Chapter 13
LONGBOURN’S SHAME
Elizabeth had the presence of mind to toss her list into the fire before heading to her awaiting carriage in Hunsford.
She set off for Hertfordshire prepared to accept her destiny—that of the spinster, so certain was she that nothing would persuade her to accept her father’s suitor, not after the complete shambles she had made of her life pursuant to her rejection of Mr. Darcy’s hand.
Elizabeth would not regret her decision.
How could she? Given a choice between Mr. Darcy, with all his wealth and connections and privilege, or the joy of forever remaining in the bosom of her family, her preference was clear.
Things were calm and quiet in the Longbourn household upon Elizabeth’s arrival.
The only disturbance at all occurred those first days when it was decided that Lydia was to travel to Brighton with Colonel Forster, his wife, and the militia.
But soon after she left, a sense of normalcy returned.
Jane was blissful, and Mrs. Bennet was busy planning a grand wedding.
Elizabeth and Jane had happily agreed that the former no longer needed to contemplate their father’s prearranged marital scheme, for there would be only one wedding—Jane’s to Mr. Bingley.
An early morning visit from Colonel Forster turned the Bennet’s world upside down.
After what seemed an eternity of marching in concert outside Mr. Bennet’s library while he received the colonel, the ladies proceeded to the parlour, where they were certain to catch sight of the gentleman upon his leave-taking.
Mrs. Bennet wailed. “Whatever has brought the colonel here at this hour all the way from Brighton cannot be good. I fear something dreadful has befallen my Lydia—something dreadful.”
Elizabeth knelt on the floor in front of the sofa where her mother laid prostrate with grief.
“Mama, we must not expect the worst. Soon, Papa shall tell us what has happened.” Elizabeth pretended to be calmer than she actually was.
She had warned her father not to allow Lydia to travel to Brighton, thinking a young girl of Lydia’s wild temperament and young age surrounded by soldiers was a recipe for disaster. I pray Lydia has come to no harm.
When the library door flew open, the colonel headed straight for the front door.
Moments later, a very weary, forlorn Mr. Bennet emerged from the room.
He looked as if he bore the weight of the world on his shoulder.
Elizabeth stood back as her sisters Kitty and Mary raced to his side.
“Oh, Papa! Pray all is well with Lydia.”
“I fear the news from Brighton is grave—grave indeed. Lydia has run away.”
“Run away!” startled voices rang out in concert.
“She has left the Forsters’ protection. She has thrown herself into Mr. Wickham’s power.”
Mrs. Bennet gasped. “Oh, how could the colonel have allowed this to happen?”
Her head lowered, young Kitty slowly edged away from the others. Elizabeth noticed this and followed her sister. “Kitty, what do you know about Lydia’s disappearance?”
“Oh, Lizzy! I feel this is my fault. Lydia wrote to me that she and Wickham were to be married, but it was supposed to be a great secret. I was to say nothing until she had written to Mama and Papa.”
Mr. Bennet must have overheard his daughter. “I can assure you, Wickham has no intention of marrying Lydia—not if the reports from Colonel Forster’s men are to be believed.”
Clutching her handkerchief, Mrs. Bennet pressed her hand to her forehead. “Oh, Mr. Bennet! You must hunt them down and make him marry her. My dear, dear Lydia.”
The aggrieved patriarch clasped his hands behind his back and stared into open space. “I know what must be done.”
Days later, Elizabeth fretted over her eldest sister. Jane should have returned hours ago. Wherever can she be? Worried, Elizabeth donned her light cloak and headed outside. She saw Jane sitting idly in the garden, alone.
“Jane, I supposed you were at Netherfield. Have you been sitting here long?”
“I have just left Netherfield—I fear for the last time.”
“Whatever do you mean? Are you not to be mistress of the grand estate?”
Lowering her eyes, Jane sighed. “Miss Bingley was there.”
“What on earth is she doing at Netherfield? I thought she was in town, enjoying the Season.”
“So did I,” Jane said hopelessly. “I suspect she came solely for the purpose of saving her brother from a disadvantageous alliance. She made it abundantly clear that she was no stranger to Lydia’s situation.”
Elizabeth raised her hands to her mouth. “Heavens! How did news of Lydia’s exploits reach town already?” If Mr. Darcy has learned any of this, surely he must be congratulating himself on having avoided such an alliance.
“I do not know. Oh, Lizzy! Miss Bingley was dreadful, and she refused to allow me to see her brother until she had spoken to me in private.” Jane brushed a tear from her cheek.
“It seems the news of Lydia’s disgrace is widely known in the community.
Miss Bingley accused our family of such wicked things.
She told me that if I cared anything at all for her brother, I would release him from our engagement. ”
“I suppose Mr. Bingley has something to say in the matter.”
“Actually, he does not. Everything his sister said is true. An alliance with our family would be devastating for Mr. Bingley. I cannot allow our family’s shame to ruin his family.
It would not be fair to him or his sisters.
This is the reason I shall never see Netherfield again—at least, not as its mistress.
I ended the engagement. I had no other choice. ”
Elizabeth reached out and placed her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Oh, Jane.”
“Lizzy, it is so heart-breaking to know Mr. Bingley’s sister was never in favour of her brother’s acquaintance with me, which I cannot wonder at, since he might have chosen so much more advantageously in many respects.” Jane burst into tears.
“Jane, I am dreadfully sorry.”
She would not stop crying, giving Elizabeth to know the situation was far graver than Jane admitted. “What are you not telling me?”
“Oh, Lizzy, Mr. Bingley and I anticipated our vows, and it is entirely my fault!”
Elizabeth swallowed her disappointment over what she heard. “Jane, how can you say such a thing? Even with my limited experience, I am certain it is the man who is the ultimate decider in such matters.”
“I would tend to agree if I did not know better. It started out rather innocently, I suppose. The Hursts and Miss Bingley had returned to town, and I found myself alone with Mr. Bingley. He offered me a tour of the upstairs.”
“Why would you need a tour of the upstairs? You were confined to that part of the house for days.”
“Indeed. But Mr. Bingley insisted I had not seen it as the future mistress. Lizzy, I hesitate to recount every detail. Suffice it to say that the feelings engendered by our initial touches were such that I longed to explore. Once we made a start, we—I insisted we let nature take its course.”
Elizabeth bit her lower lip. Could the feelings of which Jane speaks so wistfully be akin to the dizzying emotions evoked the first time I found myself in Mr. Darcy’s arms, or the second, or the third?
For if that is the case, I might well understand how she allowed passion to overwhelm her sensibility.
She loves Mr. Bingley, and I do not even like Mr. Darcy.
“Jane, I suppose a single instance could not allow for any unintended consequences.”
“That was my thinking as well. Were it only one time, I would say that was true. Alas, there were other times.”
“My dearest Jane, in light of what you have said, how could you possibly have released Mr. Bingley from the engagement? Your actions are wholly incongruent with prudence and sound reasoning.”
“Lizzy, when I went to see him today, I assure you I did not go with the intention of breaking the engagement. How could I have known Miss Bingley would be there?”
“Does she know what you and her brother have done?”
“That, I cannot say. However, her reasons that I should break the engagement all centred on the scandal our family is embroiled in pursuant to Lydia’s shameful behaviour.
Can you not see, Lizzy, my actions are no better than Lydia’s.
If it were discovered that Mr. Bingley and I had anticipated our vows, would the shame be any less? ”
Yes, Jane and Mr. Bingley have been reckless, but their actions were fuelled by love.
The catalyst for Lydia and Mr. Wickham’s actions was anything but love—be it lust, wickedness, depravity—it was anything but love!
She took her sister’s hand. “Your behaviour is not to be compared with Lydia’s.
You and Mr. Bingley were to be married in a month.
Lydia—heaven knows what is to be her fate. ”
“Miss Bingley would disagree with you.”
“What does it matter what Miss Bingley thinks?”
“Then let me be clear, I do not agree with you. That is why I released Mr. Bingley from the engagement.”
Elizabeth took Jane’s hand. “Jane, I am struggling to understand why you would do such a thing—especially now, when there is all this uncertainty and so much at stake.”
“Can you not see that is the very reason I acted as I did? What Mr. Bingley and I did was foolish, but I accept more of the blame, for you see, he was reluctant. It was I who insisted and now, pursuant to the disgrace that Lydia’s action has brought to our family, I can only be all the more ashamed of my own. ”
“Jane, I sincerely hope that this is resolved in a manner that finds you and Mr. Bingley reunited, for the alternative is unthinkable.”
“I have already given this matter a great deal of consideration. If there are unintended consequences as a result of what I have done, then I shall know how to act.”
“Will you go to Mr. Bingley?”
“No! To do so would make the shame of what I have done only worse, I fear.”
“Then what would you do?”
“As much as I would not wish to leave our family, I see there would be no other choice. I will not bring further disgrace upon my father’s home by giving birth to a child out of wedlock.”
Jane’s decree struck a chord of panic in Elizabeth’s heart. The sisters embraced. “Oh, Jane! My dearest, sweetest Jane, when did things go so wrong?”