A Mutual Accord

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

I t being so late in the autumn, there was no ice, the ice houses had been empty for months, but there was no shortage of cold water from the wells at this time of year. Darcy and Bingley withdrew, and under the supervision of Mr Jones, Jane’s feverish body was bathed in cold water for hours to bring down her fever. Later in the afternoon, Mr Bennet arrived on horseback in response to a message from Elizabeth. He brought a valise of clothes for both daughters, and agreed with Mr Jones that bleeding Jane was out of the question.

“Your mother has taken to her bed in fear for Jane,” Mr Bennet said privately to Elizabeth when they were alone with her sister. “I do wish she might be more useful at such a time, Lizzy, but we know her limitations. I do believe that she has learned her lesson about these matchmaking schemes. She was kneeling by her bed when I departed, praying for forgiveness, and promising that if Jane might be spared that she will never attempt any such stratagem ever again.”

Mr Bennet and Elizabeth were invited to remain. Elizabeth was amused, because she had no intention of leaving her sister, invitation or no invitation, but she thanked Mr Bingley and resumed her place by her sister’s bed. Mr Bennet dined downstairs with their hosts that evening, and Elizabeth maintained her place by Jane’s side.

The following morning, Mr Bennet took her place for a time while Elizabeth went outdoors to stretch her legs. It was dawn, and she would not have left Jane for anything, but Mr Bennet insisted she would make herself ill. She was instructed not to return until she had taken a long walk and broken her fast. She met Mr Darcy on her walk, and he joined her. Elizabeth wondered what he meant by it. It was one thing to cure his boredom by peppering her with questions when he was accompanying his friend on his calls and they were thrown together, but Elizabeth could not understand why he would seek her out without reason. He asked her a great number of questions about her knowledge of the tenants at Netherfield, and said that Bingley had resolved to pay the apothecary fees for all families affected by the little outbreak, and had sent baskets to all of them. His sisters had scornfully refused to visit the households as they ought, and spoke scathingly about Miss Bennet putting herself in harm’s way and then exposing her neighbours to illness. Somehow, this did not surprise Elizabeth.

The ladies were not present at breakfast, Elizabeth expected they would be down in a few more hours, as they had been the day before when she arrived. There was little discussion at the table as she ate with her host and his guest. When she had finished, Mr Bingley asked what he could send to improve Jane’s comfort. “Her fever has not abated, Mr Bingley, and I would like to see if we can improve it. Also she needs special liquids. Could some boiled water and willow bark tea be sent up with an invalid feeder? Also, a small container of salt, and if a few lemons or oranges can be spared, that will help, I think.”

Later, the gentlemen visited while Elizabeth and Mr Bennet were in the room with the apothecary. “Miss Elizabeth, what is that drink you are making?” asked Darcy with interest, watching Elizabeth mix salt in a glass and squeeze some juice from an orange into it, and pour it into the invalid feeder.

“Tis a miracle, is what it is.” The apothecary interrupted as he felt Jane’s head. “The fever is lower, Miss Lizzy. That is good.”

“One day while we were on our way to visit Queenie, there was a boy, a squatter’s son, who was near to swooning from lack of food,” Elizabeth explained. “When he fell to his knees, Queenie instructed him to suck on his hand. She told him that your skin has salt in it, and people need salt, and that if you feel giddy, you should suck the salt from your palm. Another time, when Mrs Mather’s daughter was ill, I remembered it, and then also remembered reading something about sick people needing lots of clean water, and fruit. I mixed a small amount of salt into some water, and added some juice from some lemons that we were able to acquire from Lady Lucas. We forced a great deal of it down her with the invalid feeder over two days. It seemed to help, but I am unsure. It might have been a coincidence, and it is more likely that it was Mr Jone’s attentions that did it.”

“It was that drink that did it, I would wager my teeth upon it,” Mr Jones insisted. “Ever since, I have carried a lemon and a small container of salt with me in my bag. You must boil the water, mind. The last thing a sick person requires is another infection brought on by dirty water from a public drinking source.”

Mr Darcy was impressed by Elizabeth’s intelligence and dedication to helping others, not only her own sister, but also her father’s tenants, those of her neglectful neighbours, and even the children of poor squatter’s families. The men left Elizabeth and Jane with the apothecary and Mrs Nicholls, then spent the day in Bingley’s study, where their host took the opportunity to question Bennet thoroughly regarding his knowledge of Netherfield, its tenants, and the surrounding area. After learning that the people on the lands he leased were suffering, Bingley had gotten no sleep, and was now determined to right as many wrongs as he could. He took the opportunity of questioning someone who had a great deal of local knowledge. Bennet seemed to be intelligent, but it was said locally that the man had lost the heart for improving his own estate when his young son, the fourth of his children, had died at the age of five.

Jane’s fever lingered for two more days and finally broke. The young woman spent another week at Netherfield convalescing. Her mother visited her the day after she awoke and became lucid, which was the same day her father returned to Longbourn. Mrs Bennet saw Jane alone in her rooms, and apologised to her for having sent her on horseback, and promised never to do any such thing again to any of her girls. She then went down with Elizabeth and her other daughters to take tea with the Bingleys in the drawing room. The young ladies were full of news about the regiment, which had arrived, and the officers who had so far singled them out for attention. There was soon to be a card party at the home of their aunt, and a party at the home of the Lucases as well. Every household wanted to be among the first to welcome the regiment to the neighbourhood.

“Did you find Miss Bennet well, Mrs Bennet?” asked Bingley, when it was clear that his sisters had no intention of being civil, and making Mrs Bennet feel welcome to visit them again anytime soon.

“Oh no, Mr Bingley!” Mrs Bennet exclaimed. “She is still a great deal too ill to be moved. We shall have to trespass on your kindness a little longer.”

“I would not hear of Miss Bennet being moved!” cried Bingley. “She must stay another fortnight, at least!”

Mrs Bennet was well pleased with this answer, and next, Lydia put herself forward and reminded Mr Bingley of his promise at the assembly to throw a private ball. “And just think of how charming a private ball will be with the militia in the neighbourhood!”

“When your sister has recovered, Miss Lydia, you shall name the very day,” promised Mr Bingley.

Next followed a conversation between Mrs Bennet and Mr Bingley regarding his tenants. She had heard from Mr Bennet that Mr Bingley was attempting to improve their situations, and this led her to telling Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst a bit about this family or that, and what might be done to help certain households.

“I assure you, Mrs Bennet, that my sister and I have little to do with such matters," said Miss Bingley, with her nose raised high.

“Is that so, Miss Bingley? I did know that you were from trade, but I had heard that your family wished to raise their status. I beg your pardon, that was my mistake,” Mrs Bennet apologised.

“I beg your pardon? What is that supposed to mean?” asked Caroline Bingley.

“Well, Miss Bingley, I had heard that you have hopes of marrying into the first circles,” answered Mrs Bennet. “All gentlemen, great noblemen included, have country estates, and some even possess numerous very large properties. If a property is to be profitable, the people who do the work must be looked after, to ensure that they are healthy and thriving, or the estate suffers, and your husband’s wealth will be threatened. This is the responsibility of the mistress of the estate. I did not know this either, when I married my husband, I married up too, you know, my father was a solicitor. But I was fortunate. My mother-in-law taught me what I must know, and I, in turn, passed it onto my daughters. If it is true that you wish to marry up, you will need to learn these things, in which case you are fortunate that your brother leased this place, for it is a good opportunity for you to learn along with him.”

“Charles, how can you let her insult me like this?” shrieked Miss Bingley.

“I do not understand. Have I been misinformed?” asked Mrs Bennet in confusion.

“No, Mrs Bennet, you have not. It is true that my sisters and I have been raised by the fortunes of my father from trade. My sisters, however, prefer not to be reminded of this,” answered Bingley, amused by his sisters being put in their place so inadvertently by the well-intentioned matron. “Caroline, you should be thanking Mrs Bennet. Many ladies would just as soon cut you as share their knowledge. It is the responsibility of a gentleman’s wife to see to these matters. You can refuse all you like, but that will not make gentlemen wish to marry you.”

“You might find a nice politician who will have you, if being the mistress of an estate does not suit you, Miss Bingley,” said Mrs Bennet. “My cousin had a season in London, and she married a politician. He had no estate, just a handsome fortune, and they spent their whole year in town, entertaining. It suited her well, until she and her husband died of the cholera. However, if you do wish to marry a gentleman, and you wish to learn what you must know, you may visit me at Longbourn whenever you wish. I attend estate matters on Tuesday and Thursday, and my daughters would be good enough to introduce you to your tenants, if you should wish to go visiting.”

“I am certain that Caroline and Lousia are very grateful to you for your kind offer, Mrs Bennet,” said Bingley, glaring at his sister.

“Jane and I visit Netherfield’s tenants on the third Wednesday of each month, Miss Bingley,” said Elizabeth, not really expecting to be taken up on her offer. “You and your sister are welcome to join us.”

“Why on earth would one visit someone else’s tenants anyway?” demanded Caroline snidely. “Ought you not mind affairs on your own estate?”

“I think what Caroline wishes to say is that you are very good to lend a hand wherever it is needed, Miss Elizabeth,” interrupted Bingley, glaring at his sister.

“Mrs Hurst shall join you,” spoke up Hurst from the corner.

“Mr Hurst, I beg your pardon!” exclaimed his wife.

“No point waiting for my parents to die to begin learning, Mrs Hurst,” her husband insisted. “It is damned good of Mrs Bennet to offer. Mrs Bennet, my wife will be very happy to visit you on a Tuesday or Thursday, just as soon as Miss Bennet has recovered and returned to Longbourn. I am certain Louisa is very interested in meeting the tenants here at Netherfield, Miss Elizabeth.”

Mrs Hurst glared at her husband while Miss Bingley glared at her brother. Mrs Bennet and her youngest three daughters took their leave, and departed, and Elizabeth returned upstairs.

Jane recovered swiftly after her fever broke. Two days later, she was able to come downstairs after dinner to spend a pleasant hour in the drawing room. Elizabeth saw her into a comfortable chair by the fire, where she was attended solicitously by Mr Bingley, then retreated to a quiet corner with a book. Mr Darcy was writing a letter, while Miss Bingley and Mr and Mrs Hurst played cards. They invited Elizabeth to join them, but she thanked them and declined.

“Do you prefer reading to cards? How singular,” observed Mr Hurst.

“Eliza Bennet despises cards,” said Miss Bingley. “She is a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else.”

“I deserve no such praise, nor such censure,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “While I do greatly enjoy the written word, I must admit that I take pleasure in many things.”

“What else do you take pleasure in, besides reading and early morning walks?” asked Darcy with interest.

“I enjoy helping my father with estate matters, and visiting our tenants. I also like assisting the rector with church activities, and I do enjoy society. I have been greatly amused at my share of card parties in the village. Tonight, I believe I am too tired for cards,” Elizabeth said, stifling a yawn. “Jane is restless when she’s ill. I have slept little of late.”

“How quaint,” mocked Caroline. “To be satisfied by such simple pleasures.”

Elizabeth had the wit to know when she was being insulted. “Simple though my pleasures may be, having been born a gentleman’s daughter, I suppose one might say I was raised to them, so I am satisfied. Gently bred ladies are content with such pursuits.”

Jane was scandalised by her sister’s cheek, but Miss Bingley had not the wit to know when she was insulted. The rest of the room did, and Charles was fit to burst in his effort not to laugh. Mr Hurst was smirking, and even Darcy was hard put to fight the turn at the edge of his lips.

“We shall have to assign a maid to sit with your sister tonight, Eliza. We want you to have your strength so you may return directly to these charming endeavours as soon as may be,” sneered Miss Bingley

“Do not trouble yourself, Caro ,” Elizabeth replied. “I expect that my sister and I should return home to our father’s estate quite soon. A night in my own bed shall soon set me to rights.”

“ Caro ?” Miss Bingley echoed.

“Oh, had we not reverted to given names, Miss Bingley?” Elizabeth said, impishly. “Of course I do not recall having invited you to use mine, but I must have done at some point, or I am certain you never would have presumed.”

“I do not prefer Caro ,” Miss Bingley snapped, irritated to be reminded that as the higher rank as a gentleman’s daughter, Elizabeth must be the one to extend such an invitation.

“I do apologise,” replied Elizabeth with a smile, “I do not prefer to be called Eliza, so perhaps we have that in common.”

“I have heard Miss Lucas call you Eliza,” interjected Mrs Hurst.

“Ah, the privileges of lifelong friendship cannot be set aside,” Elizabeth quipped. “But since neither of us cares for such familiarity amongst those we do not know as well, I believe we should continue on with our surnames, do not you, Miss Bingley?”

“Indeed,” sniffed Miss Bingley.

At this, Elizabeth noticed that her sister looked weary, and Mr Bingley noticed as well, just at the same moment. Though Jane objected weakly, Elizabeth bundled her back up to her room, where they remained for the rest of the evening. Jane came downstairs for slightly longer periods each day for the rest of the week, and then requested the use of Mr Bingley’s carriage to return home, for, in direct opposition to her recent promise, Mrs Bennet was finding excuses not to send her husband's carriage.