Just then the butler announced Miss Jane Bennet. The sisters looked at one another, they had not heard the sounds of an arriving coach, so how was it their guest was here? The question was answered as soon as they saw her. She was soaked, looking more like some riffraff which had drowned, than a lady.
Miss Bingley sneered at the transparent ploy to remain at her house so Miss Bennet would be in company with her brother again. She noted the housekeeper was standing behind Miss Bennet. “Mrs Nichols, bring a towel, the floor is getting wet,” Miss Bingley commanded.
Louisa Hurst almost said something to her sister about making sure Miss Bennet was taken care of first. She did not miss the look of disgust on the housekeeper’s face. However, knowing what Caroline’s reactions would be, she held her peace.
Mrs Althea Nichols had never come so close to slapping a ‘lady’ of the house she worked in until that moment. She could see Miss Bennet begin to shiver from the cold, and all Miss Bingley cared about was the floor. She dispatched a maid to bring some towels. Surely the Mistress could not be so heartless?
The maid brought three towels, as the housekeeper had instructed her to do, all nice and warm. As she had been ordered, one was placed on the floor, which Miss Bennet stepped onto. Then at Mrs Nichols’s nod, the girl was about tohand one to Miss Bennet.
“Did I tell you to give one to myguest?” Miss Bingley screeched .
“Caroline,” Mrs Hurst whispered close to her sister’s ear. “Think what a certain gentleman you desire to impress will say if he hears about this.”
“You, girl, hurry up and hand Miss Bennet the towel,” Miss Bingley commanded grudgingly. She intended to punish the woman for attempting to manipulate her into extending an invitation.
Although it did not do very much, Jane was grateful for the brief warmth she felt from the towel until the water dripping off her wet it. As propriety dictated that she needed to wait for Miss Bingley to offer her the use of a chamber and a bath, Jane waited. As much as she did not like to overstep, she decided, if the woman did not move to offer her assistance soon, she would have no choice but to ask.
Mrs Nichols wanted to lead Miss Bennet up to a chamber. While Miss Bingley had been deciding to give her guest a towel, she had issued orders to lay a fire in the grate in a guest suite and to begin to fill the bath with hot water.
“Caroline, you must allow her to go and change out of the wet clothing. How will it look if she gets sick after you have forced her to stand here in this state?” Mrs Hurst prompted. There was no missing the looks of disgust from the housekeeper, butler, or the maid who were all waiting for orders. Knowing how servants talked, Caroline could order what she would, but her actions would be fodder for gossip, and that would get back to both Charles and Mr Darcy.
“Why should that be so, I do not see why I should. It is her fault she is wet,” Miss Bingley hissed. For the first time she noticed the way Miss Bennet was shivering and her whole body was shaking. Not wanting her to feign illness and remain longer than necessary, she told the housekeeper to show MissBennet to a chamber.
No sooner were the words uttered than Mrs Nichols and the maid were assisting Miss Bennet up to the suite where the fire had been lit. Not five minutes later, the freezing lady was in a steaming bath. Jane lay in the warming water until it began to cool. The two maids the housekeeper left with Miss Bennet, dried her off thoroughly while she stood in front of the now roaring fire.
As much as she did not want to, at her sister’s urging, Miss Bingley consented to allow her lady’s maid to select one of her oldest gowns, meant for the summer, for Miss Bennet to wear. Louisa had pointed out that as she was shorter than Miss Bennet none of her clothing would be appropriate.
Mrs Nichols entered the bedchamber and looked rather chagrined. “Miss Bingley expects you to join her and Mrs Hurst for dinner,” she conveyed apologetically.
“I think I may be developing a fever; do you think she will understand and allow me to rest until I feel better?” Jane requested.
The housekeeper made her way down to the drawing room and passed on what Miss Bennet had implored. “Certainly not. The woman is feigning illness so she can remain here until my brother comes home,” Miss Bingley refused. “Shewilljoin us for dinner, and then I will send her home in my brother’s coach.” It was convenient the men had taken Mr Darcy’s conveyance.
“Madam, she looks like she is developing a fever,” Mrs Nichols pleaded.
“I am sure she stood close to a fire to give that impression, I will not relent, have the girl join us now!” Miss Bingley screeched.
Notwithstanding the woman not deserving any courtesy, Mrs Nichols bobbed a curtsy and made her way back up to Miss Bennet in the guest suite. Being the type ofperson who did not like to cause trouble, especially not for Mrs Nichols, who was sister to Longbourn’s housekeeper Mrs Hill, Jane donned her still damp slippers which had been drying before the fire and prepared to make her way down the stairs. If only she had been lent a shawl to wrap around her shoulders.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Soniceof you to join us,” Miss Bingley sneered when Jane entered the dining parlour.
Mrs Hurst looked away in case her sister noticed the embarrassment on her countenance when she observed the light gown Caroline had instructed her maid to provide for Miss Bennet. It was easy to see her sister had not provided a pair of slippers due to the squishing noise Miss Bennet made as she entered the room. The room was warm, but Miss Bennet was shivering once again, not as violently as before she changed, but noticeably. The droplets of sweat on the woman’s forehead were easy to see. She had a fever; this was not a ploy.
Miss Bingley placed Miss Bennet a few places past her sister who was at her right hand. There was no chance she would distinguish a Bennet by seating one next to herself.
“How is it you rode a horse?” Mrs Hurst enquired before her sister could begin the interrogation she had planned.
“My parents told me the horses for the carriage were required on the estate,” Jane explained.
“Are you telling me your father does not have carriage horses like all of us in high society do?” Miss Bingley derided. “I suppose the lower classes must make do with what they have.” She took a dainty sip of creamed mushroom soup. “Was it your parents who disallowed you to use the carriage, or your plan to remain here to importune my brother?”
“Caroline!” Mrs Hurst exclaimed. She always placated her sister, but this was far too much.
“The way Miss Bennet has been chasing after Charles, it must be as I said,” Miss Bingley sniffed disdainfully. “As youhave no dowries, I am sure a man with my brother’s income is an inducement to do what you did tonight.”
“Miss Bingley, you are wrong!” Jane insisted. “If that is how you feel, then if you have a carriage available, please send me home.” She stood up with all of her might. Her head became light, and Jane began to fall. An observant footman caught her before she reached the floor.
