Chapter 17
“Lizzy was all of twitter about Lieutenant Wickham’s failure to arrive at the ball,” Lydia informed the party at breakfast. “You need not have concerned yourself Lizzy,” she said. “For Lieutenant Wickham would never look at you. He told me himself at Aunt Phillips and you are an old maid.”
“Old Maid,” Mrs Bennet burst in before Elizabeth could react. “What nonsense are you speaking child. Old maid at not even one and twenty. I have never heard such an outrageous suggestion.”
“You must have misunderstood him or misheard him,” Jane inserted.
“Indeed I did not,” Lydia proclaimed most passionately. “For he said quite clearly that you Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary are all beyond the eligible age for marriage. And that Kitty is not far behind you all. That only I am still of interest to men of worth, such as himself.” She said with a superior tone.
“I have never heard such rubbish,” her mother stated. “You are only just out of the nursery and in no way old enough to be considering marriage,” her mother informed her.
“Here, here,” her father agreed.
Elizabeth was most perplexed. Could Lieutenant Wickham have truly told Lydia such a thing? What could his purpose be in making such a declaration?
She looked at her father and saw the frown which she knew her own face held, reflected on his.
The conversation was brought to a halt by a letter delivered from Netherfield and presented to Jane. She scanned the letter her face going from joyful to sorrow in moment. She then threw the letter on the table and dashed from the breakfast room. Elizabeth saw the tears glistening in her eyes as she fled. Her eyes turned to the letter and then sprinted after her most beloved sister. Before she closed the door she heard Mr Collins exclaim, “I say”. Thankfully, the closing door cut of whatever comment he added.
“He is gone,” Jane said, a sob escaping before she continued. “He does not love me, and he has left the county.” The last was said before her sobs turned to opened hearted bawl. Elizabeth sat down on Jane’s bed drawing her sister into a hug.
“He wrote you to say he is leaving and does not love you?” she asked not understanding how this could be. Jane must have misunderstood.
Jane shook her head, but it was some minutes before she could speak. “Miss Bingley wrote to say that they are all leaving the county with no intention of returning,” she said with a sniffle.
“Oh,” Elizabeth said, “dry your eyes my dear,” she advised patting her on the back. “We always knew that Mr Bingley was to leave for town to conduct some business for a few days. Be assured that Miss Bingley and their party following him thus will make no difference. I saw how he looked at you. Have no fear, he will return in less than a week,” Jane looked up at her, drying her eyes.
“Do you truly think so Lizzy,” she asked, her voice a bare whisper.
“I know so,” Elizabeth reassured.
Every morning for the next two weeks Elizabeth awaited to hear of Mr Bingley’s return. And every day that passed withno word, Jane grew paler and her grief more intense. But no sign of that gentleman came. On the Sunday, a fortnight hence, Mr Bennet called his family to the drawing room. Mr Collins having gone to visit with Lucas’.
“Well my dear,” he said to Jane, “Mr Bingley has gone.”
“Papa,” Elizabeth interceded, her tone exasperated.
“Do not Papa me Lizzy. There is little point in Jane continue to grief a man who has proved himself unworthy of my most sweet natured daughter.” Jane looked at him, her eyes still hooded with sadness.
“He has gone my dear,” he reiterated. “But more than that,” he said, reaching over and patting her hand. “He has proved that he does not deserve you. I am telling you that it is time to stop mourning a man who would not fight for you.” Jane nodded. Elizabeth did not think that feelings could be changed by instruction. But Jane had always been a dutiful daughter, and Elizabeth knew she would try her best
“I also want you know that if, at some future point, Mr Bingley should return to this neighbourhood. Or if we should happen across him in town. I forbid, absolutely forbid him to be allowed to pay court to you or any of my daughters again,” he said looking around the room. Not just at his daughters but at Mrs Bennet as well.
“I tell you this Jane so that you will know that your grief is of no use. It is ended,” he said, and standing he patted Jane’s head. “I could not release you to one so unworthy,” he said before leaving for his study.
The next couple of weeks Longbourn continued to lack it usual joy and chatter. The promised governess had arrived two days after the Netherfield ball. On her arrival she was greeted with the two youngest Bennet girls unusually quiet. Even with the drama of Jane’s disappointment, Elizabeth had been pleased to see her father follow through with his promise todiscipline the girls. They had both been sent to the nursery and had even been precluded from joining the family for dinner.
Mrs Featherworth had taken them in hand. And indeed their boredom had assisted her in the first few days. However, Lydia had not lost her headstrong ways and had snuck from the house without her governess four days after her arrival. Kitty, her shadow and erstwhile minder accompanying her. Their father and John had gone in the carriage to retrieve them from Meryton. Whereupon the girls had been conversing with Captain Carter and Lieutenant Wickham. From her father’s telling, they had been quite cowed when they saw him. He had not needed to say a word. He merely had John open the carriage door and in they entered without the need to create a scene.
Elizabeth was glad of this. Ever since Lydia had told her what Lieutenant Wickham had said to her. She had been uneasy thinking of it. That a man of more than eight-twenty would said that only girl of just sixteen was of an age to interest men, was most disconcerting. Elizabeth had felt quite uncomfortable whenever he spoke to her youngest sister ever since. Her father had told her that the governess as to be put on notice. But she had not felt this was quite the thing. To abdicate his responsibility to temper his daughter’s behaviour to that lady seemed wrong. But she knew her father too well to try to persuade him.
Elizabeth had looked out the window at the carriages return. A brazen Lydia had exited her head high. Kitty had followed her from the carriage, her face bent towards the ground. Lydia’s head had not remained high when her father had matched them both back to the nursey. Their father had often called them two of the silliest girls in England. But neither Lydia nor Kitty were stupid, and this correction had been all that had been required.
Mrs Featherworth was an excellent addition to the family. She had been treated with the deserved respect. Given second guest room, Mr Collins still being in possession of the first. And included in all social invitations received by the family.
Elizabeth had been impressed with her management of her mother. She felt sure that Mrs Fitzherbert had briefed her on the requirements for all the family. On the second day, she had notified Mrs Bennet that she would be teaching the younger girls court etiquette. She suggested that the older girls, given that they were to go to London for the following season, would also benefit from attending these classes. And then added that Mrs Bennet might like to observe, to ensure there was nothing Mrs Featherworth should add. Elizabeth and her father had shared arch smile at this diplomacy.
Elizabeth had thought her father’s words to Jane had been too harsh. But it seemed that it had been what Jane had needed. For slowly, in the weeks leading to Christmas time, she began to come back to herself. Maybe she did not smile quite as easily as before. But neither did she seem as lost in sorrow.
Christmas brought her Uncle Gardiner, Aunt Madeline and their four young children to Longbourn. The high spirits of the children raised everyone’s hearts. And if their Uncle Gardiner spent more time than usual in her father’s study with him. None were overly curious. Well except for Elizabeth. She refrained from asking any questions, for she knew that her father would reveal matters in his own time.
