At church on Sunday, where the first banns for Jane and her fiancé were called, rather than his wife and youngest two daughters providing entertainment with their bad behaviour, all three had continued to act like proper ladies as they had at the house. Bennet could not understand what caused the change, as he had written off Lydia’s supposed almost ruination as hyperbole.
Those resident at Netherfield Park had attended the Longbourn Village church rather than St. Alfred’s in Meryton which was closer to them. Then, the biggest surprise had been the sermon. Rather than given by the vicar Mr Pierce, it had been delivered by the Viscount. As much as he did not want to admit it after the three men had spoken to him in his own study as they had, Bennet could not deny the fact Lord Hilldale delivered a good and engaging sermon.
It was another occasion where Bennet noted the animosity he had helped Lizzy foster against Mr Darcy was absent. An invitation to spend the afternoon at Netherfield Park had been received by his daughters, and had been accepted. Even the two he called the silliest girls in the realm had been included. Hence, after the midday meal his daughters travelled to Netherfield Park. He contemplated denying them the use of the Bennet carriage to see their reactions. He was sure the behaviour he expected would reassert itself if he had done so. However, this pleasure too was taken away from him as one of the infernal three men sent a large, comfortable coach to collect his daughters.
All five had been in exceptionally good moods when they returned telling of how Charlotte and Maria Lucas had been included as well. When he had asked Lizzy if she would like to play chess after dinner, she had refused him, albeit politely, saying she had a headache and would remain in the drawing room, an activity which would not tax her head too much.
He knew he could order her to join him in the study,but Bennet was well aware how Lizzy would react if he or any other attempted to force her to do something against her will. Monday morning had not shown an improvement. When he asked Hill where Miss Lizzy was, the butler told him she had walked into Meryton with her sisters. He had banked on the youngest two blathering about the officers at the midday meal. Not a word had been said. When he had tried to raise the subject, Kitty and Lydia had responded with one word answers, or Jane, Lizzy, or Mary replied in their stead.
It was then he noted Lydia, who always dressed to display her assets to the officers, was dressed as he would expect a young lady of fifteen who was not out to dress. After the meal, he had summoned his wife, who very calmly informed him that due to Lydia’s almost ruin, and as he had given her permission to decide what age their daughters were to be out, she had put the two youngest back in. Bennet had still been contemplating the strange events and behaviours in his home when Hill had entered the study with an express from Gardiner.
Even though he would normally allow a letter to wait for days, or in some cases weeks, before he opened it, due to its rarity, an express from Gardiner was not something to be ignored. It had been an invitation for Lizzy to come visit in order to assist Maddie, as she was unexpectedly increasing again.
That led Bennet back to his quandary about whether to deny his permission for Lizzy to travel to London. He would make his decision based on her desire to go. If he denied her and it was something she wanted to do, she would be well and truly missish, and it would gain him nothing. There was a knock on his door. “Come in Elizabeth,” Bennet called out.
“Papa you asked to see me?” Elizabeth stated evenly as soon as she was seated in one of the chairs before her father’s large oak desk. She knew why she had been summoned, but she could not allow her father to detect that.
“I did. I received this,” he lifted the missive and passed it to his daughter, “from Gardiner. Read it and then I will decide how to proceed.”
Elizabeth picked up the page remembering she had to seem surprised when she read the letter.
16 November 1812
23 Gracechurch Street, London
Bennet,
We have been blessed with Maddie increasing again, when, after May was born in June 1807, we did not think God would gift us with another child. Much to our wonder, Maddie recently felt the quickening, but her sickness in the mornings has been much more severe than in the past.
“I am so happy for Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward! It seems their prayers for another child have been answered,” Elizabeth exclaimed excitedly. Seeing her father would not comment, her eyes dropped to the page once again.
Brother, may I impose on you and ask that Lizzy be allowed to come hither to assist with her cousins? You know how they love her stories. As far as Jane’s wedding goes, at the very least I will escort Lizzy to attend the nuptials. My prayer is Maddie too will be well enough to join us.
In anticipation of a positive response, I thank you for agreeing to send her.
Gardiner
“You will permit me to go, will you not Papa?” Elizabeth asked with marked enthusiasm.
Although Bennet had hoped Lizzy would be open to sending Mary in her stead, it was not to be so. He pinched the bridge of his nose and then decided this would be a good thing. She would surely miss the time she spent with him, and being away would give Lizzy space to get over her pique at his doingnothing about that Wickham fellow.
“You may go to visit the Gardiners. When would you like to depart?” Bennet enquired hoping she would say a sennight or more.
“If we send an express today, then I can depart on the morrow in the morning. If the horses are needed on the farm, I am sure my brother-to-be will not mind loaning me his chaise and four,” Elizabeth averred innocently.
“I will write the express later,” Bennet stated. “You will be sent in my carriage, and Hill will be your escort.”
“Thank you, Papa. If you will sign a page so my uncle knows you have given your permission, I will write the note so you are not bothered,” Elizabeth suggested.
Bennet was pleased Lizzy was being so thoughtful and wanted him to return to his book without further delay. He signed at the bottom of a page and handed it to his daughter once he had sanded it. He missed the irony of having done the same thing some days before, which had allowed his daughter to have the Lieutenants arrested.
Elizabeth went to the escritoire in the drawing room and wrote the missive to the Gardiners telling them she had permission, as evidenced by her father’s signature, and when to expect her on the morrow. After requesting Hill send a groom to Meryton to engage an express rider, she asked her mother’s permission to go pack her trunks.
“Pack Lizzy?” Fanny enquired.
“Aunt Maddie is increasing, and Uncle Edward requested I visit to help with the children while my aunt is indisposed. Mama, I need time to think and to discover who I truly am. I think it is best done if I am away from Longbourn. There is so much I need to beg your pardon for…” Elizabeth stopped speaking when her mother gently placed a finger on her lips.
“I have far more for which to atone, Lizzy,” Fanny insisted. “I am the mother who should have known better, andyou are the daughter. It was my task to protect you—both you and Mary—not disparage you. When you are ready we will talk about everything. I will write to my sister to give her my best wishes as she increases. You will convey letters to my brother and sister, will you not?”
