Page 5

“Lizzie, come with me please.”

The family were amazed to watch the 41 year old Fanny Bennet stamp her foot like a toddler. Once more the study door was closed. And they all heard the key being turned in the lock.

“Come and sit down Lizzie.”

The beaten down tone effectively set the mood.

“Let me be clear at the start. I believe you, I believe your side of the story, and as my daughter of 20 years I am completely confident that I know your character. You are blameless in both spirit and fact.”

They all knew what was coming.

“But you are well and truly damned in reality. Let me clarify matters. Neither Mr. Darcy nor Mr. Bingley said anything when Miss Bingley made her disgusting remarks?”

Elizabeth shook her head.

“Either would have been useful. Mr. Bingley as it was his sister who uttered the words, but Mr. Darcy even more so as he is a gentleman of consequence. And the servants?”

Elizabeth closed her eyes and thought.

“Both of the Nichols, they were the first there with Jane. Three footmen, two of whom got Hurst out of the bedroom. There were two maids in the hall and one in the bedroom, she came through the servants’ door. It is one of Smith girls, the tenant on the Purvis estate.”

“So a local. And the other servants? All but one were local, just Miss Bingley’s maid was from London. Seven local servants plus the Bingley party. Every house within the area will know by the end of the day. It will be known throughout the northern half of the county by next Sunday.”

“What are we to do?”

Elizabeth went with the plural, hoping that she still had the support of her family. Bennet noticed her phrasing although he made no comment.

“I do not know. At the very minimum you will need to stay with the Gardiners in London.”

“For how long?”

“I do not know.”

The silence was painful. Eventually Bennet stood up.

“I suggest you retire to your room. I will send a note to Jane at Netherfield Park telling her to pack and to be ready to leave at 2.00. Is your trunk packed?”

She nodded.

“Good.”

Elizabeth could see her father looking for every excuse to avoid telling this to his wife.

“Off you go Lizzie.”

When Elizabeth unlocked and opened the door it was to find the entire family standing in the hall.

“Lizzie!”

Mrs. Bennet got no further. Her husband stepped out of his study behind their daughter.

“You may retire to your room Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet, your brother is in trade yet you, married to the master of this estate, insist on screeching like a hoyden. Come here at once. The rest of you, if I find any of my daughters in the hall in five seconds then there will be no allowances next quarter.”

Three Bennet children all but ran to the dining room. Elizabeth climbed the stairs leaving Martha Philips standing alone in the hall. Her husband looked at Bennet. He in turn shrugged.

“Fanny will run and tattle to her immediately, she might as well hear it. Let her join us.”

Fanny Bennet’s scowl was getting ever more severe. Three times she had been called to task that morning and it was not yet 9.00.