Chapter 1
Mid-December at Longbourn finally brought a little joy to wash away the sadness and disappointment that had lasted for a fortnight.
After the Netherfield ball—when everyone in the neighbourhood presumed an engagement would be announced—everything fell apart.
Mr Bingley returned to Town for a few days and unexpectedly remained there.
His sisters and friend Mr Darcy followed him, so the animated Netherfield remained empty and silent, shattering the dreams of the beautiful Jane Bennet and her mother.
Even worse, her second daughter destroyed her mother’s last hopes by rejecting a perfectly good marriage proposal from Mr Collins, the heir to Longbourn.
“You should say something to your precious Lizzy, Mr Bennet,” his wife uttered at least once a day.
“She looks happy that she has ruined our lives forever and exposed us all to poverty. We shall end up as beggars on the road, starving to death as soon as you pass away, I am telling you. Charlotte Lucas will not hesitate to throw us out! And all because of Lizzy’s stubbornness and selfishness.
What does she expect to happen? Does she think an earl will come along and propose to her?
Why does she assume she deserves better than Mr Collins?
No woman in her right mind would reject such a proposal. ”
“Well, my dear, there is nothing much you can do about that; Mr Collins is no longer available, so a change of mind would not put Lizzy in a better position. What you can do is to pray that I survive you so you will not have to bear such distress.”
Mrs Bennet was not satisfied with such a reply, but it was the only one she was likely to receive on the subject.
Jane and Elizabeth refused—each in her own way—to debate the subject, spending most of their time with each other.
They knew something even more painful, which they hesitated to share with the rest of the family.
The letter from Miss Bingley put an end to any remaining hope: Mr Bingley would not return to Netherfield in the near future, if ever.
He had no interest in preserving his acquaintance with Jane, and everybody was wrong in presuming his intentions.
Elizabeth’s attempts to encourage her sister met with no success. Jane’s sadness shadowed her beautiful face and refused to leave for the days and weeks that followed.
After two weeks of disappointment and torment, Mrs Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife, who came, as usual, to spend Christmas at Longbourn.
Mr Gardiner—a sensible, gentlemanlike man, well bred and agreeable, with a thriving business in trade—and Mrs Gardiner—a woman in her thirties, amiable, intelligent, and elegant—were favourites of all five Longbourn nieces.
And between the two eldest and their aunt was a very particular regard.
They frequently stayed with her in Town and found her to be a source of advice and comfort when needed.
In this respect, there had rarely been a more appropriate time for Mrs Gardiner’s beneficial influence.
From the first evening of her arrival, Mrs Gardiner had to listen to her sister-in-law’s complaints and bear her distress.
“Your coming at this time is the greatest of comforts, my dear Madeleine. The gifts you offered us are just as lovely as your news about the fashion of long sleeves. But nothing makes me happy since Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before I do. Not only is Longbourn just as entailed as ever, but Charlotte Lucas will be its mistress! Mr Collins made Lizzy an offer in this very room, and she refused him. And the Lucases snatched the opportunity. They are very artful people indeed, sister, and all for what they can get. It makes me very nervous to be treated so in my own family and to have neighbours who think of themselves before anybody else.”
Mrs Gardiner, to whom all this information had been given in the course of Jane and Elizabeth’s correspondence with her, attempted to calm her companion with a composed smile.
“My dear sister, let us not call a tragedy something that is only a misfortune. I am certain Lizzy will receive another more advantageous marriage proposal soon—as well as Jane. Both are beautiful, well educated, and intelligent. Either in Hertfordshire or in another part of the country, there is certainly their perfect match.”
“Oh, I could not be so hopeful, sister. Everyone admires Jane, but she seems unlucky with desirable gentlemen. And she is not that young either; she must find a husband soon. Lizzy is so stubborn and outspoken that she will quickly scare away any good suitor. I wonder whether she will ever marry.”
“Dear sister, I am sure you have no reason to presume anything so dramatic. Everything will be fine; I am confident.”
Despite her encouragement, two days later Mrs Gardiner still found no success in putting Mrs Bennet at ease. Every meal was spiced with the same complaints and reproaches—towards both Elizabeth and Charlotte Lucas—and fears of being thrown out of the house as soon as Mr Bennet should die.
Mr Bennet, however, had no intention of dying in the near future.
He enjoyed the time spent with his brother-in-law, secluded in the library as often as possible, and found amusement in teasing his second daughter about the misery of his eldest. He saw no reason for distress over his daughters’ marriages or the safety of their future.
He found himself in excellent health and hoped to leave enough behind to see every problem solved.
For Elizabeth, Mrs Gardiner’s presence was comforting. They spent hours talking of the latest events and wondering about Mr Bingley’s departure and its effect on Jane’s sweet character.
“I have never seen Jane so deeply attached to any gentleman before, Aunt.”
“That is rather obvious, dear Lizzy. But such things happen. Young men often find themselves charmed by a lady but incline their interest elsewhere just as quickly. Young ladies can do nothing but find the strength to console their broken hearts.”
“But unlike other situations, we do not suffer by accident. This time, the interference of friends and family persuaded a young man of independent fortune to abandon a girl with whom he was violently in love only a few days before.”
“My dear, I know how angry you are with Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley’s sisters.
And, while I do not know the ladies, it pains me to see how poor an opinion you have of Mr Darcy—the son of two people who were nothing but generous and honourable.
You know I grew up in Lambton, only five miles from the Darcys’ estate.
We moved about twelve years before my marriage, but my childhood and youth were filled with memories of Lady Anne’s beauty and kindness and Mr Darcy’s admirable qualities as a gentleman and a landlord.
I would have expected their son to be nothing less. ”
“He is far from that, Aunt. Sadly, I have little good to say about young Mr Darcy except that he seemed smart, well educated, and well read. But all these are the result of a good education, not traits of a good character. His ill treatment of Mr Wickham, a friend from childhood, confirms it.”
“True. However, I cannot but ask myself how well you succeeded in knowing all three gentlemen after so short an acquaintance.”
“Very well, I assure you! Mr Bingley is as easy to read as an open book. As for his friend: after everything Mr Wickham told me about Mr Darcy’s horrible behaviour towards him, I have all the information I need!”
“Even a good book may have a different meaning when it is read more slowly and carefully, and a man—regardless of his openness—even more so. Nevertheless, there is little we can do now. Poor Jane! I am sorry for her because, with her disposition, she may not get over it immediately. If this had happened to you, Lizzy, we would have laughed together and easily moved on from it.”
“I hope never to allow a man to touch my heart so deeply that his leaving would throw me into despair, dear Aunt.”
“But Lizzy, did you not say several times that you would only marry for the deepest love?” Mrs Gardiner teased her.
“Such strong affection would surely enhance your life, but it always comes with the threat of disappointment and despair. The stronger love is, the more painful its loss will be. You cannot separate them—only hope for the best.”
“I have an excellent example: I know how strong an affection you and my uncle share, and yet I never saw you suffer. I dare hope I shall be equally fortunate, and perhaps Jane will have better luck next time.”
Mrs Gardiner laughed. “Do not presume my love for your uncle was always serene and free from doubts, fears, and disappointments. Eventually, everything turned out for the best, but it was not always a smooth path.”
“I am surprised to hear that. I have always believed you a perfect match and that nothing could ever ruin that.”
“My dear, a perfect match needs time, adjustment, patience, even persuasion at times. Two people rarely fit perfectly from the beginning. If they truly value each other, they will surely struggle to overcome their imperfections. And two months might not have been enough time for Jane and Mr Bingley.”
“But Aunt, this happened only because his sister and ungenerous friend persuaded him to remain in London.”
“He surely had a greater share of blame in that decision, yet he might change his mind again. I do not want to give Jane any false hopes, but it is possible. If not, I hope Jane will soon find another worthy gentleman. Perhaps this might occur right away if we convince her to return to Town with us. A change of scene might be of service—and perhaps a little relief from home may be equally useful.”
“That is an excellent and very kind idea, Aunt; I shall persuade Jane to accept it.”