Chapter 33 #2
Elizabeth wondered if her mother might have genuinely begun to change.
Elizabeth had few friends remaining in Meryton, but she did write to her aunt Phillips and a couple of other acquaintances to ask for the news of Meryton.
She did not specifically ask after her mother, but she hoped these letters might include information about that lady, especially since it appeared she was acting out of character.
These letters did not disappoint, as they were full of praise for the Mistress of Longbourn and her efforts on behalf of not only the tenants, but they also spoke of how much kinder and less anxious she had become.
Mrs Phillips wrote a rather lengthy letter describing her sister’s efforts at Longbourn and praising Elizabeth for becoming such a celebrated hostess within the ton.
Elizabeth was reminded why she did not frequently write to her aunt, as the lady wrote many words without saying much.
Other notes she received commented on the changes at Longbourn and how surprised they were to see Mr and Mrs Bennet getting along and working together on behalf of the estate.
When Elizabeth discussed these with Darcy, the surprise was still evident in her voice.
Darcy recognised this and sought to reassure his wife as she frequently became overwrought at reading how caring her mother was towards their tenants’ children.
How different she seemed affected Elizabeth strongly, as she wondered why her mother could treat the tenants’ children so kindly but could not do the same for her own children.
Even as they exchanged these letters, Mrs Bennet rarely asked anything personal about Elizabeth’s situation and mainly spoke of what she was doing.
Elizabeth felt her mother was seeking praise from her for doing what she should have been doing her entire married life.
Instead, she had allowed her daughters to do the work that was rightfully the responsibility of the mistress.
That she never asked about Elizabeth’s own life, and particularly never asked of her son, bothered Elizabeth more than she could put into words and made her remain reluctant to see her.
The letters from Mr Bennet were similar—speaking mainly of his work on the estate and not asking questions about Elizabeth, Darcy, or little Alex.
This lack of familiarity wore on Elizabeth, and she began to feel numb regarding Longbourn.
The stress of this situation and the general stress of the Season wore on Elizabeth.
She was tired and waspish, and Darcy grew increasingly concerned about his wife’s health.
One day in late June, Darcy, claiming he had business to attend to, sought out his wife’s uncle to discuss the situation.
“Gardiner,” he began as he entered the man’s office at his warehouse, “this situation between my wife and her parents is not good. Elizabeth will not say so, but I can tell she is troubled by the letters she receives from Longbourn. Nothing personal is discussed, and Mr and Mrs Bennet keep outlining the steps they are taking to improve the estate and the tenants’ lives.
They never ask after Elizabeth or Alex—the letters we receive from the steward and housekeeper at Longbourn are more personal than the letters from her parents.
Do you have any insight into what they may be thinking or trying to accomplish? ”
Gardiner merely shook his head in reply.
“Lizzy frequently shares her letters with my wife, and while she does not say much, my wife has the same concern. I do not know if they are afraid of asking personal questions in case they are misinterpreted, but I cannot see my sister being that subtle. Franny has always been a flighty thing and, honestly, very selfish, and I do not know if she will understand how her letters injure Lizzy instead of helping to reconcile. Perhaps if we were to get them into the same room, they could clear the air, but it would require my sister to listen rather than to speak. If Franny were to overhear Lizzy speaking of how much she has been injured by her mother’s treatment of her throughout her life and how the impersonal letters are doing little to aid in that, then perhaps …
” He trailed off, even as he was expressing this tentative plan, he questioned how it could work.
Franny had never been one for subtlety or admitting she was wrong.
However, she had apologised to her daughters for various wrongs she committed, but did she truly understand precisely how those have affected her family?
He pondered this for a moment before he spoke again.
“Darcy, I am not certain what, if anything, would remedy the estrangement between your wife and my sister. Perhaps my idea of her overhearing Lizzy speaking of her thoughts about her mother to someone else might enlighten Franny just how badly she has hurt her daughter. She intends to come to town in a few weeks to help Jane after she gives birth—Maddie has managed to convince Jane she does not want her mother with her during that process. If we invite Franny here and situate her to listen… it might work.”
Darcy nodded. “Elizabeth has not yet felt the quickening, although we think it should be soon. I worry that the stress of the situation with her parents is compounding the stress of the Season, and it is having a negative effect on her health.”
“Maddie had said something about that and about how difficult it is for Elizabeth since Jane cannot or will not understand what Elizabeth has always faced from her mother. Elizabeth and Jane cannot even discuss their mother any more, and I think that wears on her too,” Gardiner said.
“So, how do we get Mrs Bennet and my wife in the same house without either one knowing about it?” Darcy asked.
“And how do we prevent Mrs Bennet from immediately bursting into the room when she realises what she is hearing? It will only work if she hears what her daughter truly thinks about her—even after all she has been through with her, I believe Elizabeth would temper her words if she were aware her mother could hear her.”
“You are right in thinking Elizabeth would not deliberately harm her mother, even if she needs to hear what will be said,” Gardiner agreed.
“I will speak to Maddie; women are far better at subtle machinations than us men. There is little doubt I would make a muddle of it. Mrs Bennet will arrive at our home shortly after Jane gives birth and will stay for a day or two before moving to Jane’s home.
The womenfolk, well, mine and yours, decided it was best to allow Mr Hastings to see Mrs Bennet in his home a few times before she comes to stay in his house with him.
If she is too difficult to tolerate during the visits, I suppose she will have to remain here. ”
Having arrived at a tentative plan, Darcy and Gardiner did actually speak of business—some investments they were both involved in—before both departed for their homes to speak with their wives.
Darcy would not broach this subject with his, while Gardiner would seek his wife’s advice on convincing Mrs Bennet to hear Elizabeth’s true feelings for once.