I am writing on behalf of my niece Elizabeth, who for obvious reasons cannot write to an unmarried man who is not related to her.
Elizabeth and her next younger sister, Mary, will be departing with us on the morrow to be hosted by us at the above address for the foreseeable future. She will be welcome to remain with us for as long as she needs to. She feels, for reasons which with I believe you are familiar, that she cannot live at Longbourn, at least for now.
Given your connection to our late niece, and the warmth Elizabeth has felt from you and your party (excluding the one no longer residing with you) she requested me to write on her behalf to inform you of her plans. She did not want you to attribute her failure to call upon you as a desire to break the acquaintance.
When you are in London, feel free to call on us. Mr Darcy knows the way if you are not sure how to find us.
Yours,
Edward Gardiner
After reading the missive to himself, Bingley read it aloud for the benefit of his friend and family.
Darcy could understand Miss Bennet’s need to get away from her parents. He was more than aware they were culpable in the event which led up to and caused the late Miss Bennet to be ill and pass away. As such, he knew in the same situation he was certain, he too would not be able to face those who were responsible for the passing of someone as close to him as her late sister and Miss Bennet were.
He was aware she intended to mourn for a full year. Heonly hoped she would want to see him when the year was complete. He took it as a good sign she had Gardiner send the information so they would all know where Miss Bennet could be found.
The midday meal was called which pulled the four out of the study.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The goodbyes with Kitty and Lydia were long and teary. The Gardiners assured them they would be welcome to come to London and visit their sisters from time to time. Their father stood and watched them depart, but Elizabeth appreciated that he never attempted to talk her out of leaving.
Elizabeth loved her home, especially the many pathways, which she knew so intimately, and enjoyed rambling over. She was not getting away from Longbourn, only the master and mistress.
It was hard enough being reminded of Janey everywhere she looked in the house. At the dining table, her eyes were always drawn to Janey’s empty chair, the sampler basket which still remained in the drawing room, and most especially, the still room.
Janey loved to work in that room making scents for herself and her sisters—far more for others than herself—and she was rather good at making tinctures with plants and herbs to help those who needed the healing properties they possessed. The only time, since Janey’s passing, Elizabeth had walked into the still room, she had quickly lost her composure and began to cry when she saw Janey’s apron still hanging on the peg she had placed it on the last time she had worked in the room beforethatday. Elizabeth had found three bottles of the lavender scent Janey used to prepare for her. Those were now among her most prized possessions.
A walk in the park would bring memories flooding back like an unstoppable wave. The swing suspended below theancient oak caused Elizabeth to see her and Jane pushing one another the first time after the head gardener hung it up for them. Jane was six, and she was four. Mary was still in the nursery.
No fewer memories were evoked on seeing the flower beds or the herb garden. Janey loved spending time caring for the flowers and herbs. Also, she had a knack for making the most attractive flower arrangements.
The stables and Nellie were worst of all. Not because Elizabeth blamed the mare, even in the smallest measure. The once or twice she had entered the stables, Elizabeth had felt Janey’s presence heavy in the air. It was easy to visualise her sister rubbing Nellie’s nose or feeding her a carrot.
As the lead Gardiner coach she was travelling in put more distance between her and Longbourn, Elizabeth knew she had made the correct decision. She would never begin to heal there.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Not long after the conveyances disappeared from sight, Bennet returned inside the house. His inclination was to make for his study and lose himself in a book, but he knew that would not do. He had promised himself he would never again neglect his family, and he was determined not to lie to himself.
He put his head in the drawing room and saw his two youngest within, looking understandably forlorn at their two older sisters’ departure. Unsurprisingly, his wife was not present as she had been instructed to be.
Rather than go to his wife’s chamber to remonstrate with her at that moment, Bennet entered the room. Both of his daughters looked up not attempting to hide their shock at seeing their father out and about other than during a meal. There was no reason to chastise Kitty and Lydia. It had been his choice, not theirs, for him to sequester himself in his private domain for many years.
“Yes, girls, it is truly me here to see you,” Bennet quipped.
“Have you come to tell us how silly we are, Papa?” Lydia, always the brash one, asked.
“No Lydia, I have not,” Bennet responded. “Let me begin by begging your pardon. I called you names but never took the time to make sure you were being educated like your older sisters were. In hindsight, I own they learnt to behave with propriety and decorum from your Aunt Maddie. That is something I should have demanded be taught to all of you in this house.”
Both girls were flabbergasted their father was talking to them like they were rational beings and not silly little girls. More than that, he was apologising for what he had not done.
“I know we are no longer out, but what does this mean? Are you going to educate us?” Kitty enquired.
“As needed, I will be involved in your education,” Bennet replied. “First, I will be employing a companion for you two, but one who has experience as a governess as well. I should have employed one as soon as your late sister was old enough to begin lessons. I made the mistake, like I did the day Jane was sent out to ride in the rain, of not standing firm against your mother. It was not her fault, but mine, if I had taken the trouble to do what I needed to do, which included insisting your mother pay heed to what my late mother attempted to teach her, all of our lives would have been infinitely better, and,” his voice choked up some, “there is a better than good chance your eldest sister would have still been alive.” Bennet paused. “Just like it will not be easy for me to make all the changes I need to, so it will not be the work of a day for you two to begin to learn how to be creditable gentleladies. In the end, it will be well worth it.
“For me to tell you that you were back in and needed to improve your minds without giving you the tools to do so was monumentally unfair of me. I intend to write to your AuntMadeline and request she assist me in finding some suitable candidates to educate you.”
