“Dear Eliza,” she said, her tone sympathetic. “When I heard you had travelled all the way to Netherfield on foot, I was simply aghast! You know you are always welcome to use our carriage, and most especially at such a time as this! You are family! Your little stubborn streak of independence wounds us so deeply, my dear. But how can I criticise you, when I realise how worried you must have been! I can tell by the sallowness of your skin, the dark circles beneath your eyes, that you have slept very little. How does dearest Jane do? Oh, I have been beside myself with worry, and was desperately hoping you would send word.”
Her eyes filled with tears; her concern appeared real.However, he did not miss the many subtle reproaches in her words, and if ‘Dear Eliza’ had any flaw in her complexion, it was not noticeable to Darcy; rather, these were direct if delicate digs.
“Jane is much improved this morning, although she has had a bad couple of days. Mr Darcy, this is Mrs Ashwood. She—” His houseguest began an introduction; however, she was interrupted before she could finish her sentence or he could finish his bow.
“Oh, there are simplytoomany Mrs Ashwoods, do not you think? It can be so confusing, and besides, we are in the country, where a little less formality might be excused. Do call me Fanny, Mr Darcy. My husband and I met your good friend, Mr Bingley, not long ago, and I already gave him leave to address me thus.” She gave him a brilliant smile that she doubtless used often and to good effect; her manner was comfortable and informal, with a most welcoming comportment. “Now Eliza, will you not bring me to Jane? I am wild to see her for myself.”
He watched the ladies go, and wondered why the apparently easy-going Fanny Ashwood hated Mrs Elizabeth Ashwood so very much.
It was all Elizabeth could do to maintain a polite smile upon her face, to appear interested and gracious.
Jane smiled at Fanny’s anecdotes, each one designed to bring cheer and amusement to the invalid. Mrs Hurst, who had joined them, appeared rapt at Fanny’s recitations, even of a slightly ribald story.
“And then the duchess sidled right up to the marquessduring the hubbub, and pinched his bottom! He was so tightly bound in those whalebone stays, she was long out of his sight before he could creakily manage to turn round to see who had done the deed. She told me the only likely perpetrator remaining in his view was Lord Beaumont!” Both the other ladies laughed aloud, as everyone in the world knew that his lordship was one of the stuffiest aristocrats of theton. As usual, Fanny successfully held the attention of her listeners—she was an excellent storyteller, as no one could deny, and could match the tale to her audience. In this case, she had rightly judged Mrs Hurst to be impressed by names and intimate details of a society she was only permitted to view from its outer edges; as for Jane, her sense of humour leant more to the physical than the clever, and she was always rather silly when it came to mentions of male anatomy.
“Jane, dear, now that you are feeling so much improved, you must allow me to whisk your poor sister back to Stoke. Did you know shewalkedto Netherfield? It is amazing she did not fall ill herself! She must have beensucha sight, Louisa!”
Mrs Hurst giggled delightedly at this open mockery. “Her hems were six inches deep in mud!”
Fanny could do this so effortlessly—create an aura of easy familiarity, of intimacy—and then those she had designated as her minions would happily say or do whatever was needed to earn her approval.
Not that Mrs Hurst realised that she was to be a minion; no, she wished to be Fanny’sfriend. However, the first rule of friendship in Fanny’s mind was one’s ease of manipulation. Elizabeth had never allowed it, but Jane, sweet, naïve Jane, could not see it for what it was. Jane’s expression was so easyto read—guilt, believing that Elizabeth had walked six miles to attend her, and horror that her sister had appeared before the Bingleys in anything less than perfect propriety. Both of those sentiments motivated her next words.
“Oh, Lizzy, I wish you had not.”
It stung, and yet the triumphant gleam in Fanny’s eyes aided Elizabeth in preventing any of the hurt from showing. “You need not worry for me. When I am ready to leave, I have transportation arranged.”
Elizabeth did not provide any further explanation—which only would have been delicately criticised by Fanny. She managed it regardless.
“I hope you do not intend to put our horses to all the extra trouble of fetching you, when we are already here and could take you now. Besides, I wishsomuch to have a good long gossip on our way home. It would be such a kindness of you, to break up the tedium of the long drive. Do not be stubborn now, Eliza. Is not she the most wilful little creature, Jane?”
How easily she leads them to believe I have the power to send for a carriage from Stoke! How foolish would I have to be, to ever enter a closed carriage with only Fanny Ashwood, where there would be no one else to hear her vicious insults?It would not matter what reply she made, however. No one ever believed the truth, no matter how often she said it. Any protest would be turned into evidence of Elizabeth’s ‘stubborn nature’, a character flaw which Fanny worked into every conversation, pretending boundless affection all the while.
“Neither must you worry I have any designs upon the cattle of Stoke,” Elizabeth replied, using as few words as was possible, hoping to give Fanny less ammunition.
It did not stop her.
“Oh, you do not intend to put dear Louisa out,surelyyou do not. I suppose you will remain here, after all. But Louisa, you must not blame her for imposing. She trusts no one else with her sister’s wellbeing. Do forgive her for it! Once the notion entered her head that any deficiency in Jane’s care might imperil her health, she could do nothing else. Her adoration is of the most clinging quality!”
Mrs Hurst stiffened as she absorbed the intended insult. It would do no good, but Elizabeth tried to refute it.
“Such a thought never crossed my mind. I heard Jane was ill, and I came to her. That is all.”
Fanny laughed lightly. “Oh, come now, silly. One does not tramp six miles through mud and muck, refusing even to wait until I returned home and could provide transport, unless one possesses fears for the safety and welfare of a most beloved sister. Do not worry—Louisa will not take offence. Sheknowshow you are. Our dear, obstinate, headstrong Eliza!”
Jane’s pale complexion reddened.
And that was that. Fanny had succeeded in showing Elizabeth’s actions as offensive towards Mrs Hurst, embarrassing Jane and making it impossible for Elizabeth to ask anyone at all for a ride back to Stoke once Jane was fully recovered, all while masquerading as the fondest relation in the world. It was a particular gift she possessed, and she used it to good effect whenever she could.
9
TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC
Elizabeth had the pleasure of seeing her sister eat more enthusiastically that evening and much to her surprise, Jane begged to join her in going downstairs after dinner. “Are you certain you should, dear? Mr Jones said you ought to remain in bed for at least another full day.”
Jane was certain. “I cannot stand being alone with my thoughts. Please, take me with you.”
“I would be happy to stay here, with you.”
