“Never, Jane! Yes, my feelings from last April are so different. I have not made complete sense of them.” Elizabeth changed the subject abruptly. “I had a letter from Charlotte this morning. She is to marry on the third of August. She is sad that we will be unable to attend, but I would not have her delay her happiness any longer.”
Jane nodded. “I agree. Six months is not long. We will see her again when our mourning is complete.” She paused before continuing. “Tell me, how is our family?”
Elizabeth blew out a breath and leaned back. “As they ever were. Lydia and Kitty seem to have sobered some with Papa’s death. I hardly saw Mama while at Longbourn. The tensions between us have not abated. She enjoys bragging about her ‘wealthy daughter’ but treats me with the same disdain she has had since I refused Mr. Collins.”
“She does seem determined to hold on to her anger,” Jane mused. “It is ridiculous. A marriage to our cousin was accomplished, and I carry his child. She will likely be restless until she knows whether she is to be cast out or not.”
“What will you do if you bear a son?”
Jane frowned, thinking. “I shall have to return to Hertfordshire, I suppose. I had once hoped to call that county home forever. And after I married Mr. Collins, I knew I would return one day. Now, it does not call to me as it once did. If I have a son, he ought to be raised on the estate he is to inherit.”
“That is a wise decision. Uncle Phillips has promised to work with the steward to maintain the estate until the child comes.” Elizabeth paused, glancing at the door. Her brows came together for a moment and then her expression smoothed. “What of our mother?” she continued. “How will you handle her?”
Jane straightened, a steely look on her face. “Mama will be evicted from the mistress’s quarters,” she said resolutely. “My sisters will learn to behave, or I shall not support them. In short, our mother will be given a choice: comply with my edicts as mistress or leave.”
“That is probably the harshest thing I have ever heard you utter!” Elizabeth cried delightedly. “Will you retain the steward?”
“I will. I shall enlist Uncle Phillips to assist me in other matters, including keeping the servants and staff honest. If my son is to inherit, I wish him to inherit a prosperous estate.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Your plans are sound, sister. I believe you are more than capable of managing the estate in our father’s stead. When your son is old enough, you can give your responsibilities over to him.”
“We do not know if my child is a son yet,” Jane cautioned her sister. “Though I wish it so, if only to know my future is secure, I cannot be certain until he or she arrives.”
“I know. Wishful thinking and such nonsense. Perhaps if we hope and pray hard enough, our desires will be manifested!” Elizabeth chuckled, and Jane joined her.
“I am happy to be here with you, Lizzy,” she said to her sister. “I did not take it well when Mr. Collins told me I could not write.” Tears pricked her eyes, and Jane looked away so that her sister could not see. “I meant to defy him, of course; my actions were quite unlike the biddable girl Mama believes she raised.”
Elizabeth laughed again. “Yes, I think our mother will be surprised when confronted with this tower of resolve and strength!”
They both laughed. The conversation turned to other things, and soon it came time for the midday meal. Jane linked arms with Elizabeth, and they tried to find their way to the small dining room. After two wrong turns and directions from a footman, they found the right door and entered the room.
Georgiana had already come down with Mrs. Annesley, but Darcy was nowhere to be seen. Jane wondered if his absence had anything to do with her presence and glanced expectantly at Elizabeth, wondering if her sister knew her husband’s whereabouts. Elizabeth shrugged and proceeded to fill a plate from the sideboard.
After lunch, the four ladies returned to the blue drawing room. Jane retrieved her workbasket from the yellow parlor, working carefully on one of the gowns for her child. Elizabeth and Georgiana had a book between them and discussed the various merits of the heroine.
The butler appeared at the door and addressed Elizabeth. “If you please, madam, there is a carriage in the drive.”
Elizabeth looked surprised. She stood, and Jane and Georgiana followed suit. “Do you know who it is, Palmer?” Jane’s sister asked as they followed the butler from the room.
“It appears to be Mr. Bingley’s ma’am.”
Jane froze, her heart stuttering at the sound ofhisname.It cannot be.
Elizabeth turned to a footman. “Find Mr. Darcy, if you please, and tell him to meet us here.”
Darcy
He backed away from the door, his heart thumping painfully against his chest.What had she meant when she said her feelings from last April are different?Elizabeth’s words had struck him with force, and he found himself reevaluating their every action since the day he proposed.
Mrs. Collins had claimed she did not wish to be a point of conflict. Did she mean conflict between him and Elizabeth? So far, they had disagreed rarely and had always resolved things quickly. How could the sister’s presence create a problem?
He did not deny to himself that having Mrs. Collins in his home discomposed him. He did not enjoy associating with fortune hunters, let alone having one live with him. He supposed Elizabeth loved her sister, just as Bingley loved his. They could not help their relations.
He retreated to his study, closing the door and absorbing himself in his work. His thoughts made him uncomfortable, and he did not wish to examine them too closely. At least not now.
An hour passed, and a footman appeared at the door. “Mrs. Darcy has asked me to fetch you, sir,” he said. “She is in the entryway.”
Frowning, Darcy nodded. He followed the footman out of his study and to the designated location. Elizabeth stood there, armaround her sister. Georgiana stood behind them, and all three turned at his approach. The glare his wife directed his way baffled him.What can she have to be angry about?
