“Lizzy is not one to make a joke of a subject like this. Even before I read what Jones wrote, I knew it was true,” Bennet stated as if in a daze. “I suggest you dress as soon as may be.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
While his wife dressed, Bennet woke his two youngest daughters. The two who shared a bed complained loudly, but were silenced with the angry look their father shot them. He told them to be downstairs in minutes.
Mary was already awake reading some bible passages in her chamber. She began to dress without complaint when Papa left her room.
By the time his wife and daughters joined Bennet in the drawing room, Fanny was crying silently. The three youngest Bennets could not comprehend what afflicted their mother until their father shared the reason with them. “As we are speaking, food is being placed in the dining parlour. We will break our fast and be off to Netherfield Park as soon as may be,” Bennet commanded.
“La, you may drop Kitty and me in Meryton, so we can go see some officers…” Lydia began to say, but closed her mouth when she saw the thunderous look on her father’s face.
“You selfish child! There will be no officers! Do you not understand there is a better than good chance Jane will pass away soon?” Bennet thundered.
“That was not one of your jokes?” Lydia swallowed hard as she saw the looks from both of her parents.
“Lydia, that is enough!” Fanny barked. “You have been told what we are to do, no exceptions.”
Having neither experienced her mother denying heranything she desired, nor her father’s unbridled anger, Lydia kept her mouth closed.
Chapter 8
Subdued was an understatement to describe the five Bennets who arrived at Netherfield Park that morning. They greeted the residents who were breaking their fasts. Soon after, Mrs Nichols guided them towards the suite where their daughters were ensconced.
Conveniently forgetting her brother was angry with her, or the disgust Mr Darcy directed towards her person, Miss Bingley hardly waited for the Bennets to be shown out before she could not restrain herself from making a derogatory comment. “Are we to be invaded by every Bennet in the realm? Is it not enough we have to put up with two of them in my house? Do you not agree, Louisa?”
“Quite so dear,” Mrs Hurst responded half-heartedly.
Bingley slammed his fist down on the table causing both of his sisters to start as they looked at him with wide eyes. “Caroline Maleficent Bingley, no one is interested in your vitriol. And Louisa, you are the older sister. It is time you began to act like it. If you had been decent ladies and asked how Miss Bennet fared overnight, you would have discovered that Mr Jones was called in the small hours of the morning because Miss Bennet…” Bingley took a deep breath as his voice cracked, “has pneumonia and will more than likely not survive. That is the woman I intended to marry, so say one more word against her and her family and I will throw you out of my house, and you, Caroline,” Bingley looked at his cowering younger sister, “will be cut off with nothing. Based on your despicable behaviour towards Miss Bennet, I will not know you.”
“Mr Darcy, surely you do not agree with my overwroughtbrother? I am sure Miss Bennet’s illness is being exaggerated to garner sympathy,” Miss Bingley said with put on sadness.
“Not only do I agree with him, but if it were me, you would already be out of my house,” Darcy spat out. “I, like Bingley, met with the doctor after he had examined Miss Bennet, it is all too real.” Darcy gave the cruel shrew a look which dripped with disdain, something Miss Bingley would not be able to misinterpret.
“I have never been thusly spoken to before, It will not be borne,” Miss Bingley shrieked. “Come Louisa.”
Mrs Hurst was torn, but her husband’s emphatic shake of his head held her in her seat. “I am sorry, Caroline, but I will remain with my husband,” she stated with head down, refusing to look her younger sister in the eyes.
“Louisa, I demand you attend me!” Miss Bingley stamped her slippered foot.
“Yet she will not,” Hurst drawled. “As her husband, I have commanded her to remain. Your days of ordering my wife about like she is your serf are over. If you want to leave, go, but mywifewill remain where she is.”
“You drunken, useless lout,” Miss Bingley yelled.
No one reacted to her words, and her older sister’s eyes were fixed on her plate. With another stamp of her foot, Miss Bingley stormed out of the dining parlour.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When the five Bennets were directed into the sitting room attached to Jane’s bedchamber, Mr Jones joined them. He left Miss Bennet in the capable hands of Miss Lizzy, so he could answer any questions before her parents and then her sisters saw her.
“You are sure this is not a simple cold?” Fanny enquired. Her mind would not accept she may have had a hand in her most beautiful daughter losing her life. Had she not done what she did for Jane’s own good? After Jane lost the three previoussuitors, Fanny was positive she needed to step in and make certain it did not occur again.
“No, Mrs Bennet, I am positive it is pneumonia. A cold does not allow one to hear the fluid gurgling in a patient’s lungs,” Jones replied evenly. Miss Lizzy had not made a secret of how Miss Bennet had come to be riding in the rain squall which had descended on the area on Monday. This was not the time for recriminations. He was sure that if, no when, the inevitable happened he would not be able to berate the Bennets more than they would themselves.
“My wife and I will see Jane first, then her three youngest sisters may do so,” Bennet decided.
Elizabeth had been applying a cloth with cold water when the door opened, She saw Mr Jones lead her parents into the room. Jane’s fever was lower once again, and her breathing, although still laboured, was easier than during the night. She had even woken for a little while .
Knowing she would not be able to face her parents without saying something she would regret; Elizabeth called the maid over to replace her and slipped out into the hallway before her parents approached the sickbed. She intended to go walk in the park until she saw her family depart.
