Janey isdeathlyill! She has pneumonia. Mr Jones has said there is a small chance she will be well again, but he has warned me that the most likely outcome will be that we will lose Janey.
“No, Edward, this cannot be true,” Madeline blurted out as she felt an immeasurable sadness.
“Maddie, as much as I would prefer that be so, Lizzy would not write these words unless they were the absolute truth.” Gardiner responded gravely. “You know our niece as well as anyone, this is not something about which she would ever jest. Look at the time this was delivered, that means Darcy’s courier rode at night. He would not send the lad unless it was an absolute emergency. Let us read the rest.”
With an ashen look on her face, Madeline nodded.
It could be hours; it may be days, until the end, if Janey does not make a miraculous recovery. I urge you to come hither as soon as may be.
In sadness,
Lizzy
“We must depart as soon as we dress and the carriage can be made ready,” Madeline stated as she jumped out of the warm bed. She had to get to Janey, so she ignored the cold in the room as the fire had not been built up yet.
“I agree,” Gardiner said. He tied his dressing gown and then went to issue orders to the butler. “What of the children?”he asked on his return to the bedchamber.
A maid bobbed a curtsy to the Gardiners, and proceeded to build up the fire, and left once it was crackling back to life. “They must come. You know how much they love their cousins. I know not if they will be allowed into the sickroom, but I dare say we will need them with us if Lizzy is correct in what she believes we are to face.”
Gardiner issued further orders for the older, smaller carriage to be prepared for their two youngest, the governess, and a nursemaid. Before the hour of seven, two Gardiner conveyances were on their way to Hertfordshire.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At about the same time the Gardiners were leaving their home, a Netherfield Park groom was delivering a note to Longbourn’s cook. She handed it to Hill, who delivered it to Mr Bennet. The latter had just arrived in his study.
Bennet sat and stared at Lizzy’s script for some moments. Knowing that procrastination would not change her words of admonition, he was sure were contained for not stepping in when Janey requested the carriage, he broke the seal and began to read. A second page in an unfamiliar hand fell out. He placed that one to the side.
17 October 1810
Mother and Father,
This past night, Janey was in a terrible way which necessitated my summoning Mr Jones to attend her. The result was that in his opinion my sister has a bad case of pneumonia. Although he opines there is a small chance Janey will get well, he has advised us to steel ourselves for her passing.
I suggest you come see her as soon as you find the time as it may very well be the last time you will see your eldest alive.
Your daughter,
Elizabeth Rose Bennet
If only it had been an admonition! Anything but this. All he could hope was that Lizzy was exaggerating, even though Bennet knew his second daughter was not prone to do so. In a daze, he picked up the second sheet.
Mr and Mrs Bennet,
It is my sad duty to confirm Miss Lizzy’s words are nothing but the truth.
Yours,
Thadius Jones
He sat frozen in place as he stared at the sheets of paper before him. Bennet was at a loss about what to do next. Was his inability to stand up to his wife about to cost his eldest daughter her life? It seemed the most likely outcome. He forced himself to stand. He had much to do.
First, he had to wake his wife, and then before anything else he needed to send an express to Hunsford telling his witless cousin due to an illness in the house, his visit was postponed indefinitely. As soon as that was done, to Netherfield Park he would go. Thinking of what needed to be accomplished, he did not remember how he arrived at his wife’s bedchamber door. He knocked once and entered.
Fanny was still asleep. It was her habit not to wake until after nine each morning, except Sundays in order to attend church. She felt herself being shaken and was about to complain vociferously when she saw it was her husband. Her eyes snapped open, and became as large as saucers, while she tried to imagine what Thomas was doing here. The last time he had been within was before Lyddie had been born.
“Before you ask, read these, Lizzy’s first,” Bennet handed his wife the note from their second daughter.
“Jane has nothing but a trifling cold,” Fanny waved the words away dismissively. “Miss Lizzy is simply trying topunish us for Jane getting wet and now having a cold.” Before she could say any more, Bennet thrust the second page into her hand. Fanny read, and then reread the short and to the point missive. Her mouth flapped open, but no words were emitted.
