Chapter 10
Dear Mother,
I am glad that you and Kitty and Lydia are now safely installed at Netherfield Hall.
Mr. Bingley has sent instructions to his agent regarding monies to be disbursed for food and appropriate clothing for you and my sisters.
Please do not attempt to ask for additional money, Mother; we have discussed the situation at length and the amount set aside for you and my two youngest sisters is appropriate.
Mary has joined us here in the London house, and I will take her shopping tomorrow. She and I need at least two or three well-fitted mourning dresses.
I am indeed happy, Mother, though of course I grieve Papa’s death. Mr. Bingley is a kind and loving husband. As for our journey to Netherfield, I know not when we will make the trip. There is business to be conducted here in London and ...
Abruptly, there was the sound of a strident female voice in the front hall and Jane looked up with a frown.
She liked the parlor the best of all the rooms at Mr. Bingley’s London house and often chose to write, read or merely rest here when Mr. Bingley was otherwise occupied.
At the moment, he was at his attorney’s office dealing with some last details concerning the marriage settlements.
Jane stood up and hurried into the hall, where Caroline Bingley was glaring at the butler.
“Of what are you speaking? I am unaware of any deaths in the family, so why is there a black ribbon on the knocker? Surely my brother is well?”
The butler, Mr. Clarence, glanced at Jane, who strode forward grimly.
“The ribbon is for my father, Miss Bingley.”
Caroline Bingley spun around with a squeal of shock, her faded blue eyes flaring wide in astonishment and dismay.
“Miss Jane Bennet?” she demanded incredulously. “Whatever are you doing here?”
“I am Mrs. Bingley,” Jane replied icily.
In her past life, only four months ago, she would have been gentle with this woman, but the loss of her father and her home and a few weeks of service in an unpleasant household had knocked her meekness from her.
“Charles and I were married several weeks ago.”
Caroline turned completely white and swayed in place, causing Jane to take a few reluctant steps closer. It would not do for her sister by marriage to fall and strike her head, she supposed.
“Come, Caroline,” Jane ordered, taking the woman by the arm and guiding her toward the drawing room across from the main door. “Mr. Clarence, would you kindly have tea and biscuits sent in to us?”
“Yes, Mrs. Bingley.”
Caroline staggered dramatically into the drawing room and collapsed onto the chair nearest the door.
Jane took her own seat on the couch across from her and waited.
Two minutes passed in silence before a maid entered in with a tray containing tea and biscuits.
Jane thanked the woman and silently prepared Caroline’s tea the way she liked it, with three lumps of sugar and plenty of milk.
“I do not believe it,” Caroline finally said, accepting the cup from Jane and taking a long sip.
Jane chuckled grimly, “How very absurd, Caroline. Do you imagine that I somehow talked my way into this house, put up a black ribbon on the knocker in honor of my father’s death, and convinced the servants to pretend that Charles and I are married?
In any case, I cannot fathom why you did not know of our marriage already.
I know Charles sent a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Hurst at their country estate, and I believe you were residing with them this summer? ”
Caroline Bingley swallowed hard, “I left the country several weeks ago with a friend from school; she and I traveled to Bath, which was far more enjoyable than sitting around watching Mr. Hurst drink himself into oblivion.”
The woman’s face tightened and she shook her head, “I must congratulate you, Jane. I had no idea that under that sweet exterior was such a conniving woman. It was a mistake for me to leave London, obviously; my poor brother is far too feeble a man to hold firm when approached by a manipulative lady in distress. And now you have won.”
Jane nodded, “I have won indeed, Caroline; I have won the love and hand of an admirable man whom I love in return. I am most thankful.”
“Love,” the other woman sneered. “As if love has anything to do with it. You need not pretend with me, Mrs. Bingley; you and your tiresome family honed in on Charles’s fortune as soon as he stepped into that wretched assembly hall in Meryton last autumn.
I should have known better than to think that Charles would show any sense once Mr. Darcy and I were out of town.
Though I do confess to some surprise that he still finds you attractive; you look like a hag in black. ”
“Charles finds me attractive in anything,” Jane replied mildly, her eyes meeting those of her husband, who had stepped into the hallway with flames in his eyes. “And indeed, he also finds me quite attractive in nothing at all.”
Caroline Bingley gasped and spit out her tea at this statement, then looked down in outrage at the milky residue spilling down her gown.
A moment later, she leaped to her feet as her brother stalked into the room and placed his arm around his wife. Charles’s face was thunderous and Caroline realized, to her dismay, that he had heard at least some of her conversation with Jane.
“Charles ...”
“No, not another word, Caroline,” her brother snapped. “Jane, my love, I have no doubt you need some rest. Perhaps you would be willing to retire to our bedchamber?”
She smiled and kissed him, then walked out of the room, leaving an outraged Charles Bingley to deal with his younger sister.
/
The eastern sky was just bright enough to lighten the sky to the west, and Fitzwilliam Darcy leaned against the railing, his hands digging into the sturdy wood.
He narrowed his eyes, straining his vision.
At last, the sun broke the horizon and the early morning rays touched the island lying in the west.
Darcy relaxed his body and closed his eyes in relief. St. Croix was, at last, in sight.
The men clearly were excited to reach land as well and began a boisterous song. Darcy liked to think they were singing to him after their weeks together at sea, though more likely it was to each other if to anyone.
Don’t Forget Your Old Shipmates
Safe and sound at home again
Let the waters roar, Jack
Safe and sound at home again
Let the waters roar, Jack
Long we've tossed on the rolling main
Now we're safe ashore, Jack
Don't forget your old shipmates
fallee rallee rallee rallee right-o!
Since we sailed from Plymouth Sound
Four years gone, or nigh, Jack
Was there ever chummies, now
Such as you and I, Jack?
Long we've tossed on the rolling main
Now we're safe ashore, Jack
Don't forget your old shipmates
fallee rallee rallee rallee right-o!
We have worked the self-same gun:
Quarterdeck division
Sponger I and loader you
Through the whole commission
Long we've tossed on the rolling main
Now we're safe ashore, Jack
Don't forget your old shipmates
fallee rallee rallee rallee right-o!
Oftentimes have we laid out
toil nor danger fearing,
Tugging out the flapping sail
to the weather nearing
Long we've tossed on the rolling main
Now we're safe ashore, Jack
Don't forget your old shipmates
fallee rallee rallee rallee right-o!
When the middle watch was on
And the time went slow, boy
Who could choose a rousing stave
Who like Jack or Joe, boy?
Long we've tossed on the rolling main
Now we're safe ashore, Jack
Don't forget your old shipmates
fallee rallee rallee rallee right-o!
There she swings, an empty hulk
Not a soul below now
Number seven starboard mess
Misses Jack and Joe now
Long we've tossed on the rolling main
Now we're safe ashore, Jack
Don't forget your old shipmates
fallee rallee rallee rallee right-o!
But the best of friends must part
Fair or foul the weather
Hand yer flipper for a shake
Now a drink together
Long we've tossed on the rolling main
Now we're safe ashore, Jack
Don't forget your old shipmates
fallee rallee rallee rallee right-o!
Long we've tossed on the rolling main
Now we're safe ashore, Jack
Don't forget your old shipmates
fallee rallee rallee rallee right-o!
/
Elizabeth opened the oven and pulled out the bread, panting at the sudden blast of heat. Truly, it would be better to have the kitchen entirely separate from the house, but at least there were windows on three sides, which helped significantly.
The loaves of bread were quite attractive and she felt a surge of pride.
She had made the bread entirely on her own.
Of course, no one had actually eaten the bread yet; yesterday she had made quite attractive loaves, but forgotten to put in the salt, which had made the resulting product oddly tasteless.
She had been certain to put in the salt today.
Sarah came into the door and looked at the loaves, then nodded. “Good,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you, Sarah,” Elizabeth replied, and blew out her breath. “It is so hot in here!”
“Sit in back?” the girl suggested, gesturing toward the courtyard garden. Elizabeth cast a longing glance toward the oasis of calm but shook her head.
“I must work on the washing,” she insisted.
“I will do,” Sarah replied firmly.
Elizabeth suppressed a groan. Sarah was pregnant and yet wanted Elizabeth to sit down and rest. Of course, the girl had grown up in the humid heat of St. Croix and was used to working far harder than Elizabeth had ever dreamed of doing.
But she was Elizabeth Bennet, famed across Hertfordshire for walking miles and never wilting in the heat. She should be able to keep up!
“Come,” Elizabeth said impulsively, grabbing Sarah’s hand and pulling her toward the back door. “We will both rest. We need it.”
“Must do work,” Sarah protested, looking rather alarmed.
“No, we both must rest for a few minutes,” Elizabeth repeated firmly. “It is very hot.”