Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Over the next week, Mrs Bennet paid particular attention to her husband’s newspaper, pouring over the society pages looking for references to the Darcys.
She also visited her sister regularly to review the other gossip sheets from London that her sister subscribed to.
In most, but not quite all, ED from P in Derbyshire was mentioned positively.
She was often seen in company with several titled ladies, her sister, as well as the wives of other wealthy gentlemen.
One account spoke in glowing terms of a dinner party hosted at Darcy House, where several prominent politicians and other notable figures were hosted.
Mrs Bennet struggled to understand how this daughter, the one she liked least, had managed to do so well for herself. She had been so confident that Elizabeth would fail in society, but here she was, being praised to the skies for the traits Mrs Bennet decried in her.
That night at dinner, she spoke to her husband about this. “Do you know, Mr Bennet, that our daughter, Mrs Darcy, is quite the celebrated hostess in London? She is frequently mentioned in the newspaper and the gossip columns and praised for her charitable endeavours and parties.”
Mr Bennet grunted. “She mentioned a party or two in her letters, although nothing about the papers. Is this why you requested the papers when I was finished with them this week?” he asked.
“Yes, my sister brought her name to my attention and then Kitty wrote a letter describing one of these parties. After that, I began to look for mentions of her in the paper and was surprised to learn how well she is thought of in London, at least according to the papers,” his wife told him.
“Jane also has much to say of her sister’s success. ”
“Our daughters have done rather well for themselves, at least, those who have married,” Mr Bennet replied. “The younger will do well with help from the Darcys.”
“I … I think, husband, that it is time I apologise to Lizzy,” Mrs Bennet stammered.
He looked at her in astonishment. “Do you?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied. “I have let this go on long enough, and it has been purely my fault that we have never met our first grandchild. Kitty’s letter said they celebrated the child’s first birthday and the Darcys’ second anniversary not long ago.
They took him and the Gardiner children to Astley’s Amphitheatre to celebrate and had a party attended by the Gardiners, the Hastings, and members of Mr Darcy’s family. We were not invited.”
“I am not certain that a letter of apology will be enough to bring them to Longbourn,” Mr Bennet said. “The letters to me are very business-like, and I am not certain they like either of us very much. We have both been rather foolish, have we not?”
Mrs Bennet eyed her husband warily but quickly deflated and confessed to the thoughts building up inside her.
“I … I was angry for a long time. However, I have gradually realised what a terrible mother I have been to our daughters.
When Lydia returned from school that first year at Christmas, I was surprised to learn how much our daughters had done for the tenants.
I was just learning how to take their place, but Lydia knew exactly what to do.
Lizzy taught all her sisters to care for the people of Longbourn while I fussed and complained.
I recall your mother explaining my duty to the estate all those years ago, but then she continued doing much of it.
For a short time, I went with her, but I stopped when Jane came.
Your mother tried to encourage Jane to learn, but it was Lizzy who took the job over and then taught the rest.
“I knew that Lizzy was doing what I should have been, and instead of praising her for it, I belittled her. It was my responsibility, and I neglected it. Instead of appreciating Lizzy’s efforts, I tried to make myself feel better by making her feel small.
I … I never understood her, and she had …
she had your attention and … well, I think sometimes I was jealous of her. ”
Mr Bennet sighed deeply. “I am equally at fault, if not more so,” he confessed to his wife.
“I knew better and allowed you to act as you did. I should have encouraged you and helped you learn your role as my wife. I knew my mother continued assisting with the tenants and thought nothing of it, as you gave birth to several children quickly. When my mother passed away, I knew Lizzy took that role, although I did not know she had taught the other girls to help her. I hid in my bookroom instead of helping you with the girls and only taught Lizzy because she pestered me until I agreed. I allowed her to do far too much and never took enough interest in the estate myself. Her stipulations have forced me to take an active role, the role I always should have been doing, and I fought against it for far too long.”
“All of our daughters have left us now,” Mrs Bennet said.
“Again, I blamed Lizzy for that, particularly for forcing us to send Lydia to school. However, from her letters, I know that Lydia has learned much. We have only seen her at Christmas—she chose to go to Pemberley last summer to visit her sisters. I was shocked when she wanted to apologise to the Lucases for her behaviour, the behaviour that I encouraged. I would have been happy to have Lydia married at just fifteen or sixteen, but she would not have been ready for marriage then. She has grown up a great deal and speaks very excitedly of joining the Darcys in London next spring. The Darcys have invited her, and they would never have done so if Lydia had not greatly improved.”
Mr Bennet looked at his wife. “I should have done more, my dear,” he told her.
“I should have insisted we hire a governess or done something to correct the girls. Both Jane and Lizzy tried to encourage me to step in and check their younger sisters, but I ignored them, choosing to be amused instead of rousing myself from my books. For that, Mrs Bennet, I should apologise to you.”
“Will our girls forgive us?” she asked. “We cannot go back and change what we have done, and it seems that Lizzy’s marriage enabled them to correct the flaws in our daughters’ upbringing, regardless of our failures as their parents.
I … I have penned a letter to Lizzy, and if …
if you will read it and send it, perhaps we can make a start? ”
“We can try, Mrs Bennet,” he said. “We can try.”
Several days later, a large packet arrived at Darcy House from Longbourn addressed to both Mr and Mrs Darcy. It was brought to the study they shared and handed to the master along with the ordinary post.
“Elizabeth,” said he, “we have received a packet from Longbourn. It is addressed to us both.”
“A packet? What is inside?” she asked.
He opened the outer envelope and discovered several letters tucked inside. Having moved to stand beside her husband’s chair, Elizabeth started when she realised that at least two of the folded notes within were from her mother.
“William, what do you think this might mean?” she asked quietly.
“I do not know, dearest, and we will not know until we open it,” he replied, pulling her down and into his lap.
She kissed his cheek. “Yes, I think I will need your arms around me to read whatever this might contain.”
“Would you like me to read them to you? Or perhaps read them first so they do not upset you?” he asked.
“I am well, William. I only have suspicions; nothing is yet certain, and I should not be negatively impacted by reading a letter,” she protested.
He nuzzled her cheek with his nose. “I know, love, but I do not want anything to upset you, especially when we suspect you might be with child. It is early days yet, and I realise you are a strong woman, but after …”
Elizabeth stopped his words with a kiss. “All will be well, William,” she whispered. “We both suspected a loss just after Christmas, but we will be well this time. I have faith that things will be well.”
He hugged her tightly, closing his eyes against the tears that gathered there, and kissed her forehead tenderly. “We have faith,” he repeated. Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes. “Let us see what your parents have to say, and not put it off any longer.”
With that said, he handed her the note that had “open first” printed on its front. She opened the message from Mr Bennet and began to read aloud.
Mr and Mrs Darcy,
Oddly enough, I have come to a startling conclusion over the last few months, and a conversation with my wife has spurred us both to action.
We have finally come to understand that we have both been terrible parents—even more, since we have abdicated our responsibility towards all of them in the last years, allowing the two of you to carry the weight of ensuring our youngest daughters were prepared for the wider world.
I have little doubt that you have rescued our youngest daughter from certain ruin, and Kitty would have eventually followed.
The two of you have been married over two years and, in that time, have been responsible for far more than a young couple ought to be.
You have ensured Longbourn’s success, forcing me to take an interest and do what I should have been doing for years.
You sent my youngest daughter to school, provided a companion for the others, and probably had much to do with Mary and Jane marrying.
I know that Jane met Mr Hastings while at Longbourn, but had you not acted to rescue me from my foolishness, Jane may not have had the opportunity to marry, as she would have been taken for unsavoury purposes.
The two of you have saved our family, and instead of being grateful, I have acted as a child upset by a reprimand when I have failed to do what I knew to be right.