Mrs. Bennet extended a letter. “Your father’s cousin, Mr. William Collins, has requested permission to visit. He has received early preferment and is now in want of a wife. His patroness has directed him to seek one from among his cousins. He will arrive on Monday next, at four o’clock. If Mr. Goulding may have Jane and Mr. Collins may have you, I shall be satisfied.”
Mr. Goulding? He was sixty if he was a day. And the way he stared caused one’s stomach to turn. Elizabeth turned to Jane, who looked green.
“Has Mr. Goulding requested permission to call upon Jane?” Elizabeth asked.
Mrs. Bennet huffed. “Of course not. A man of his age? But once I send word offering her hand, he will understand himself welcome.” She patted Jane’s arm. “Today we ordered three new gowns, and when he sees how lovely she is, he will not be able to refuse my offer.”
Elizabeth turned again to Jane, who appeared ready to faint.
“Mamma,” Elizabeth said, “Aunt Phillips mentioned that influenza has fallen upon some in Harpenden. Jane looks quite unwell. Perhaps she has taken the illness while out shopping.”
Jane lowered her eyes and seemed to wilt against the chair in which she sat.
Mrs. Bennet gasped. “Jane, you do look ill. Come, I will help you upstairs. You must take to your bed and be kept away from your sisters. Mr. Collins will not be able to visit if there is illness in the house.”
She took Jane by the arm. “Elizabeth, you remain here. If it becomes necessary, I shall send Jane to my sister Phillips. Mr. Collins must not be delayed, or he may find himself another wife elsewhere.”
Elizabeth wondered how long Jane might postpone a courtship with such a man. There was something deeply amiss with Mr. Goulding. He had already buried two wives, both years younger than himself.
Chapter 3: A Disturbing Prospect
“Mr. Bennet, have you heard there is an influenza outbreak in Harpenden? And we had the misfortune of shopping there for four hours today. Now my poor Jane has sickened. I am sending up a tray for her dinner.”
Lydia sat at the table, enjoying a generous repast. Mrs. Bennet reached out and touched her forehead with the back of her hand. “Lydia, my dear, you seem well enough.”
Mr. Bennet smirked. “If appetite is any indication, Lydia enjoys excellent health and spirits.”
Kitty glanced at her mother. “Are you not concerned for me, Mamma? I too was in Harpenden today.”
Mrs. Bennet waved the remark aside. “Kitty, you never sicken. Why cannot my poor Jane be as stout as you are?”
Mary and Elizabeth ate quietly and said little.
When she had finished, Elizabeth asked to be excused. “I should like to go upstairs and rest.”
“Yes, go up at once, and you too, Mary. We must not have any of you fall ill, or Mr. Jones will quarantine the house, Mr. Collins will not come, and we shall end our days in the hedgerows.”
Mr. Bennet clucked his tongue. “Mr. Collins has remained unwed these many years. He is five and twenty, Mrs. Bennet. He can easily wait another month. Pray, compose yourself. All is not yet lost.”
Elizabeth and Mary rose and left the room. When they reached the landing, Elizabeth murmured, “Come with me to Jane’s room. We must speak with her about Lydia.”
Mary hesitated. “Jane is already distressed over Mr. Goulding. She may not wish to hear of Lydia’s troubles as well.”
Elizabeth remained silent until they reached the second floor. “Perhaps Lydia’s salvation will be tied to Jane’s. Let us see what we can contrive.”
The two sisters tapped on the door and then entered to find Jane sitting at a table, her tray scarcely touched.
Elizabeth sat beside her. “You must eat, Jane, to keep your strength. Mary and I have come to speak of Lydia. In saving her, we may also save you.”
Alarmed, Jane asked, “What has our little sister done now?”
Elizabeth told all that had occurred that day and of what she had learned from Mrs. Hill.
“But what can we do?” Jane asked. “We have no money. Mamma would never allow us to send Lydia to London, and if she learned where she was, she would bring her home at once.”
Mary said, “But Papa would not. He might well leave her to Uncle Edward for a few weeks and consider himself fortunate to have Lydia’s noise removed from the house.”
“That is true,” Elizabeth said. “But our mother must be persuaded.”
