Darcy was conflicted. It was good, according to his head, that Miss Elizabeth had departed, while at the same time, his heart was telling him it was the opposite.
Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley were both much pleased by the Bennets taking their leave. Mrs. Hurst because she knew their absence, especially Miss Elizabeth’s, would help her younger sister’s mood improve. Miss Bingley was overjoyed. She would have Mr. Darcy’s undivided attention now. If she never saw Miss Eliza again it would be too soon.
There would be no choice but to see her at the ball, but she was determined she would find a way for them to leave the benighted neighbourhood as soon as may be after the infernal ball.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Jane and Lizzy, you are come back,” Mr. Bennet said in welcome as he handed his daughters out of the carriage.
Their father being the one to greet them and assist them to alight, was as surprising as had been their mother’s calm demeanour. The two eldest Bennet sisters looked at one another questioningly but neither could fathom what had come to pass at Longbourn during their sojourn at Netherfield Park.
Just like she had been the last time they had seen her, their mother was calm. Mary had not reverted to her old way of dressing and presenting herself to the world. Not only that, there seemed to be genuine warmth between their parents.
Fanny and Mary were next to greet the returning sisters. “Jane, are you truly recovered from your illness? You did not depart before you were ready to be outside, did you?” Fanny questioned concernedly.
“I am quite recovered, thank you, Mama. It has been more than a full day since I last had a slight fever,” Jane revealed.
“Thank you for taking such good care of your sister, Lizzy dear,” Fanny squeezed her very surprised second daughter’s hand.
“It was my pleasure,” Elizabeth managed.
“Where are Kitty and Lydia?” Jane enquired as the five Bennets walked back into the house.
“They are no longer out,” Fanny said matter-of-factly. “Your father and I decided they are not near mature enough to be out in society.”
In the entrance hall Hill relieved the two Miss Bennets of their outerwear. There was a rumble of noise from upstairs somewhere, not as much as Jane and Elizabeth would have expected, if as they suspected the two youngest Bennets were back in the schoolroom.
“Come let us make for the drawing room and we will explain the genesis of the changes you see around you,” Bennet stated. He stood back to allow his wife to proceed him. “After you, Fanny.” His wife gave him a warm look further shocking Jane and Elizabeth who had never seen any discernible warmth between their parents.
As soon as everyone was seated Bennet explained about the letter from Mr. Collins and how he and their mother had a long talkwitheach other, rather thanatone another. He related how they had both had a change of heart realising the way they had been acting as parents was not a way to secure their daughters’ futures.
Their parents revealed how they came to the conclusion regarding Mary being the only one who might suit Mr. Collins and how they decided to deflect him first from Jane and then from Elizabeth.
The letter was handed first to Jane and then to Elizabeth to read. After doing so they were both extremely grateful their distant cousin would be directed away from them.
“Mary, are you sure you want to accept his attentions, if he bestows them on you?” Elizabeth verified. “He does seem like a rather singular creature.”
“Mama and Papa have assured me it is my choice. You well know I am not romantic like you two, and as long as he is a decent man who is not vicious, I will accept him if he offers for me,” Mary explained.
“We will support you in your choice,” Jane assured their sister.
“What of Kitty and Lydia? It is much calmer than I expected with them put back in,” Elizabeth observed.
“It was not such for the first few days,” Bennet revealed. “After Lydia lost her second quarter’s allowance and Kitty one quarter, they started to realise their screaming and misbehaving was gaining them nothing.”
“That was until yesterday when the Derbyshire Militia arrived in Meryton. Lydia almost had an apoplexy being denied being in company with the officers,” Fanny said. “Her behaviour only highlighted the rectitude of them not being out and the danger she would have posed unchecked among the officers. I should have never told her those stories about Colonel Millar and his regiment from all those years past. In my romanticising the memories of a silly girl, Lydia began to believe an officer was her ideal man.
“Your father took the time to explain what junior officers in the militia earn. It is enough to barely keep themselves, never mind a wife.”
“The material point is we have both made changes and we will attempt not to repeat the errors of the past,” Bennet stated. “As I told your mother, I blame myself more than anyone. We cannot change the past, but we can change how we do things as we move forward.” He paused. “I wrote a letter to your Aunt Gardiner requesting her assistance in finding a companion for your youngest sisters. One who can operate as a governess if needs be.”
When the shock of the changes in her parents began to wear off, Elizabeth told them how Mr. Darcy had apologised to her and about the stay at Netherfield Park, including Miss Bingley’s behaviour.
“How can that virago call herself a lady?” Fanny demanded. “She has not a clue how to be a hostess if that is how she treats guests in her house.”
At least they had a few days until the heir presumptive descended on them. After taking tea with their parents and Mary, Jane and Elizabeth made their way up to their bedchamber to unpack.
Chapter 12
