“It seems so,” Bennet confirmed. “She is very, very sick and although we will not be able to see it now, or possibly for some time to come, her suffering will end.”
“But why?” Mary cried. “Why has God not answered any of my prayers? Why would he take one as good, gentle, godly, and kind as Jane from us?” Mary paused while she wiped her eyes. “It has been my belief that as long as I am faithful to His commandments and the Bible, my prayers would be answered.”
“It is a hard reality to accept,” Bennet replied, “but we can never know His plan. Also, we cannot bargain with Him. If it has been decided it is our Jane’s time, then there is nothing us mere mortals can do about it. Who knows, in future times they may find a cure to pneumonia and many other maladies, but in the world as it is today, there is no way to make Jane better.”
“If this is happening to Jane who is such a good person, what chance do any of us have?” Kitty enquired as she cried quietly. “We…I should have listened to her when she tried to teach us the correct way to comport ourselves as gentleladies. But I was too busy having my fun to pay attention to her teachings, and now I will never have that chance!”
“Is it true Mama sent Jane to Netherfield Park on Nellie while knowing it was to rain?” Lydia wondered.
Bennet knew this was time for brutal honesty. “Your mother did so, yes, but it is not her fault, but mine.” Three pairs of wet eyes stared at Bennet pleading for an explanation. “I could have overridden your mother’s command. For the sake of my peace and quiet, I did not.” Bennet allowed his words to percolate. Then he continued. “Even though it has been proved to be the worst thing we have ever done, neither your mother nor I wished for Jane to be caught in the rain. Your motherthought she would arrive at Netherfield Park before the rain, and I hoped it would be so.”
“But you both allowed her to go, and no matter your intentions, it will cost Jane her life,” Mary pointed out. “Did Lizzy know all of this?” Bennet nodded. “It is little wonder she ran out of the suite when we arrived. She was obviously not ready to face you and Mama.”
“I believe you are accurate in what you say,” Bennet acknowledged. Although she had not been willing to face them on this day, Bennet was certain that was a temporary state of affairs. Lizzy would not shy away from a confrontation and he had no doubt one was coming, and his second daughter’s wrath would be great. If only Jane had not been so diffident and had listened to Lizzy when she had been urged to refuse to go on Nellie. He was well aware his last thought had been an obfuscation. The blame was his and he would have it.
“How long will we have to mourn?” Lydia asked as her desire to see the officers reasserted itself once again. “The regiment is only here until the spring…”
“YouDAREthink of officers when your sister lies on her deathbed?” Bennet thundered causing all three of his daughters to shrink back, none more so than the youngest. “Youwillbe in deep mourning for three months complete, followed by three more of half mourning. There will be no more officers! Kitty and Lydia you are back in. I will not allow you out again until you show me you have matured, can think rationally, and behave as a lady!” Seeing the shocked faces of the two youngest, Bennet added. “Mayhap by the time Lydia is twenty I will take you both to a review.”
Lydia stood and ran out of the drawing room, crying in earnest. The slam of her bedchamber door was heard soon enough. Kitty remained in her place. “I have not been a bad girl, Papa,” Kitty claimed.
“I dare say you have not,” Bennet admitted, “however,until you can show me that you have become your own person and do not follow Lydia any longer, you will remain in. As the older, you should be setting the example for your younger sister, not the other way around.” It may be shocking to his family, but the days of his not taking his family in hand were forever behind him.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“As much as I realise the pain Miss Bennet’s family, especially Miss Elizabeth, will feel at her passing, I know I will never get over the regret I was not able to propose to her and have her as my wife,” Bingley rued. “Given what her family will go through, is that selfish of me?”
“I do not believe so. You love her, and you sensed she reciprocates your feelings, so the emotions you are experiencing are right and just,” Darcy opined. “I too have a selfish desire, but I know it is neither the time nor the place for it now.” Seeing his friend’s quizzical look, Darcy explained, “I know Miss Elizabeth heard my vile words at the assembly, and I have hinted around the fact I am sorry for uttering them, but I am yet to make my amends directly to her.”
“I believe Miss Elizabeth will not find an apology at this time, or any time, selfish on your part,” Bingley mused. “Have you decided to pursue her?”
“Yes, I think I have, although I am not so selfish as to think to approach her before her mourning period, half mourning as well, has passed,” Darcy revealed. “The apology needs to be made regardless of my hope she will look upon my suit with favour. Based on what she told me about her criteria to marry, she is one of the few women in England who would refuse me if I do not meet her standards for a future husband.” Darcy cogitated for a moment. “I have a suggestion and it may sound like it is being made by an insane man.”
“Go ahead,” Bingley returned.
“Propose to Miss Bennet.” Seeing the outraged look onBingley’s countenance, Darcy proceeded. “Yes, you will not be able to marry her, but she will pass from this world into God’s kingdom knowing she had your love. It may be very comforting to her.”
Now it was Bingley’s turn to think deeply. As he did with any business proposition, he looked at the issue from all sides. His scowl changed to an upturn of his lips as he reached his conclusion. “By Jove, I think you may be onto something.” Bingley sprang out of his chair. “Let us go and see if Miss Bennet is awake, and if so, you can deliver your apology to Miss Elizabeth.”
Thus agreed, the two men left the study.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The maid answered a knock on the bedchamber door which led into the private sitting room. After a hushed conversation, she came and addressed Miss Elizabeth. “It be Mr Darcy an’ Mr Bingley, Miss. The first gent ask to talk to you, an’ the master want to speak to Miss Bennet.”
Her three family members looked to Jane. “Hang…propriety,” Jane managed. There was a ghost of a smile on Jane’s pallid face.
The Gardiners would take this time to go downstairs to speak to Lilly and Eddy who had been visibly upset when they had come to say their goodbyes to their eldest cousin. They related their intention to Lizzy and left through the door from the bedchamber into the hallway.
“Gladys, will you join me in the sitting room?” Elizabeth requested. Propriety was no longer a factor for Jane, but it was for her.
“Aye, Miss Lizzy,” the maid agreed.
Elizabeth stepped into the sitting room, the maid following her. “You may go in, Mr Bingley. Jane is awake, and given the sad circumstances, you may close the door all the way.”
Bingley gave a bow, made his way into the sickroom, and pushed the door closed.
“You asked to see me, Mr Darcy?” Elizabeth questioned.
