“Come, Jane, let us leave Mama to it. We are clearly in the way.”
A few minutes, later, they heard the bell ring, and she heard Mr. Crompton’s voice.
Elizabeth sighed deeply.
“I am not happy about any of this,” she said. “I only hope no one comes to hear of it. I wish Papa were here to put an end to all this nonsense. Why does this have to happen just when Papa is away? He never goes anywhere.”
“Papa will be pleased to know that you already miss him when he has barely been gone half a day,” said Jane, with a gentle smile, “But think of it this way. At least no one will pressure you into marrying Mr. Collins, so you have nothing to worry about.”
Elizabeth could not help smiling. “You always try to find the good in every situation, Jane. In this instance, you are quite right.”
She thought of Mr. Collins’ blundering proposal and shuddered. “I shall be glad to be spared the problem of having to refuse him. You have no idea how awkward it was. I think it unfair that ladies are expected to sit through proposals and are expected to listen politely even when the gentleman’s very manner of proposing is insulting.” She took a deep breath. “I sincerely hope I will never have to listen to such a proposal again.”
She shook her head. “I do not regret the interruption, but Mama is taking a risk by claiming to be very ill. What if someone were to hear of it?”
“No one will hear of it,” said Jane reassuringly. “Mr. Crompton is discreet, and he is used to Mama’s nervous ailments. The only person we need to worry about is Mr. Collins, and I am sure Mama knows how to deal with him. You can relax now in the knowledge that Mr. Collins is no longer your problem.”
“You are right,” said Elizabeth, throwing herself down on the bed with a smile. “The situation is completely in hand, and I cannot tell you how relieved I am.”
Chapter 3
27 November 1811, around noontime
The apothecary, Mr. Crompton, arrived soon after. Elizabeth was impressed with the speed with which Mr. Collins was able to find him. It seemed she had misjudged her cousin.
Lydia came bouncing into the room a few minutes after he had climbed up to Mrs. Bennet’s room.
“Kitty and I hate the sight of blood,” she said. “You must go, Lizzy.”
So much for leaving it to Mama to deal with the apothecary.
When she went into Mama’s bedchamber, she found Mrs. Bennet pretending that she was too weak to move. Her left arm was hanging limply over the side of the bed.
Mr. Crompton was frowning as he prodded her here and there, took her pulse, then asked for a bowl so he could blood-let her.
Mrs. Bennet gave a little moan, and Elizabeth knew she needed to put a stop to the bloodletting or Mama would faint in earnest.
