Chapter 7 All for Love
ALL FOR LOVE
Elizabeth had hoped to see some sign of improved spirits in her sister when she arrived in Gracechurch Street, and initially she was persuaded she did. Jane was naturally of a sedate disposition, but it seemed to Elizabeth that she had more of an optimism to her than she had last November.
As the day wore on, however, Elizabeth learnt from her aunt that Uncle Gardiner had recently attempted to introduce Jane to a young gentleman of his acquaintance, an eligible and handsome young man, to no avail.
By her aunt’s report, when the young man called, Jane had been unable to produce more than a sentence or two.
“I believe he could have been a good match for her, but she gave him nothing to hope for,” Mrs Gardiner concluded sadly.
“I had hoped to find her in better spirits by now,” Elizabeth said regretfully. “Perhaps this man was not the love of her life, but it would have been encouraging to know she put herself forwards a little.”
“As much as I am loath to sound like your mother,” said Mrs Gardiner, “you girls must marry. It worries me greatly to see Jane behaving so. She is twenty-three now and must not delay too long.”
Elizabeth saw the wisdom in that and resolved to make it her responsibility to see that Jane was pulled from her doldrums. She would do all in her power to see her sister well settled by autumn. Now she just needed to apprise Jane of the plan.
She saw her chance that evening, as the two ladies prepared themselves for bed. She offered to brush her sister’s hair. As Jane seated herself at the dressing table, Elizabeth pondered how best to broach the subject.
Jane spoke first. “What is it?”
“You still seem unhappy. Are you still thinking much of Mr Bingley?”
Jane sighed and could not meet her sister’s eyes in the mirror. “Forgive me.”
Gently, Elizabeth observed, “It is nearly five months now since you have seen him.”
“And yet I remain as attached as I was the day he departed.”
Elizabeth sighed. The response was not encouraging. “I suppose we must concede that by now there is little hope of him returning to Netherfield.”
Jane allowed her shoulders to slump. “I know.”
“You may have a much easier time getting over Mr Bingley if you put yourself forwards to other gentlemen,” Elizabeth suggested delicately.
Jane slowly straightened the already straight items on the table in front of her. “I suppose Aunt has told you of Mr Clarke.”
“He sounds as though he might have been a good prospect. Why did you not encourage him a bit?”
“Our aunt was quite severe with me about him.” Jane’s eyes began to glisten with tears. “I just cannot, Lizzy! It is still too hard! Mr Bingley was all I could ever wish for. Everyone else just seems…wrong.”
“What was it that was so perfect about him, Jane?” Elizabeth asked, trying to mask her vexation with kindness. “After all—he did leave, did he not? He allowed his sisters and his friend to decide on the matter for him.”
“We do not know—”
“In fact, I do know.” Elizabeth set the brush on the table and looked at her sister in the mirror. “I saw Mr Darcy in Kent.”
“You did?”
“He stayed with his aunt, Lady Catherine, while I was there, along with his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was a very amiable gentleman.” Elizabeth bit her lip a moment before admitting, “It was the colonel who inadvertently told me of Mr Darcy’s interference in the matter.”
Jane closed her eyes a moment. “Mr Darcy told his cousin that he convinced Mr Bingley to leave me?”
Elizabeth could think of no way to ease the sting of that and only nodded slowly. “It grieves me to pain you so, but the truth must be known. Mr Bingley is the sort of man easily swayed by his family and friends.”
“Do we not all sometimes—”
“Not for such an important matter as this,” Elizabeth said firmly. “When it comes to love, a man ought to know his own mind and direct his own steps. If he cannot, well…what sort of husband would he be?”
There was a long silence while Elizabeth resumed her brushing, and Jane stared sightlessly into the mirror. At length, she raised one hand and swiped at the few tears which had left tracks on her fair countenance. “Very well, Lizzy. I know what I must do, and I shall do my best to do it.”
Elizabeth pressed a kiss on Jane’s head. “That is all we ask.”
Elizabeth was pleased to return home in early May, particularly to see her father, whom she had missed dearly.
As they sat at dinner, their first night back at Longbourn, she learnt the regiment, quartered in Meryton since last autumn, had removed to Brighton.
Lydia spent most of the dinner rattling on to her mother about her desire to go to Brighton for the summer.
Happily, her father was resolute in his denial of the scheme.
When all on the topic had been said that could be said, and after Lydia had vowed to cry herself to sleep for the entirety of the summer, Mrs Bennet nudged Lydia, telling her to inform Elizabeth of the news they had heard of Mr George Wickham.
Mr Bennet took that as his cue to leave the table.
“You will like this news, Lizzy,” said Lydia, warmed by having some gossip to mete out.
From her expression, Elizabeth could see that Lydia thought she had some tender feelings for the gentleman.
It was true, Elizabeth had thought him handsome and charming, and she had believed he liked her too.
His charms towards her, however, only lasted until a young heiress came into town…
at which point they were quickly transferred.
She was hardly heartbroken over it, but it did leave a bit of a sour taste in her mouth towards the man.
“There is no danger of Wickham marrying Miss King,” Lydia announced delightedly. “She had gone down to Liverpool, but she is back now, since the regiment is gone.”
“Miss King broke the engagement?” Elizabeth asked.
“No one really knows!” Kitty said in a hushed voice, eager to have her share of the scandal. “The rumour is that her uncle King discovered something he did not like about Wickham and suspected he had a mercenary motive.”
“Which of course he did! As if anyone could fancy an ugly little thing like Mary King! Her fortune is the only thing agreeable about her!” Lydia cried out.
“Lydia!” Jane admonished. “What a thing to say!”
Lydia ignored her. “So Miss King’s uncles removed her from the county until such time as Wickham was gone, but guess what happened then?”
Elizabeth sent Jane an expressive look and replied, “I cannot imagine.”
“Harriet Forster told me Wickham left his regiment and went to Liverpool to try and find her and persuade her to elope with him! Have you ever heard of such a romantic tale?” Lydia exclaimed.
“Left his regiment?” Elizabeth asked. “Does that not make him a deserter?”
“Oh, Lizzy, how droll you are. He only left for a little while.” Lydia rolled her eyes.
At this, Mary raised her eyes from the book she had brought to the table, informing them all piously, “Leaving your regiment without permission is a traitorous offence, whether for a day or for a week.”
Lydia cast her sister a disgusted look. “Perhaps if you look at it that way…but it was all for love!”
It was no use to persuade Lydia that it had not been done for good. Elizabeth could only hope that the regiment had not dealt with Mr Wickham too harshly and that Miss King was well recovered from the ordeal.