10. Chapter 10 #2
Darcy nodded. “Longbourn. The fact that we will have Mrs. Annesley with us lends respectability to the situation.”
“Good enough for me. Hopefully, it will be good enough for the ladies.”
“Yes, hopefully. I also hope they are well and did not endure what we did. Else, we may all need to find somewhere to go.”
Bingley called Mr. and Mrs. Oliver over to them.
He told the couple that his party would be going to Longbourn to beg shelter for themselves and their personal servants.
They informed him they had plans to do the same since Mrs. Oliver and the Bennet’s housekeeper were cousins, and they were well known to the family.
“Also, please start transporting the servants to their destinations as soon as possible,” Bingley said.
“Right away, sir,” Mr. Oliver said, then went away directly.
“Mr. Bingley,” Mrs. Oliver said, “if I may make a recommendation?”
“Of course,” Mr. Bingley replied.
“I would like to recommend Cook be kept on for at least several days until we know more of what will happen. For one thing, the stables were not damaged, and neither were the lodgings for the stable master, grooms, and gardeners. They will all still be here working for Netherfield Park and needing meals cooked for them.”
“Yes, I see what you mean. Keep Cook on for now. Have her accompany you. If she has an assistant she relies on, keep her, too.” Bingley said.
“Thank you, Mr. Bingley.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Oliver.”
Elizabeth, Jane, and Mary were in Jane's bedchamber, reading and drinking tea. The brandy was having a decided effect. They each had acknowledged feeling significantly calmer. Elizabeth was sitting in the window seat under a blanket. Brandy-laced tea in one hand, Shakespeare in the other.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door. They looked at one another, stood, and left the bedchamber in time to hear Charles Bingley say to Mr. Hill, “Please, forgive our intrusion. May we speak to the ladies of the house?”
“If you will wait here, sir, I shall inquire,” Mr. Hill replied.
With expressions of shock and worry, Elizabeth and her sisters glanced at each other, then hastened to their respective bedchambers to dress.
Mrs. Hill came upstairs with the message that Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy were downstairs requesting to speak with them. She also brought Sarah with her to help the ladies ready themselves more quickly.
When they descended to the entrance hall, Jane spoke first. “Mr. Bingley! Mr. Darcy! We hope you are both well?”
“Yes, thank you, Miss Bennet. We are well," Mr. Bingley replied. "Are you ladies well? We could see evidence outside that the tornado came through here."
They nodded, and Jane said, “Yes, we are well. Thank you.”
Mr. Darcy looked at Elizabeth. “Were any of your servants injured?”
“No,” Elizabeth replied. “Fortunately, there were no injuries.”
“Netherfield’s staff were also unharmed, but the house did not fare so well," Mr. Bingley informed them. “Much of the roof has been torn from Netherfield, as well as many windows."
Elizabeth and her sisters gasped. “Oh, no!”
"Yes. There will, no doubt, be more damage discovered in the light of day," Mr. Bingley said. “We have come to beg shelter with you.”
Mr. Darcy spoke up. “We, of course, also have my sister and her companion, Mrs. Annesley, who can act as chaperone.”
Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other for a moment, then silently came to an agreement.
“Yes, of course, we are happy to extend hospitality to you,” Jane said.
“Thank you very much,” Mr. Bingley said.
“Arrangements have been made for the bulk of Netherfield’s servants, but we do have our personal servants with us.
We are also expecting Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, Cook, and her assistant.
We were given to understand that our butler and housekeeper are cousins to your own.
However, if housing Cook and her assistant will be too much, we will seek other arrangements for them. ”
“No, indeed, I am sure we can accommodate everyone,” Jane assured him.
“Indeed,” Elizabeth added, “having Netherfield’s cook here may prove invaluable if Longbourn or Netherfield has tenants who are displaced due to storm damage. Our cook will appreciate the help preparing meals for tenants requiring assistance.”
“My thoughts exactly, Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said, smiling at her.
She smiled back at him and said, “Please, go to Miss Darcy and Mrs. Annesley so they may come in and make themselves comfortable.”
“Thank you,” Darcy replied. "We appreciate your hospitality."
Mr. Bingley then turned to Mr. Hill. “There is quite a bit of debris in Longbourn’s drive. Might I prevail on you to round up some help so we may clear a path for the carriages?”
“Yes, sir, I will see to it now,” replied Mr. Hill.
The gentlemen bowed to the ladies and exited. Jane turned to Mrs. Hill and asked her to have more tea prepared.
As Darcy walked back outside with Bingley, all he could see was the image of Miss Elizabeth in her dressing gown with her hair flowing loosely down her back.
He had looked up and caught sight of her sitting in the brightly lit window as he and Bingley had approached the front door.
She was a vision! Now, however, her hair was pinned up.
She was dressed and presentable, but no less beautiful!
Was her face a bit flushed? He hoped they had not made her uncomfortable with their arrival and request to stay.
The ladies certainly could not have anticipated their sudden—
“Darcy?”
Darcy looked at Bingley.
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Ah, no. Sorry, Bingley.”
“I said, although I knew we were coming here late, it never once crossed my mind . . . ” Bingley paused, looking over his shoulder to make sure he was not being overheard. “ . . . they might not be dressed to receive visitors. I feel terrible for disturbing them.”
"I do, too, but we did not have the option to choose a more convenient time,” Darcy said, looking back in the same direction Bingley had.
Bingley sighed. “No, we did not.”
They were joined by some of Longbourn’s men. They let the men decide where they wanted the debris moved, then Darcy and Bingley helped with the process. Before long, they had a path cleared for the carriages.
When they walked into the entrance hall, the housekeeper showed them into the drawing room, where they joined the ladies.
“Please forgive us for coming unannounced and intruding on your evening,” Bingley said.
“Not at all, sir. You cannot help the position you find yourselves in. We are happy to open our home to you,” Miss Bennet replied, taking a seat next to Miss Mary. “Gentlemen, do be seated.”
“Thank you,” Darcy said.
“Indeed, we thought we had a terrible experience with the storm, but you all obviously had it much worse,” Miss Elizabeth said.
“After the ordeal, Mrs. Hill insisted we have some brandy in our tea. It certainly helped to calm us. She will bring tea here in a moment. We can have it prepared with brandy as well if you would like.”
Ah . . . the brandy is the reason for the slight flush in her cheeks. Darcy looked at his sister and Mrs. Annesley. Georgiana was still quite shaken. Mrs. Annesley was, too, but less so.
“I believe that would be a good idea. Thank you,” Darcy said.
“I shall see to it, Lizzy,” Miss Mary said.
“Thank you, Mary,” Miss Elizabeth replied as her sister stepped out to speak with a servant.
“What was your experience with the storm?” Bingley asked.
After Miss Bennet recounted the events, Miss Elizabeth said, “Fortunately, it did not last long. I do not think it was even two minutes.”
“As soon as my brother heard those deafening sounds from the tornado, he grabbed me, and we all ran to the ground floor. The loud, piercing sounds from outside the house, the banging and crashing around of things inside the house on the floors above us . . . it was horrible and frightening,” Georgiana said.
“I am sure it was,” Miss Elizabeth said, squeezing Georgiana’s hand. “It must have been reassuring to know your brother knew what measures to take to keep you all safe.”
“Indeed,” Georgiana said, smiling.
“Mr. Darcy, my sisters and I were mentally and practically prepared for the storm, thanks to the information you gave us,” Miss Mary said.
Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth nodded their agreement.
Darcy smiled at Miss Mary. “I am glad it was helpful and that it gave you more confidence to face what was coming. I am also thankful we all made it safely through the storm.”
The housekeeper arrived with tea, and Miss Bennet served everyone. They visited for another twenty minutes or so, then Miss Bennet said, “I know you all must be exhausted. Miss Darcy, Mrs. Annesley, if you are ready, I will show you to your rooms.”
They thanked her, and everyone stood.
“Gentlemen, if you will wait here a moment, I will have Mr. Hill show you to your rooms.”
“Thank you, Miss Bennet,” Bingley replied.
They all said goodnight, and the ladies left the room.
A couple of minutes later, Mr. Hill entered the drawing room. “Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, Miss Elizabeth wanted me to be sure to offer you some brandy. If you like, I can bring it to your rooms.”
“Please do, thank you,” Bingley said.
“For me as well, thank you, Mr. Hill,” Darcy replied.
“Very good, gentlemen. Please follow me.”
Elizabeth sat on Jane’s bed. She and Jane looked at each other, and both let out a sigh.
“Jane, I cannot believe the Netherfield party is under our roof.”
Jane looked at her with wide eyes. “Nor can I.”
“I was thinking, Mr. Darcy mentioned the storm might fell trees as well as damage homes. If there are felled trees and large pieces of debris out there, they will probably be strewn about the roads as well. I believe we need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that our guests may be here for more than just one night.”