Elizabeth closed the door and sat next to Jane on the bed and gently rubbed Jane’s back. The crying was reduced to sniffles by then. Knowing Jane would talk as soon as she was ready, as hard as it was for her to exercise patience, Elizabeth waited.
There was a knock at the door. On opening it, Elizabeth stood back for Sarah to enter carrying a tray with a pitcher and two glasses. The maid placed the tray on the dresser, bobbed a curtsy to the Miss Bennets and withdrew, pulling the door closed behind her.
Jane had kept her head turned from Sarah so she would not see the evidence of her crying. The last thing Jane wanted was for word she was upset to reach her mother. She knew if it did, Mama would automatically blame Lizzy and even if Janetold her it was what she had been told earlier that morning which devastated her, Mama would have ignored her and yelled at Lizzy anyway.
She gratefully took the glass Elizabeth handed her. Her instinct was to gulp the water down, but Jane forced herself to take small sips.
“You remember the Duke we danced with at the assembly?” Jane enquired as she began her tale.
“How could I forget that old man and the way he was ogling us. I felt like I needed to bathe after my, thankfully, short dance with him.” Elizabeth paused suspiciously. “I know he is a duke, but surely Mama would not try and match you with a man much older than Papa!”
“Mama told me…” Jane hiccoughed, “the Duke and Papa are meeting this morning because…” Jane burst into tears once again. “She said she found a note on Papa’s desk.”
“Janey please do not tell me Mama thinks the Duke wants you as his wife.” Jane gave a watery nod. “Did the note to Papa say that?” Jane shook her head. “Then this is all in Mama’s head. She knows not why Papa is meeting with the Duke and is stating what are her desires. They are assumptions. Even if Mama is right for once, surely Papa would never force you to accept a man so much older than himself. We promised we would only marry for the deepest love and respect, and that is how it will be!”
As much as she wanted to believe her own words, Elizabeth was not blind to the fact Papa never stood up to their mother. All she could do was pray that if Mama’s supposition was accurate, for once their father would act to protect his daughters.
The tears dried up as Jane endeavoured to believe Lizzy’s words. Mama had things wrong more often than not, so there was hope she would not be sacrificed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Fanny was waiting for her husband at the front door when he arrived home.
“Well?” she demanded. “Did I not tell you he wanted to marry Jane? How many times have I said she could not be so beautiful for no reason! Why did you not have me join you? I read the note!”
Exasperated, Bennet responded, “Do you think I can have something to drink and then we can meet in my study rather than here where all the servants can hear?”
The woman could not be more vulgar if she tried to be. Bennet did not wait for an answer from his wife. As soon as Hill took his outerwear, he made for his study. As he suspected she would, his wife followed him into his sanctuary.
“Do not make me wait, he wants to marry our daughter, does he not?” Fanny insisted as soon as her husband closed the door to the study.
“He does,” Bennet confirmed.
“My beautiful Jane will be a duchess! Just wait until I tell Lady Lucas, she will turn green with envy. What pin money, what carriages, homes, and jewels. I will go distracted,” Fanny babbled.
Bennet was not looking forward to the manic swing in his wife’s behaviour as soon as he delivered the news he knew she would be loath to hear. It had to be done before his wife decided to go call on their neighbours to boast to one and all.
“Mrs. Bennet, the man is a Duke, he is rich to be sure, but he is closer to seventy than sixty. I thought you loved Jane, why would you want to see her shackled to such a man?”
“How you enjoy vexing me! To save me…us from the hedgerows when you go to your reward. He has more than enough wealth and mayhap he will set us up at one of his estates,” Fanny responded dreamily as she again imagined all the riches Jane would have access to.
“It is not Jane the Duke wants to marry,” Bennet related.
Fanny Bennet stood frozen, staring at her husband as if he had the head of a wild animal on his shoulders. After some moments she discovered the power of speech once again. “Lyddie is too young and they have not met, surely he cannot want any other than Jane.”
“He wants to marry Lizzy,” Bennet said almost softly knowing the explosion which was about to occur.
This time she stared at her husband as if he was an insane person who belonged in Bedlam. “WHAT DID YOU SAY!DO NOT DARE SPORT WITH ME IN THAT FASHION!” Fanny screamed at the top of her voice.
She had heard him.
“I was as surprised as you are, it is Lizzy he wants, not Jane.”
“What did that wilful, cursed girl do to distract the Duke from her sister?”
“Mrs. Bennet did you not tell me he danced a set complete with both you and Jane, and only a portion of a single dance with Lizzy?” Fanny reluctantly allowed it was so. “By your own statement, Lizzy was in His Grace’s company for no more than five to ten minutes. Please explain what she could have done in that time?”
Each time Fanny began to speak, she stopped. The truth was she could not come up with anything to support her claim. “I will not stand for that underserving hoyden becoming a duchess when Jane will not!” Fanny finally bit out.
