Chapter Fifteen #2
“You intend to take advantage of your daughter’s accidental inheritance, but the money is not yours.”
“Elizabeth must be made to do what is right,” Mrs. Bennet cried.
“I agree wholeheartedly. She must, and while she contemplates what that is, she will come to Rosings with me.”
“Absolutely not. She will remain here where I can talk sense into her.”
The two women locked gazes. “She must make decisions about Mr. Collins’ property. Several of the items must be seen before she can suitably allocate them. It is far more practical for her to reside in Rosings while doing so.”
“I will not permit her to go.”
Elizabeth glanced at her father to find him engrossed in the argument, looking back and forth between the two women. Annoyed he wouldn’t intervene, especially when the argument clearly entertained him, she wondered if she ought to.
Lady Catherine, appearing wholly unintimidated, said, “Over the past twelve hours, I’ve given your daughter’s residence considerable consideration, and meeting you only assures me that I’ve come to the correct conclusion.
I noted the deplorable state of her wardrobe yesterday.
In view of the fire, I considered that there may be a reasonable excuse, but now I have seen the state of her three younger sisters. ”
“Elizabeth’s wardrobe is her fault—” Mrs. Bennet began.
“Add to that the rings beneath her eyes,” Lady Catherine barreled on.
“The bruise on her hand. How scrawny and overworked she appears. And today, I find you and your husband fat, well dressed and well rested. It is obvious to me that your daughter is not well treated by you, which confirms my worry that you will pressure her into giving away what I am honor bound to deliver to her, not you, based on Mr. Collins’ final wishes. ”
Mrs. Bennet gaped again, a sentiment Elizabeth shared this time. She wasn’t mistreated. Overlooked, perhaps, but not mistreated. She turned to her father, certain he would at least refute that accusation, to find him looking her up and down in a bemused way.
Mrs. Bennet’s gaze narrowed. “You want Elizabeth with you so that you can pay for her expenses out of her inheritance. You want the money.”
Lady Catherine sat up very straight, seeming to swell to a greater size.
“How dare you insinuate that I would charge a guest to reside with me? Beyond believing Miss Bennet an enjoyable companion for my daughter Anne, I gain nothing by having her at Rosings and undergo all inconvenience and expense involved in transporting her and having her there. I shall even supply her clothing at my own expense, so you cannot complain that I am forcing her to spend frivolously on a wardrobe that lives up to her surroundings.”
“There is nothing wrong with Elizabeth’s wardrobe,” Mrs. Bennet muttered, glaring at Elizabeth now.
Indeed, Elizabeth wore the green gown with the little flowers, her favorite of what she had, and she’d dutifully applied a shawl to hide the worn elbows she’d yet to find time to mend.
Turning from Mrs. Bennet, Lady Catherine addressed Elizabeth’s father.
“I will take your daughter to London for a new wardrobe, and then to Rosings, my estate in Kent. I would skip London, but I cannot present her to the community dressed in ragged cast-off clothing. Regardless of her inheritance from Mr. Collins, you have standing in this community to maintain. Why hasn’t her wardrobe been attended to? ”
Feeling that was her fault more so than her parents, Elizabeth finally intervened. “I would have better, but I didn’t take anything out when we realized there was a fire.”
Lady Catherine frowned at her. “Why not? I judge you not completely lacking in sense.”
Stung, Elizabeth answered with honesty, rather than demurring. “I went to wake the staff. By the time they were up and moving, I could no longer reach my room.”
“I am not a believer in coddling servants, but I value their lives more than a few gowns,” Lady Catherine said. “You did the right thing. Your family’s neglect of you is shameful.”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to issue another protest, but her father spoke first, saying, “I agree. I’ve been so grateful that Elizabeth has been attending to my wardrobe that I didn’t notice she wasn’t attending to her own.”
“I have three gowns,” she protested.
“The two I’ve seen are hastily made over, and look it,” Lady Catherine said. “How soon can you be ready, Miss Bennet? It can’t take long to pack two gowns.”
“Ready?” Mrs. Bennet cried. She crossed her arms over her chest and jutted out her chin. “I won’t let her go.”
“I fail to see how you can prevent her.”
“I cannot, but Mr. Bennet can.”
Elizabeth, her mother, and Lady Catherine all turned to Mr. Bennet.
Addressing Elizabeth, Mr. Bennet asked, “Do you want to go?”
Although Lady Catherine did not give the impression of a comfortable person to reside with, Elizabeth did want to go. The idea of London and a new wardrobe had appeal. Even more so, the freedom to take walks, or read, rather than sew and clean.
And space… Elizabeth missed space. While she’d never minded sharing a room with Jane, she didn’t care for the tiny space she squeezed into with Mary, Kitty and Lydia.
Elizabeth had nowhere to go to avoid her younger sisters, and while Jane had a sense of propriety and a respect for Elizabeth’s possessions, Lydia snored and had no qualms for going through Elizabeth’s personal effects, few as they were, in search of a hairpin, or an unused button, or ribbons, even though Elizabeth didn’t own any ribbons anymore.
It would feel strange to go so far from Jane, but she didn’t see Jane anyhow. Not with her newly married. Elizabeth met her father’s questioning gaze and nodded. “I do.”
“Then it’s settled,” Lady Catherine said.
“Not quite.”
Mr. Bennet’s denial brought Lady Catherine’s and Elizabeth’s attention back to him. Mrs. Bennet issued a smug smile.
“My daughter is not going anywhere with someone I don’t know and without any family to lean on,” Elizabeth’s father said firmly. “You pointed out my neglect of her. I mean to rectify that immediately, starting with that stipulation.”
“Are you asking for an invitation?” Lady Catherine said angrily.
“No. I am needed here.”
Mrs. Bennet eagerly leaned forward.
“As is my wife,” Elizabeth’s father added before Mrs. Bennet could suggest accompanying Elizabeth.
“I could stay with the Gardiners in London while my new gowns are readied,” Elizabeth said to cut off any more arguments.
She was on firm ground here, since the Gardiners regularly offered to have part of the family visit for Christmas.
They didn’t have the space for everyone, so the offer usually resulted in a counter invitation for them to visit Longbourn.
“By that time, I will know Lady Catherine better.”
Appearing mollified, Lady Catherine added, “And I could take one of your other daughters.”
“Lydia would enjoy London,” Mrs. Bennet said. She turned to Lady Catherine, arms dropping to her lap. “Lydia is the tallest and prettiest of my daughters.”
Lady Catherine raised her eyebrows.
Mr. Bennet shook his head. “No. If anyone, Mary will go.” To Lady Catherine, he said, “We will ask her when she returns from Meryton. Tomorrow will be soon enough for Elizabeth to depart, and that will give me time to send an express to our relations in London, the Gardiners. If they reply in the affirmative, you have my permission to take Elizabeth to London to reside with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, and to bring Mary as well, should she wish to go.”
Lady Catherine stood, sweeping up her shawl and papers.
“Agreed. I’m happy to have the most obedient of your younger daughters.
I will buy her some gowns as well. The other two should have been taught better manners.
If you had chosen to have either of them accompany Miss Bennet, I wouldn’t have bought her so much as a handkerchief.
” Without any other word of parting, Lady Catherine swept from the parlor and left Goldfinch Cottage.