, she had made peace with whatever she must say while she was here.
The younger ladies gasped at her reply, and Lady Lucas snapped, “Impertinence!”
“Mock me if you will, madam, but that is the sort of boldness one expects from an adventuress who might bring disrepute to the house of my daughter!” Mrs Bennet replied, as if Jane’s reply had confirmed all of her suspicions.
“I comprehend your concerns entirely, Mrs Bennet,” Jane answered. “ I shall endeavour to regain my senses quickly, lest I be accused of corrupting your family.”
“See that you do,” Mrs Bennet harrumphed.
Mrs Bingley did her best to distract her mother, and Jane heard Miss Lucas say to Miss Mary, “I can see why Kitty says that Lizzy likes her. They are rather similar, are they not?”
Mrs Bingley was unsuccessful in turning her mother’s attention, and as she spoke to her mother in a low tone, Mrs Bennet suddenly burst out, “I never thought I would see the day when my own daughter–Mrs Bingley of Netherfield Park–should entertain an unknown woman of questionable origin! Particularly with her younger, unmarried sisters in and out of the house!”
“Mama, Miss Jane is recovering from a terrible ordeal. It is only right to extend kindness. And she has remembered a few small things. The other day, she recalled that her sister’s name is Cassandra, and this morning, she told me and Lizzy that she is certain that she has at least as many brothers as there are Bennet sisters, though she cannot tell us their names yet. Mr Jones says her progress is encouraging.”
“Kindness indeed! So many brothers, and yet no one is searching for her? Does that sound right to you, Jane Bingley?”
“Mama, Jane is the mistress of Netherfield, and you must resolve yourself to the notion that she and her husband will invite whomever they please to stay without reference to their parents, or anyone else so wholly unconnected with the matter!” Elizabeth chided.
“Oh! As if I should listen to you, Elizabeth Bennet, you will be taking up space in your sister’s house until you are old and grey. Space that could have been better used for a younger sister for whom it might actually benefit, for it is certainyouhave done nothing to deserve it.” Fanny Bennet turned away from her second daughter and Jane, and began instructing Mrs Bingley on what she ought to do with her poultry.
Two hours later, Jane had met Mrs Long, Mrs Phillips, and Mrs Goulding. They were all estimable ladies, but quite obviously present only to learn whatever there was to know about herself. What shocked her was that Mrs Bennet remained present for the entire afternoon! Certainly, the polite rules of an afternoon call might be overlooked for one’s own mother. But for a married lady to feel as if her mother was supervising her calls and her household management was beyond the pale!
Mrs Bennet spent the entire afternoon dominating all conversation, and when she was not making barbs at Jane herself, she was lecturing Mrs Bingley about the correct way to inventory her silver, which days were the best to order what cuts from the butcher, and the number of courses a woman of her daughter’s rank must serve on any given occasion in order to show her husband the proper respect that was his due. Jane felt as if she had spent the day with Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
