Chapter 29
“I am pleased to see you, Mama. You look very well,” Elizabeth said as Mrs Gardiner invited them all into the drawing room. “And you, Lydia and Kitty. Your journey was not too difficult, I trust? It is not easy to travel this time of year.”
“It was difficult, actually, because your father’s carriage is not as comfortable as it should be!
” Mrs Bennet answered. “Sir William has a newer, much better one. It is something we must see to as soon as possible. I was hoping to be able to purchase a new carriage while we are in London. Perhaps Mr Darcy knows where to procure a better one.”
“I am not sure I can bother my husband with this matter,” Elizabeth answered. “Mr Gardiner would know best. If there are means for such a purchase, I am sure one can be found easily.”
Elizabeth controlled her voice and her already increasing irritation.
She was not ignorant to Mrs Bennet’s plan: if she repeated the request often enough, perhaps someone — either Elizabeth, as her primary target, or her husband — would purchase the carriage for the Bennets.
And it was certainly only the beginning of her demands.
“Let us have some tea and cake, then we can discuss any planned purchases later on,” Mrs Gardiner intervened calmly.
“I cannot stay long,” Elizabeth warned. “My husband has matters to attend to, and he might need my assistance.”
“Can we not go with you, Lizzy?” Kitty asked. “I hear you have a very big and elegant house in the best part of London! Why can we not stay with you?”
Elizabeth cleared her throat. “As I mentioned, my husband is busy with business matters and has prior engagements. We did not expect you to come to London, so we did not adjust our plans accordingly. But we shall find plenty of time for visits and shopping. Since I had no time to prepare you any gifts, you may choose whatever you like and I shall gladly settle the account.”
At that offer, her stepmother and sisters cheered joyfully, moving easily over the delicate moment of Elizabeth’s refusal, while she exchanged a glance with Mrs Gardiner.
“Mr Darcy is quite a generous gentleman,” Mr Bennet thought to intervene, helping Elizabeth.
“He was so kind as to invite Jane and I to stay there for as long as we needed or wished. But I have indeed noticed he has many important business matters to attend to and people to meet, so I agree we should not bother him until he requests our presence.”
“Since he invited you and Jane, it follows that the invitation should be extended to the entire family!” Mrs Bennet declared. “I am sure he would not mind, but Lizzy is always stubborn, and she likes to vex me.”
“Should I assume you are displeased with our home? What can we do to improve your comfort?” Mrs Gardiner asked with a quizzical smile. “Besides, arguing with Elizabeth might not be the best way to secure an invitation from her. She is the mistress of Mr Darcy’s house, after all.”
The lady spoke lightly, keeping her usual impeccable manners and composed behaviour, for which Elizabeth was grateful.
“I am sure Mama did not mean to imply she was in any way displeased,” she replied, with a meaningful glare at her father, then at Mrs Bennet. “I have stayed with you, in this house, for a long time, and it was a loving, comfortable, warm, and kind home. I was quite sad when I had to leave.”
“Why would you be sad since you married a rich man and moved into a grand house?” Lydia enquired. “Is he not handsome?”
“Mr Darcy is very handsome, but perhaps we should not have this sort of conversation when we are in his company,” Mrs Gardiner said. “Let us take things one step at a time. I am glad you arrived safely, and we are happy to have you. We shall find the best way to entertain you.”
“My husband and I would be happy to host a dinner for you,” Elizabeth said. “I shall let you know as soon as his present business is completed and we can fix a date for it. Until then, I hope you will enjoy your time in London.”
“I cannot wait to visit the best shops — Mama says we can afford it now,” Kitty said, and Elizabeth wisely chose to disregard that statement.
She remained another half an hour, but her thoughts were restless, and she hardly engaged in the conversation.
She was eager to return home, hoping Darcy would be there too.
But even if he was, could she dare confront him about the woman she had spotted him with?
Did it really matter since he was busy arranging for Mr Wickham’s funeral and the woman was most likely someone related to that man?
Still, the sharp pain she felt was not easily dismissed.
“Well? Elizabeth? What about that Mr Crawford? Can you imagine how frightened we were when he just appeared at our door? Did you find out who he is?” Mrs Bennet asked, catching Elizabeth’s attention.
“I can understand why you were troubled when you met him. We were shocked too. Mr Darcy will surely discover the full truth about Mr Crawford,” Mr Bennet said.
“He is the son of my mother’s cousin, as he told us when he introduced himself. For the time being, we have no reason to doubt him,” Elizabeth explained in a rather stern tone, disappointed in her father for complying with every thought of Mrs Bennet’s.
“Yes, but Mr Darcy insisted the information should be taken with prudence,” Mr Bennet said. “Despite his assertions, Thomas Crawford is nothing but a stranger who appeared out of nowhere.”
“Even if he is somehow related to you, I am sure he wants something — why else would he appear just now, after you married Mr Darcy?” Mrs Bennet addressed Elizabeth, whose patience had reached its limit.
“I am sure not everyone wants something from my husband. At least I hope that is the case since it would be a lovely change for me too.”
Her words had the desired effect, and an awkward silence followed, enough for Elizabeth to announce, “I must return home now. Jane, will you join me?”
“Yes, I believe I shall,” her sister answered after a brief hesitation.
“Jane, you may go now, but you must tell me more about that Mr Bingley!” Mrs Bennet began, quickly recovering after the rebuke.
“You and your father mentioned him in your letters, but I am sure there is much more to learn about him. I must meet him and judge for myself since your present situation allows you to make the best choice for your future.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes and sighed; she was growing more irritated and wanted to enquire precisely what Jane’s present situation was according to Mrs Bennet. Yet, she preferred to avoid another argument and took her farewell.
“Lizzy, what a beautiful carriage you have!” her stepmother shouted from the doorway, having followed her out. “This is precisely what I need! Does Mr Darcy have other carriages? If he does, perhaps he might be persuaded to give us this one!”
Elizabeth entered the carriage without acknowledging Mrs Bennet, briefly waving her goodbyes.
Her recollections of her stepmother, as unpleasant and distressing as they were, seemed gentle compared to the reality.
Or perhaps her stepmother had simply turned from bad to worse since Elizabeth last saw her.
The prospect of a meeting between her family — her grasping and vulgar stepmother, her ill-mannered and unchecked younger sisters — and her husband was appalling and would very likely cause Elizabeth nothing but gut-wrenching mortification and torment.
“Lizzy, I can see you are upset. Do not trouble yourself with Mama’s requests. You know how she is.”
“I am struggling with doing so without being rude, Jane. She will probably embarrass us both in front of Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley. You should be prepared. But I find Papa’s tolerance and passivity even more vexing.
The more lenient he is, the less reasonable Mama becomes, and I have no reason to bear such nonsense any longer. ”
“You are very harsh, Lizzy,” Jane whispered.
“Perhaps. I am certainly determined to protect myself from any further offence or harm.”
After that, the conversation paused for a while, and slowly, Elizabeth gained some equanimity, her reflections moving from her stepmother to her husband, wondering whether he had returned home.
Probably not, since he had to arrange the funeral of a man who had left nothing but hatred and trouble behind him.
Half an hour later, the carriage stopped at their destination. It was cold, and they stepped down from the freezing vehicle and hurried into the house. If Darcy had been with her, perhaps he would have kept her warm, she mused, then quickly dismissed such silly thoughts.
Jane retired to her chamber, and Elizabeth enquired about her husband, then looked in briefly on Georgiana.
She was tired, but she knew anxiety would prevent her from sleeping — or even resting.
The image of her husband arguing with that woman returned vividly.
She did not suspect an affair, not in such trying times.
Still, when he told her of his plans he had not mentioned any woman. But then again, why would he?
With Georgiana and Jane both resting, Elizabeth spoke with the housekeeper briefly about the possibility of another dinner party, then she went to her room.
The daylight was already fading, and she sat by the window, gazing out.
The street was animated, with carriages passing and even people walking, despite the chilly weather and the icy wind.
After a while, a few flakes of snow began to fall, and she could not suppress a smile.
She had always loved snow. That year, however, she would probably not have the time or the disposition to enjoy it.