Chapter 37 #2
Georgiana retired to her room to rest before dinner, while Elizabeth moved to the library.
That was the room where her husband spent most of his time, and every object reminded her of him.
She brushed her fingers over his desk, then sat in his favourite armchair for a while.
The hands of the mantel clock seemed to have stopped, so she approached and studied it closely, then went to look at the books on the shelves, which she had already perused several times.
A clamour of voices in the entrance hall made her hurry out towards the front door.
She expected to see her husband; instead, she was met by the spectacle of her own family, all speaking at once, complaining and asking for assistance from the bewildered servants — Mrs Gardiner, Jane, Lydia, Kitty, and, most startlingly, their mother, who was wet and dirty, limping, and clutching Mr Bingley’s arm.
“Dear Lord, what happened? What are you all doing here?” Elizabeth finally asked with more urgency than politeness, her eyes seeking Mrs Gardiner’s.
“I am sorry for the commotion, Lizzy, but your mother slipped and fell in a puddle. We were taking a short stroll in Hyde Park before returning home. She is wet and dirty, as you can see, and apparently, she sprained her ankle when she fell.”
“I cannot possibly go to Gracechurch Street in this state. I shall freeze to death before we get there!” Mrs Bennet cried, fluttering her hands dramatically, her cap askew after removing her dripping bonnet.
“I am so cold, and my feet are hurting… I cannot stand — my foot is broken, I am sure! You do not know what I suffer! Thank God one of my daughters lives so close to Hyde Park! I might catch a cold and die!”
“Do not fret, Mama, people do not die from trifling colds,” Elizabeth answered.
“Mr Bingley offered to take us to his house, but we thought it would be more appropriate to come here,” Jane explained apologetically.
“Of course,” Elizabeth said, as if suddenly awakened from sleep. “Where else could you go? I shall call for help to take you to a guest room, Mama. You can change into a dry gown and rest. I shall ask Mrs Green to fetch the family doctor. Please come and warm yourselves, all of you.”
More commotion followed, and Mrs Bennet was helped to a guest room by two footmen, still loudly complaining, Mrs Green and a maid following to attend to her.
As she reached the landing she turned and called down, demanding soup, bread, and tea to be sent up.
Elizabeth sighed and turned her attention to the rest of the party, trying to decide how best to proceed.
While Mr Bingley, Jane, Kitty, and Lydia enjoyed cups of steaming tea and other restorative treats, Elizabeth spoke privately with Mrs Gardiner.
“How did Mama fall? And why were you in Hyde Park on foot, in this weather?”
“Oh, Lizzy! After we finished shopping, we planned to take refreshment in a small tea shop. Mr Bingley recommended it. Your mother suggested we should take a walk through the park, but the weather was not inviting. Mr Bingley said it was only a short distance, so we were walking and talking, and she suddenly fell. She said her boot slipped, and then she could not get up. She was wailing and… Thank God there were not many people around to witness the spectacle. I know you are not pleased to have her here, but it happened so close to your home that it would have been awkward and quite improper to take her to Mr Bingley’s house instead. ”
“I see…” Elizabeth bit back a sigh of irritation.
“What should I do, Lizzy?” Mrs Gardiner asked.
“There is nothing to be done, Aunt. I know you are anxious to return home to the children. We shall wait for the doctor and see what he suggests, but by that time, it will probably be too late for Mama to return to Gracechurch Street. She must stay here tonight. And Kitty and Lydia had better stay too. Please ask Papa to fetch them tomorrow.”
“Very well,” Mrs Gardiner said, embracing her. “Do not allow her to ruin your disposition, Lizzy. And do not hesitate to enforce your rules, if needed. This is your home, you are the mistress, and the rest of us are simply being tolerated.”
“I shall certainly not forget.”
“Do you think Mr Darcy will be upset to find them all here?”
“I should hope not. He would not deny succour to a stranger, let alone a member of my family,” she replied with a regret she tried to conceal.
Whatever hopes she had for a little privacy with her husband that night, they were certainly ruined by this unfortunate turn of events.
Wittingly or not, nobody had a greater talent for crushing her hopes and happiness than her stepmother.
Mrs Gardiner departed, and Elizabeth found herself lonely and helpless in the midst of her own household.
Ashamed by such selfish thoughts, she could not overcome the suspicion that her stepmother had contrived the accident to force her to stay in Darcy’s house.
Could she be so absurd as to impose her will in such a way, even at the cost of her own health?
In the drawing room, the others were talking loudly and animatedly; Mrs Green came to inform Elizabeth that Mrs Bennet had eaten, drunk two cups of herbal tea, and was now sleeping.
“I sent for the doctor, but it might be a while before he arrives, especially if he is out on calls.”
“Thank you. We shall wait. I doubt there is any serious injury. Mrs Green, please have another guest room prepared for my sisters, find a maid to serve them…and please ask Janey to choose some of my gowns that they might borrow for the time being.”
“Of course. May I assume everyone will stay for dinner?”
“Yes, but we shall wait for Mr Darcy’s return, and my mother will take hers on a tray in her room.”
Mrs Green nodded and hurried away, while Elizabeth joined her sisters and Mr Bingley. She could not calm herself; she could not escape the anxiety and restlessness caused by her mother’s contrived presence and her husband’s long absence.
It was almost dinner time when some of her anxieties were soothed by the sound of her husband’s voice from the entrance hall. He entered with Colonel Fitzwilliam and another older gentleman.
He took in the assembled party with a frown, then turned to Elizabeth.
“What happened here? Why was Dr Taylor called? Elizabeth? Who is hurt?”