Chapter 6 The Encounter
The Encounter
Poor Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with her disposition, she may not get over it immediately.
It had better have happened to you, Lizzy; you would have laughed yourself out of it sooner.
But do you think she would be prevailed upon to go back with us?
Change of scene might be of service–and perhaps a little relief from home may be as useful as anything. "
Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal, and felt persuaded of her sister’s ready acquiescence.
"I hope," added Mrs Gardiner, "that no consideration with regard to this young man will influence her.
We live in so different a part of town, all our connections are so different, and, as you well know, we go out so little, that it is very improbable that they should meet at all, unless he really comes to see her. "
"And that is quite impossible; for he is now in the custody of his friend, and Mr Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane in such a part of London! My dear aunt, how could you think of it? Mr Darcy may perhaps have heard of such a place as Gracechurch Street, but he would hardly think a month’s ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities, were he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr Bingley never stirs without him. "
P but the eldest Bennet daughter had always been kind, and she was one of the few children of the gentry who treated Betty and her family the same at twenty as she had at ten.
Since it was the same as she treated everybody, Betty was not astonished.
“Not so fast Jane… well—”
Jane laughed. “Pray, tell me you do not feel obliged to call me Miss Bennet when we are alone in the park? Jane was always good enough before.”
Betty nodded, still not entirely certain it was proper. “Mama removed to her brother’s place after Papa died and is content enough. Justin carts coal to the gentry in Mayfair and is satisfied with the work.”
“And you?” Jane asked, fearing she knew the answer.
“I be in service to Mrs Mason, a widow of some sixty year. You mayn’t know, but Miss Bingley turned out all the local servants without pay or reference. She didna even pay us for the six weeks we worked, let alone the whole quarter.”
Jane gasped in impotent fury, wondering how she had missed that titbit of gossip (in Mrs Bennet’s parlour no less).
“I am deeply sorry, Betty! I had no idea, and I am sorry for it.”
“Why? You didna cheat us.”
“Yes, but had I known of it, I might have helped you.”
“We applied to the magistrate for relief, but he just drove us away. Daniel and Justin say he like as set his dogs on ‘em.”
Jane had no trouble believing that, as the local magistrate was fond of his status and his drink, and could never be prevailed on to help anyone not of the gentry.
“Did you apply to my father or Sir William?”
“Why? Far as we could tell, the Bennets and Lucases was hand in glove with the Bingleys, and—”
The way she checked herself mid-sentence convinced Jane of what she was afraid to say.
“—and let us face facts,” Jane finished with a tinge of bitterness. “Neither gentleman will trouble themselves for much of anything—let alone another house’s servants, and not even a local at that.”
The disaster during and after the ball was fodder for amusement for her father.
He made no attempt to restrain his wife or three younger daughters, and he even made matters worse by goading his wife and loudly interrupting Mary.
He then allowed Mr Collins to make his obsequious proposal to Elizabeth, knowing full well she would refuse; and he made no effort to direct him to a more suitable daughter, or at least prevent bad blood.
His indolence not only left his daughters nearly unmarriageable, but it also guaranteed Mr Collins would evict them from Longbourn before his predecessor was cold in the ground.
Added to that, her foolish father had, in his inimitable way, said to her sister Elizabeth, ‘Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then. It is something to think of, and it gives her a sort of distinction among her companions.’ Jane was not feeling distinguished—not in the least. She had spent months examining her feelings and at that moment, her sister was the only one in the family not in disgrace.
Her only saving grace was that every trace of affection she ever possessed for the Netherfield residents was snuffed out.
“I woudlna said nothin’ but your Papa is like that,” Betty said.
“I know, and I suppose I should not either, but facts are facts, and he will not change.”
“Yes ma’am. I dinna suppose you can argue with ’em.”
“No,” Jane said, and they stood in silence for a moment. Jane asked if Betty needed to go, and she replied she had plenty of time. If nothing else, at least working for the widow Mason was easier than serving the hellcat Bingley.
“What was it like at Netherfield—if you do not mind my asking?”
“I don’t mind,” Betty replied calmly, since she was by nature incapable of believing Jane would ever harm her.
“The master was right kind, though most think he weren’t much of a master, since that tall fellow did most of the thinkin’ and pretty much all the work.”
“Yes, I fear I had my head turned by a handsome rake, much to my chagrin. Not much better than Lydia in the end.”
“That you did,” Betty replied with a frown; “but none could as blame ya. He was on you like fleas on a dog one minute and scurried away like a rat the next.”
“What of the others?” Jane asked in mild curiosity.
“The fat gent, Hurst, was always either disguised or groping, so we kept watch and travelled in packs. The tall one looked fearsome but was proper polite. Always had a kind word and a coin for ya, never looking at anyone cross—aside from Miss Lizzy, of course. Them two sisters, mean as snakes in a sack, they were. Never pleased, always complainin’, not knowin’ a thing ’bout their own tasks. ”
Jane laughed, though with a brittle edge, and thought for a few minutes. Betty seemed in no hurry to return and waited patiently. It was unseasonably warm for that time of year, so neither was in any great discomfort.
At length, Jane sighed. “I suppose they think they got away with it.”
“Seems so,” Betty said with a frown. It was far from the first time a so-called gentleman cheated her, and she reckoned it would not be the last, but it still stung. “They mostly do.”
For the first time since childhood, Jane felt a towering rage rising. “It need not be that way!”
“What’cha thinkin?” Betty asked curiously.
“Revenge!” Jane said, and Betty caught the first glimpse of a Miss Jane Bennet that might not be all sweetness and light. She was glad of it—finally.
“Can I help?” she asked eagerly.
“Of course! I shall depend on you, if you are willing, that is.”
Betty was nearly skipping with anticipation, while Jane stood thinking for some time. “I am with you—and Justin too!”
“How much do you earn in a year?”
“If’n they pays me, ten pounds. If’n I work for the Bingleys, nothin!”
“As I thought. Lizzy once calculated it as half a shilling a day.”
“I suppose.”
Jane considered the matter further.
“I have an allowance of ten pounds a quarter, and my mother always gives me more because she expects my beauty to save her from the hedgerows. I have twelve pounds saved to work with.”
Betty nodded, not feeling any smarter than she had before, though she felt a twinge of resentment because she had to work hard all day every day to earn a quarter of what Jane Bennet made for doing absolutely nothing—but of course, she would never say anything of that kind.
Jane had no more control over how the world worked than Betty did.
Jane thought aloud. “Twelve pounds is two hundred forty shillings. Do you think that would be enough to engage a dozen or two servants to do some dirty work for me? The first two pounds must go to you and Justin alone as the linchpins, so we would leave two hundred shillings for bribes.”
Betty gave her best imitation of a wicked grin and nodded enthusiastically. “More ’en enough by double!”
“You and Justin are the keys. You say he delivers coal in Mayfair. Can he inquire and discover all the town gossip about the Bingleys with none the wiser?”
“Aye, course he can!”
Jane knew it to be true since Justin was a worse gossip than Mrs Bennet.
She delved into her reticule and found enough coins to set the lad to work and arranged to see them in the park a week hence. She promised to bring more funds, in smaller coins, while Betty promised to bring more gossip.
“This will be good sport,” they said together as they grasped hands before going their separate ways.