Chapter 21
“Good morning, Fanny,” Edward Gardiner said calmly, though his eyes were wary. “This is indeed a surprise. I do not believe you have ever visited me in my place of business before.”
Mrs. Bennet hesitated a little before seating herself in the chair across from her brother’s large desk. In truth, she had long been ashamed of her birth family’s dealings in trade, though that had never kept her from enjoying the monetary benefits and opportunities provided by the same.
The door to the office opened and a woman brought in a tea tray, set it down on the desk and retreated. Edward silently fixed tea for both of them, handed over Mrs. Bennet’s cup, then sat back and waited.
“I wish to speak of Sir Claude, Brother,” she finally said after taking a nervous sip of tea. “Kitty has been haranguing me for days now, claiming that Mary told her that you told Mary that Sir Claude is not a good man, that he mistreated his first wife. That is nonsense, is it not?”
Edward glared at his sister, “I sent you two letters detailing Sir Claude’s sins, Fanny. Do not pretend that you did not receive them.”
The lady bit her lip and shook her head, “I ...”
“But I suppose you did not read past the first lines, or perhaps you threw them into the fire without opening them?” her brother demanded shrewdly.
“If all of this is true, you should have come to tell me yourself, not send a letter,” Mrs. Bennet said truculently. “I was mourning Mr. Bennet, Edward, and not in the mood for reading letters.”
Edward breathed in and out several times before answering, “I have a business to run, Frances, and Mr. Bennet’s death came at a particularly sensitive time while I was working on a trade deal.
Given that I anticipated providing significant support to you and your impoverished daughters, I was not inclined to drive to Hertfordshire myself when a letter was entirely sufficient.
In any case, you would not have listened.
You clearly believe that any husband is better than no husband, even when the man in question is a brutal, licentious, spendthrift. ”
Mrs. Bennet’s eyes filled with tears, “You do not know what it was like, Edward! Five daughters, all unmarried, and not nearly enough money to support them all! What was I to do? I could not let them starve!”
Her brother sighed, irritation mixed with a twinge of sympathy.
He had long believed that his sister’s marriage to Mr. Bennet of Longbourn had been a mistake for both parties; Mr. Bennet was too indolent a man to take his vulgar wife in hand, and Mrs. Bennet, blessed with only a modicum of sense and intelligence, had embraced the trappings of wealth and status without ever learning how to manage money.
She would have done better if married to a sensible man of business who, even if he was not a gentleman, would not have his property tied up in an unfortunate entail.
On the other hand, his elder nieces were some of the most delightful people on earth, and it would be a tragedy if they had never been born.
“It was difficult,” Mr. Gardiner admitted. “You must know that our brother Phillips and I would never let you and your daughters starve, however. Given Sir Claude’s loathsome character, you should never have pressured Elizabeth to marry him.”
Mrs. Bennet’s lips quivered, “Kitty is so angry at me, especially since I have no idea where Lizzy is.”
Her brother shook his head slowly, “That, my dear, is what happens when you give way to your fears and make poor decisions, Fanny. Sometimes you will reap the negative repercussions of your choices in terms of damaged relationships.”
He was briefly tempted to tell Fanny of the location of her second-born child, but no, Elizabeth had fled so that she would be safe from Sir Claude and her mother. He would not betray his dear Lizzy’s trust.
/
“Good morning, my love,” Charles Bingley said, stepping into the room with a cup of tea in his hand.
“Charles!” Jane replied, sitting up in bed in surprise. “What time is it?”
“Eleven o’clock in the morning.”
“Oh no!” his lady exclaimed, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. “How could I have slept so long?”
“Well, I do believe we know why,” her husband replied with amusement. “Please sit down and drink some tea. Emily will bring you some bread and fruit shortly if that sounds palatable. How are you feeling?”
Jane took a welcome sip of tea and sighed, “I am a little ill but mostly incredibly tired, and yes, those foods sound delightful. You are spoiling me.”
“It is my pleasure,” he answered, leaning over to kiss her soundly on the lips. “You deserve every consideration, my dear, especially since you are carrying our child.”
Jane kissed him back, thanking God again for her good fortune. Only months ago she had been the downtrodden companion of a spoiled girl. Now she was married to a kind, wealthy man and carrying his child.
“Oh,” she cried out suddenly, “what of my mother and sisters? They were supposed to be at the modiste at eleven to be measured for new dresses!”
“And they are. I sent them off with two footmen and Caleb, my coachman. They will be well enough. I admit I have a little trepidation about the resulting bills, but you should not be standing around in a shop for hours on end, my love.”
“I believe all will be well,” Jane responded decidedly.
“I had a talk with Mother yesterday and impressed upon her that she and the girls must limit themselves to three dresses each, and that you were not willing to pay for absurd extras. I reminded her again that Miss Bingley has been exiled to Bath to live with your Aunt Cynthia for crossing you. Mother seems awed and unnerved over that matter.”
Charles looked at his bride with respect, “That was clever of you, my dear, and admirably firm.”
“Elizabeth used to tell me that I saw the world through rose-colored spectacles, that I believed in the good of people to the point of foolishness. This last year has shown me that Lizzy was right. I never imagined that a man of God would throw us from our home without monetary support as Mr. Collins did. It did not occur to me that a dissolute middle-aged member of the gentry would try to take my beloved sister as an unwilling bride. As for my mother – I have long tried to convince myself that she had our best interests at heart, but I have come to realize that she does not. She is a selfish creature when all is said and done.”
Charles sighed, “You are not the only person with a selfish family member. Caroline is a self-absorbed, rude, extravagant social climber.”
Jane laughed a little shakily and leaned into his caress, “The Bible says we all have our areas of weakness and failings. None of us are perfect, and I should not expect it. However, I will not allow Mother to abuse your good nature by overspending. I love her, of course, but I will not allow her to rule us with her vapors and hysterical shrieking as my father did.”
The door to the bedchamber opened and the maid entered with a tray of food.
“Ah, there you are, Emily,” Charles said with a smile.
“Yes, sir,” Emily responded, carefully placing the tray on a small table near Jane. “Sir, Mr. Clarence asked me to tell you that visitors just arrived, a Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.”
Jane and Charles stared at one another incredulously before leaping to their feet.
“Emily, help me get dressed!” Jane yelped.
/
“Elizabeth!” Jane shrieked, dashing into the room and pouncing on her sister, who only had a second to put down her tea. “Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth!”
“Dearest Jane,” Elizabeth cried out in response, clasping her most beloved sister to herself. “Oh, my dear, it is so very good to see you again.”
She found herself sobbing suddenly, overcome with emotion, and Jane sobbed with her.
“Charles,” Darcy said, holding out his hand towards his closest friend. “It is wonderful to see you.”
“It is glorious to see you,” Bingley answered, beaming with delight. “And Mrs. Darcy, is it? I see your journey was a success in more ways than one!”
“Yes, we were married in St. Croix,” the other man declared, his own face glowing with happiness. “I trust you and Mrs. Bingley are well.”
“We are indeed very well.”
“Oh Jane!” Elizabeth exclaimed loudly enough that both men turned toward her. “That is wonderful. Many congratulations to you both!”
Darcy glanced at Jane Bingley, then at Charles, and lifted an inquiring eyebrow.
The younger man laughed and colored slightly, “Yes, a little Bingley will arrive in approximately six to seven months.”
“I am incredibly happy for you,” Elizabeth rejoiced.
“We are happy as well,” Jane replied, pulling herself together. “But come, you must be tired and in need of refreshment. Would you care for some tea?”
Elizabeth hesitated and shook her head, though she continued smiling at her sister, “My dear Jane, we only just returned to London, and I could not bear to wait even an extra hour before seeing you, but we are both very tired. The Riley docked at Portsmouth late last night, and the carriage we hired was not very comfortable ...”
“Old, not well sprung, and the horses should be put out to pasture,” her husband grumbled. “We are definitely fatigued.”
“So, if you do not mind, we will retreat to Darcy House for rest and come tomorrow?”
“Of course! I must tell you, Elizabeth, that Mother and our three youngest sisters are staying here for a short time. They are currently at the modiste being measured for dresses in anticipation of our sisters completing half mourning.”
Elizabeth Darcy looked startled for a moment before nodding slowly, “That is well enough. I look forward to seeing them all.”
Jane opened her mouth and then closed it. At some point, she and Elizabeth would need to talk through the traumas and sorrows of these last months, but for now, they would rejoice in all they had gained since they last parted.
“Until tomorrow, Elizabeth.”