Page 4
Book 1 Chapter 2
“Congratulations Jane, you look wonderful. What is it they say, a motherhood glow? You definitely have that.”
Rather than smile and accept the congratulations Jane Oliphant merely grimaced.
“I suppose giving thanks for the congratulations is to be expected, so thank you Lizzie. I am just glad my condition allows me to lock my door to my husband.”
There was real bitterness, close to venom, in Jane’s tone. Elizabeth was shocked at her usually kind sister’s reaction.
“I do not know what to say.”
Jane’s grimace slowly faded.
“You are looking at the living embodiment of ‘marry in haste, repent at leisure’.”
“Even more than our parents.”
“As you are a maiden I cannot tell you of the demands that Mr. Oliphant made of me in the marriage bed. The first week of my marriage was spent in tears every time I thought of it. Now that I am with child he has gone back to his whores in London.”
She took her sister’s hands.
“If I receive notice that he is to return here then I will send you on your way in time. Should he turn up without warning you need to understand that you will be leaving immediately. I could not bear to think of anything happening to you while a guest in the house.”
Elizabeth’s blood ran cold at the urgent sincerity in Jane’s voice.
“Really?”
Her voice was no more than a whisper.
“It is sufficiently possible that I would not like to risk it. Enough of Mr. Oliphant, how are you Lizzie?”
“Worried about you Jane. There is nothing you can do?”
“Remember the wedding vows. I must obey him, serve him, love and honour him. Let it be Lizzie. There will many visits over the coming years where we can discuss the shortcomings of my husband. If I can deliver the traditional heir and spare during my first two confinements the door will be permanently locked. Now what news in Hertfordshire?”
Elizabeth could see that Jane was determined to move on from the discussion of her husband. It was Elizabeth’s turn to shock her sister by recounting her dreadful experience at the Assembly.
“You had not been introduced when they first arrived?”
Elizabeth shook her head.
“By the time Mrs. Bennet had dragged Lydia from the refreshment table both this Mr. Darcy and the other gentleman Mr. Hurst had wandered off. Jane giggled.
“You make them sound like sheep.”
“I do not know how else to describe it. It was ignorant of them, better to be thought ovine than rude.”
“Lizzie!”
For the first time Elizabeth got a genuine smile.
“I am surprised you did not say anything that night.”
“If I had come across Charlotte then I might have spoken of it, but she was dancing. I told Mary I would talk of it back at Longbourn. My biggest issue was trying to calm down. If there had a spare riding crop lying on a table I might have turned it on him. I was that angry. Forget him. He is only there for a few weeks helping this Bingley fellow settle. He will be long gone and best forgotten by the time I return.”
“And Mary?”
“She was waiting for a reply from Aunt Gardiner when your carriage arrived. We both feel sorry for poor Kitty but not sorry enough to stay. You know Mrs. Bennet will insist of bringing Lydia to his attention. She is only 15 but it will not stop Mrs. Bennet.”
