Chapter 26
HOPE FOR A BETTER WORLD
Elizabeth knew it was time to leave; if Jane was well enough to go driving out, she was certainly well enough to return to Longbourn.
The question in her mind, as she hurriedly folded her gowns and stuffed each one into her trunk, was whether she ought to wait, even, until Jane’s return.
Her anger was such that she would have preferred to set off for home immediately—it would probably take her most of the six miles to cool it.
The weather was fine for a November day, and the walk would be nothing.
Heaven forbid she beg a ride of any of the Bingleys!
She had even begun composing, in her mind, a note to Jane to account for her impetuous departure, along with the request that she take her trunk up to Longbourn, where Elizabeth might retrieve it at a future date.
But before too much time had passed, other reasonings slowed her movements.
Truthfully, she owed Darcy more than to disappear without explanation or farewell.
They still had much to discuss regarding their future, and it would be more difficult to do so once she returned to the dower house and lived practically in sight of Fanny Ashwood.
That woman would take any visit from Darcy as solid evidence of a life of sin and illicit seduction—even if they were completely circumspect and did not enter the cottage alone together—and do her best to ruin Elizabeth’s reputation with gossip and innuendo.
Besides, not for anything would she take a chance of rumours, from any source, until Darcy had fully resolved the situation with his cousin and aunt.
She had assured him of her willingness to wait until he judged the timing right, and her lips were sealed until that day.
With a sigh, she removed the gowns she had treated so hastily, and began refolding them with much more measured care.
It was at least another hour before she heard a commotion at the drive floating up to her from the window she had cracked open to try and cool her temper.
Standing, she looked out to see Darcy exit the carriage, followed by Mr Collins helping Jane.
Darcy spoke to them both for a couple of minutes and then had a word with his coachman before his vehicle moved off.
Against her expectations, though, the three remained where they were, resuming their conversation.
After several minutes, Mr Collins’s carriage was brought around.
In a courtly, old-fashioned gesture, he kissed Jane’s hand; shortly thereafter, he departed, leaving his wife behind.
Together, she and Darcy started for the house.
Evidently, Jane was remaining at Netherfield—at least for now. Perhaps her husband planned upon returning shortly, although why not simply wait for her belongings to be packed? Well, whether she would or would not remain, Elizabeth could not stay. It was out of the question.
It was not long before she heard Jane re-entering her room, the rustle of clothing, the quiet murmurs between herself and Molly.
Elizabeth waited until she was sure the maid had departed before standing, meaning to go to Jane to begin her explanations.
To her surprise, however, Jane appeared at her bedchamber door.
“Oh!” her sister said, sounding equally surprised at the sight of Elizabeth’s neatly packed trunk, open near her feet. “You are leaving?”
Elizabeth seated herself again, waving Jane at the other chair in the room.
“Yes. I really have no choice.” She had not meant to tell the details of her confrontation with Miss Bingley, but found herself succumbing to the finest quality Jane possessed—a kindly, listening ear.
Still, after blurting it all out, she half expected to hear a defence of Miss Bingley or even waffling disbelief.
“Oh, Lizzy, how could she say such things? How awful and…how crass!”
“It was. Why she would urge me to-to throw myself at her brother is beyond me, especially as she clearly has such a low opinion of my worthiness! She is a mystery to me!”
“Oh, she was transparent enough on that count, I would say. Plainly, she sees Mr Darcy’s interest in you and hoped to misdirect yours in him.”
Elizabeth had been so furious about the insults levied, she had overlooked an obvious motive behind them. She opened her mouth to protest, then shut it again. Miss Bingley’s reasonings notwithstanding, her sister’s observation of Darcy was unexpected. “Did you see any such thing in him, Jane?”
“No, I did not—however, he said some things today that made me think that…that he is not indifferent to you.”
“What? What did he say?”
Jane took a deep breath. “For one thing, he is enraged at Fanny, for how she and John have treated you since your widowhood. His outrage extends to William and me as well, although he was very careful in his phrasing.”
“What?” Elizabeth could only repeat, shocked that Darcy would say anything at all—especially when he was trying to be so circumspect, for now at least.
“He is not wrong. Instead of trying to make things right between us, I have let my shame further separate us. Lizzy, it is sickening that you are confined to that ghastly property. I beg you, please, to abandon it, to come to Longbourn as soon as we leave here.”
“I would not have you worried or upset in your own home, Jane.”
Her sister closed her eyes as if pained.
“I implore you to forget my stupidity that has kept you from it. Longbourn is your home, as much as it is mine, and Mama’s, and Mary’s, and Lydia’s.
Longbourn is large enough for us all. William and I were thinking, even, of making an addition to enlarge it.
However, I suspect that by the time such privacy for you could be achieved, you might have a different home altogether. ”
Even now, Elizabeth would not reveal her engagement. It did not prevent her smile, however, nor another observation. “I suppose that such an addition might be ideal in making Longbourn a little less Mama’s home, and a little more yours.”
Jane returned her smile. “It is something to consider. Will you agree? Will you come home, Lizzy, for as long as you wish, even forever?”
Elizabeth took a deep breath; when she expelled it, she let the past go with it. “Yes, dear. I thank you, yes.”
“No thanks are necessary. I do wish to tell you what else was said, although it is a little…perplexing. Mr Darcy has requested that we—William and I and Mama—let it be known that you are not happy to lose your independence, and are only forced by circumstances—circumstances which are under the Ashwoods’ control—to return to Longbourn.
I am unsure what he means by it; if you are installed at Longbourn, there seems to me no chance that Mr Ashwood will agree to renovate the dower cottage, not when he refused to do it when you were in residence.
I suppose it is to point out their meanness, which I grant, is horrible and ought to be universally condemned.
I only tell you of this so that you understand—I am very happy, overjoyed, even, that you will soon be at Longbourn again, and do not want you to believe otherwise, no matter what.
Mr Darcy is correct, however, that we should let our ill opinion of the Ashwoods be known. It is only right.”
“I appreciate your support, more than I can say. Even so, I do not suppose Mama’s unhelpful opinions will be any quieter, despite your own, better ones.”
“Leave Mama to me,” said Jane. “She will hold her tongue, or find changes to her own circumstance which she would not appreciate. I really do not think threats will be necessary, however. She will be made to see how the land lies. She is stubborn, not stupid. At least, mostly.”
Their unified encouragement and disavowal of the Ashwoods would, most likely, not change a thing in Fanny’s behaviour; it might even make her worse.
But Elizabeth appreciated, beyond measure, that Darcy had wanted her to have the support of her family to help return her to her place in the community—even if she later left it.
It touched her, and she fell in love with him just a little more than she already was.