Chapter Twenty-Three
Mr and Mrs Bingley were acting rather strangely when Jane and Elizabeth joined the others for breakfast, and Jane noticed that Mr Bingley was unobtrusively observing her extensively throughout the meal, and wondered as to the cause.
The others were quite as they usually were, and Jane tried not to worry about Mr and Mrs Bingley’s odd behaviour as she listened to the others make plans for their day.
After breakfast, Georgiana and Mrs Annesley would begin giving all three younger Bennets a lesson in chess, and she implored Elizabeth to join in and help, which Elizabeth agreed to good-naturedly.
After a few hours of this endeavour, the young ladies would read from a novel by Maria Edgeworth and discuss the volume.
Jane was invited to join their party in the library, and would use the opportunity to work on Mrs Bingley’s wrap.
“And we must all gather together in the drawing room for tea at two o’clock this afternoon,” Georgiana announced. “Especially you, Miss Jane, for Lizzy and Mrs Bingley have planned a most exciting surprise!”
Jane looked at Elizabeth and said in suspicion, “What are you up to, Lizzy?”
“Nothing; nothing at all.” Elizabeth was the picture of innocence.
Jane had said nothing about her birthday since she spoke with Sir William and Mr Bennet upon her arrival, but she supposed Elizabeth might have remembered that today was Jane’s birthday, again.
Well… Jane did hope that her friends had not gone to too much trouble, but if they had, she would enjoy their efforts with relish.
She thought regretfully of the roast mutton and syllabub she had missed at the dinner her brother Edward had planned for her. .
Mrs Bingley spoke to her sister-in-law. “Louisa, would you care to assist me with the arrangements for the ball today?”
“I have no idea why I must be expected to assist with the celebrations for your sister’s wedding and ball, when I am forced to stay here in the country and miss the preparations for the wedding of my own sister.” Mrs Hurst sniffed. “I believe I will forgo the delight of being your assistant.”
“So whatever will you do with your time?” her brother demanded. “You avoid the company of my wife and the other guests, you do not call upon the ladies of the village, and you have no charitable endeavours. What on earth do you do all day, Sister?”
“I mind my own business, and hope that others will do the same.” Mrs Hurst crossed her arms.
“Well I for one, am looking forward to the ball. It is not often that I have the opportunity to attend such a lavish private event.” Mr Rupert Hurst paused from cutting his ham. “I was hoping, Miss Mary, that you would be my partner for the first.”
There was a low collective gasp from the young ladies around the room that were shocked by the audacity of Mr Rupert Hurst. Everyone in Meryton knew the unkind words he had spoken about Mary and the other local young ladies.
He was still invited to events as part of Mrs Bingley’s household, but no one actually spoke to him anymore, other than his brother and sister-in-law.
“I am delighted to inform you that Miss Mary is engaged to stand up for the first already, and I warn you, if you ask her again for any set, I shall call you out,” Colonel Fitzwilliam growled.
“Well, really!” Mrs Hurst exclaimed. “Charles, I must object to the behaviour of your guests. I am told that my brother-in-law said something that was taken personally at Longbourn, but truly, anyone who was eavesdropping ought to be ashamed of their own behaviour, and if Rupert is generous enough to dance the first with Miss Mary as penance for his honesty, the girl ought to be grateful!”
“Grateful! That is rich!” Elizabeth spat out. “Grateful for what?”
“Well has anyone ever even seen the girl dance the first with anyone before? It is a distinction that she ought to be grateful for.” Mrs Hurst insisted.
Jane placed a calming hand on Elizabeth’s arm as the young lady nearly began to rise from her chair. Jane thought for a moment her friend might go around the table and place hands upon the other woman.
“Louisa, I wish I knew why it is that every time one of my kin opens their mouth at this table, I must be filled with remorse and mortification, but you and our sister ensure it at every opportunity.” Bingley laid his cup on its saucer and stared at his sister.
“Mr Rupert, it is very unfortunate that you chose to insult my wife’s sister, a woman much loved by her family, and well respected in this village, in the hearing of several others, including Mrs Bingley and myself.
I will not ask you to leave Netherfield after you have been specially invited to spend the festive season with your brother, but please, do not approach any of my sisters by marriage again.
I do not believe any of them will tolerate your attentions, and my mother-in-law will certainly not permit them to stand up with you.
I hope that you somehow repair the damage you have done to your reputation while in Meryton before you leave, it would be the least you could do for me and for Mrs Bingley.
Do not despair, sir; Darcy put his foot in it and insulted the locals when he first arrived last year, and he put it right, did he not, Lizzy? ”
“Of course he did, he proposed to one of them!” Louisa spat.
“Well I do not believe that Mr Rupert is in danger of being accepted by anyone in Meryton, Sister.” Bingley returned his attention to his plate.
“As if my husband’s brother wou-”
“Louisa.” Her husband's tone was quiet but forbidding.
Mrs Hurst huffed and rolled her eyes.
Mr and Mrs Bingley lingered in the breakfast room as the others left, and Jane waited as well, for she could tell they wished to speak with her.
“Miss Jane, we did not wish to put you off of your morning meal, but while you were out with Lizzy, a gentleman arrived with the hope of identifying you as his sister.” Mr Bingley informed her gently. “He seems quite certain from the sketches that he knows you.”
Jane was filled with foreboding, as she was the last time this had happened.
She was not a young girl. There was no reason anyone should be interested in her, but one heard whispers of terrible fates that happened to gentlewomen of all ages who fell into the clutches of evil men. She took a deep breath.
Mrs Bingley stepped in before Jane could speak.
“Miss Jane, I must inform you that I have seen your terror each time someone arrives to identify you. I only want to promise you that you are safe here, and I must ask you, are you certain that you are not hiding from an abusive husband, or someone who wishes to bring harm to you? For we cannot help but comprehend your apprehension, and do not wish to place you in the position of being taken away by someone who might hurt you. You may tell us; Mr Bingley and I will help you.”
Jane gave Mrs Bingley a weak smile. “I assure you, I am not in hiding, and I have no idea how to find my family, truly. You are well within your rights to ask such a question. I fear I only have a deep foreboding each time someone arrives. Well, I cannot recall exactly where I heard such tales, but you must know, Mrs Bingley, as well as I, the stories of wicked men who use gentlewomen of many ages for all sorts of evil deeds. I only fear being taken away by someone I do not recognise.”
“I assure you, Miss Jane, nothing like that will happen to you,” Bingley promised.
“If you do not recognise them, or even if you do, but do not wish to leave with them, we will protect you. You have my word. My wife is a reserved lady, Miss Jane, and does not always show her regard, but I assure you that you have come to be valued by everyone here at Netherfield, including Mrs Bingley, and myself.”
“I thank you, Mr Bingley.” Jane was overwhelmed by the kindness of her two characters. Just the way I wrote them.
Mr Bingley had shown the man to a small parlour at the back of the house, and sent him a tray of breakfast and coffee, then sent for Sir William, who wished to be present to inspect anyone who came looking for Miss Jane.
A footman was on duty in the hall, and Sir William was already within, sipping a cup of coffee as well, when the Bingleys entered, followed by Jane.
“Sister!” The man jumped up from an armchair and hurried to embrace her rather too closely when she entered the room. He held her out at arm’s length. “I am so relieved to see you unharmed!”
Jane had obviously never seen the man before. If this man had been one of her actual brothers, she would have swooned instantly, for it was odd enough for her to turn up in Meryton, but she drew the line at Edward or Henry’s arrival. Who knows what drama and confusion they would cause?
The man was tall, and had longish, greasy red hair combed over a balding pate.
His clothes were that of a gentleman, but fit him ill, and Jane wondered if they were even his own.
He did not stand like a gentleman, but rather hunched over in a subservient manner.
Like a clerk who had bowed before a master for decades.
He appeared to be in his thirties, but carried a distinctly uncomfortable air about him.
Jane felt immediately on her guard, and saw that Mr and Mrs Bingley felt the same.
They both looked at her inquiringly, and she shook her head imperceptibly.
“Bingley! So glad you have joined us. Mrs Bingley, Miss Jane, charming, as always!” Sir William was as good-natured as ever, yet visibly relieved as they entered, so he must have had the same sense about the man, Jane observed.
“Mr Eddy of Manchester, may I introduce my wife, Mrs Bingley, and our guest, Miss Jane, as she is called.” He paused. “I see you have already met our magistrate, Sir William Lucas.”
“Thank you, Mr Bingley.” The awkward man bowed low, then turned to Jane and said, “Are you ready to depart, Sister? It is a long journey back to Manchester. You should thank your new friends, and we shall get you out of their way.”
“Now just a minute!” Sir William objected, as Mrs Bingley cried, “Oh, Charles, do something!”
“Mr Eddy, I fear you must satisfy myself and Sir William of yours and Miss Jane’s identity, before we will allow you to leave with her.” Bingley turned to Jane and said, “Miss Jane, do you know this man?”
“I do not know this man,” Jane said worriedly.
“Of course, you do not, you have amnesia, you poor dear!” Mr Eddy exclaimed. “You will remember everything once you are safe in your own home, I am certain of it. Do you not miss dear Jemima?”
He turned to Mr and Mrs Bingley. “Jemima is my young daughter, named for my dear sister, for Jemima Jane is her proper name. Not Miss Jane, but Jemima Jane Eddy.”
“Does any of this sound familiar to you, Miss Jane? Sir William asked kindly.
“No.” Jane was firm. “None of this feels right.”
Sir William turned to Mr Eddy. “Is she married?”
“No, sadly my sister never received an offer. She is a spinster, sir, and lives on my goodwill, helping me in my home and with my child, since the loss of my dear wife.”
Jane did not know how anyone might ever believe a word this man said. She did not know what he wanted with a strange gentlewoman, but it was certainly not to look after his home and child.
“And how old is your sister, sir?” Sir William pressed.
“She is my elder, just passed forty last spring,” Eddy answered.
“Oh! I am not forty!” Jane objected, perhaps a bit too strenuously.
“All right, Miss Jane, All right.” Sir William patted her hand.
“Sir, Miss Jane says she does not know you, nor does she wish to leave with you. Since you have told us that she is past her majority, and not your wife, we will not compel her to leave with you, nor allow you to take her without her consent.”
“You cannot do that!” Mr Eddy bellowed, shedding his patronising manner and becoming strangely menacing. “What do you care what happens to her? She is a nobody!”
“Charles!” Jane whimpered, clutching at her husband’s arm in fear, then rushed to the door, which she wrenched open and called for the footman.
“Mr Eddy, I do not know what your interest is in our guest, but I must ask you to leave Netherfield and not return.” Bingley drew himself up to his full height. “I have your card. If Miss Jane remembers something, and changes her mind, I will write to you.”
“And since you have no other business in the village, I will have some men escort you to the edge of Meryton.” Sir William stood with Mr Bingley.
“I will not have you here causing mischief, Mr Eddy, not for Miss Jane, nor for anyone else in Meryton. If you have some other business in Meryton in the future, I expect to receive advance notice of your visit, or I shall have you detained for criminal mischief.”
“After you, sir.” The scowling footman James held the door, ready to lead the man to the front of the house.
When the man had gone, Jane sat slowly, shaking and pale.
“Oh, Miss Jane, I see now why you were so frightened! The other man who came before was genuinely looking for someone, he instantly said you were not his sister, and kindly took his leave. This man was so different! He was obviously lying. Charles, whatever could that villain have wanted with her?” Mrs Bingley embraced Jane comfortingly.
“I shudder to surmise the answer to that, my dear. I think we would all be better off not speculating.” Mr Bingley frowned. “If you ladies will excuse us, I believe Sir William and I will ensure that Mr Eddy finds his way out of Meryton.”