Well, her dislike ofhimwas excusable. Her open insult of hisfamilywas not.
“The servants will show you to your room, madam. It is quite respectable, I assure you, and if it is not then I am sure your continued presence will improve it. Bingley, are you coming?”
Bingley barely noticed the exchange between Caroline and Darcy. He was too busy looking worriedly at Jane. Mrs. Darcy had wrapped an arm around her waist, and they were walking away together into the drizzly walled garden.
“Yes, I suppose so, but… Darcy, do you think they will need any assistance? They are such delicate flowers…”
“Elizabeth is much stronger than she looks.” Darcy promised. He was familiar enough with his friend’s lyrical chivalry to resist an eye-roll. “Come on. You beat me last time, and I want to win my shilling back.”
Darcy looked back over his shoulder when he followed his friend indoors. He was shocked by Miss Bennet’s transformation, too. The woman he had pitied in Meryton had looked tired, yes, but nothing like the frail figure who had stepped down from the carriage.
The letter Jane had sent to her sister had been grim, but now Darcy feared that there was much more that Miss Bennet had decided to conceal. Worry dripped icily down his spine. He had seen the colour drain from Elizabeth’s face when she saw her sister. His wife was stronger than she looked, yet, but everyone had their limits.
On the other side of the house, Elizabeth walked with her arm wrapped around her sister’s waist. They were silent. Lizzie knew better than to force a conversation. She would not blame Jane for pretending that everything outside of Pemberley was just abad dream, best forgotten. If she decided not to speak, then Elizabeth would respect that.
But Jane did not stay silent.
She began with genuine sweetness, as was both her habit and her nature. She complimented the fine carriage that had brought her here, and the pleasant time she had spent in London. Jane praised Mr. Bingley unequivocally for his protection and manner. He was cheerful and attentive, sympathetic about her circumstances and, in sum, the best escort one could possibly hope for.
While even Jane could not pretend that Miss Bingley shared a single one of her brother’s adjectives, she still managed to compliment her. Dear, kind Miss Bingley had been firm in Meryton and was the one who had given Jane the nerve to present Mrs. Bennet with her ultimatum.
“It did not go well.” Jane sighed.
Elizabeth clutched her waist a little tighter, “What do you mean? I thought, since you made it here…”
Jane smiled wanly. “Our dear cousin was very eager to collect his prize. He arrived the day before your letter.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked again, her heart pounding in her chest, “You did notaccepthim?”
Her sister shuddered. “I confess I was going to do it. When he proposed, Lizzie, I heard a great roaring in my ears, and everything else fell silent. His mouth opened and closed over and over, but I could not hear a single word. I could not move, or see, or speak. The next thing I knew I was lying on the floor and he was gone. Hills was holding a cold compress to my head. She told me that I vomited on his shoes.”
“Oh, Jane! It is too terrible.”
“I am sure it cleaned off.”
Elizabeth let go of her sister to glare at her. There was no need; a tiny smile danced on her sister’s lips. It was such a welcome sight that she kissed Jane’s cheek.
“Miss Bingley arrived the next day.” Jane continued, “I was still abed, but she was very insistent that I receive her. I agreed for her to come up. Mama sent up some tea, but with only one cup, for her latest tactic was to deny me such indulgences. Of course, dear Caroline noticed her ‘error’ at once. She made a joke about our family owning only one un-chipped cup. It was not funny, but I felt less ashamed of the clear sign of my mother’s displeasure.”
“Mama is the one who should feel ashamed! How dare she…?”
“Hush, dearest, let me finish while I have the nerve. Miss Bingley told me of your plan and showed me your letter so that I knew she was sincere. Oh Lizzie, I thought I would faint a second time! I accepted Caroline’s help at once but asked for a delay. I could not bear to face down mama when I was so unwell.”
Jane shook her head, biting her lip. “Miss Bingley would not agree. She insisted that we must make haste, both for my own sake and for the sake of her arrangements, as her belongings were packed for the journey and her maid had already departed. Seeing that I could barely speak, she brought me a pen and paper and told me I mustwritemy compromise into a letter for mama.”
There was a pause, an awful trembling pause, and Elizabeth braced herself. Jane cleared her throat, looked away, and then blurted out: “Mr. Collins intercepted it. He read it, Lizzie, every word.”
“Oh, Jane.” Lizzie breathed. Jane shivered and wrapped her travelling cloak more tightly around herself.
“Yes. I must say that he only sought out the words that served him. He crowed about my acceptance so loudly that I could hear it upstairs. Then I heard mama crying out, just as loudly, about her ridiculous, selfish daughter! Such words, Lizzie, that broke my heart. I have always tried so hard to be good and obedient, but I failed.”
“You did not!” Elizabeth was outraged, “It was mama who failed. What kind of woman bullies and neglects her child so heartlessly? No Jane, you shall not reproach yourself for her misdeeds. You are here now, and safe, and we need never speak of her again.”
“Lizzie, you must not…”
“You would defend her?” Elizabeth laughed harshly, feeling hot tears pooling at the corners of her eyes. Jane rested a steadying hand on her elbow.
“She acts as she does for the good of our family.”
