Chapter 35 #2
That had been the last communication between Elizabeth and either of her parents, and so it was a surprise when, three weeks after arriving home, a packet of letters arrived from Longbourn.
From the Gardiners and Jane, Elizabeth knew that her mother had returned home, and Jane continued to implore Elizabeth to write to their mother.
Elizabeth and Jane could no longer discuss Mrs Bennet, as their views of the lady were too different to reconcile.
When his valet handed Darcy the morning’s post at their bedroom door, Darcy had been reluctant to pass the packet to his wife.
They were still in their chambers, as Elizabeth had been restless that night and was sleeping later than usual to compensate.
He was still considering the packet when she began to stir, and he moved towards her and kissed her temple as she slowly woke.
“Good morning, dearest,” he whispered into her hair.
He sat back slightly from where he was perched on the edge of their bed and watched her wake.
She was covered only by the sheet, and he watched as it moved and revealed more of her form.
When her belly was exposed to him, he began to caress over it and leaned in again to kiss their growing child and to speak to it.
“Good morning, little one,” he said quietly.
“You gave your mama a restless night last night. You mustn’t do that again; she needs plenty of sleep to help you grow.
I know Mama would like another son, but I confess, I hope you are a girl—a dark-haired beauty with sparkling green eyes like your beautiful mother.
She will be a wonderful mother, whether you are a boy or a girl, and I know she will love you. ”
Elizabeth grinned at her husband. “You are silly, do you know that?” she asked.
He grinned back as he sat up. “Only with you and with our children,” he replied. “I could never be like this with others, not even Georgiana, though; perhaps I was when she was a child. Not now.”
“I love you, Fitzwilliam Darcy,” she whispered. “You are a wonderful husband and father, and I know that whatever this child is, you will love it as much as you love our son.”
Once again, he leaned over to kiss his lovely wife, and it was some time before he considered the post again.
Sometime later, they dressed and went into the sitting room where their breakfast waited. He had ordered a more extensive breakfast that morning, which suited Elizabeth well since she was rather hungry.
“Did I see you with the post earlier?” Elizabeth asked after they had been quietly eating for several minutes.
Darcy swallowed the bite he had just taken and looked up at his wife. “You did. A … several letters arrived from Longbourn. I imagine it is yet another apology,” he said.
She sighed. “I am tired of dealing with Longbourn. Part of me wishes to be done with them entirely and never hear of them again. However, I know that is impossible, as my sisters will forever bring her up somehow. Mary feels similarly to me, which is surprising given that she is a parson’s wife, but our parents so frequently ignored her that she has little connection to them, especially not after living with them for so long.
” They were both quiet for a long moment.
“Give me the letters, William,” Elizabeth finally said. “I know you are thinking you should not, but, well, I need to see what they say. Certainly, there are letters from Mrs Hill and Mr Todd within the packet, and they will have a different perspective on whatever these letters say.”
Reluctantly, he stood to retrieve them, observing her carefully as she opened the outer envelope and withdrew several letters. She handed him the letter from the steward, although he did not open it as he continued to watch her. Grimacing, she began with the letter from her mother.
“Oh, good grief,” Elizabeth said, exasperation clear in her voice.
“Mama writes that both Kitty and Lydia have arrived home and have scolded her for her treatment of me once again. I said nothing to my sisters, either in person or in a letter; however, I know that Kitty likely heard several conversations at the Gardiners’ and Darcy House.
She is complaining of her ill-treatment since my sisters have been rather insistent in their chastisement.
I will tell Kitty and Lydia to stop, but I do not know what else to do. ”
“Does she offer any further apology?” Darcy enquired.
“She does,” Elizabeth sighed. “Once again, she speaks of visiting the tenants and thanks me for teaching my sister how to help them since she did not know or understand what to do. Kitty and Lydia join her in her visits while they are home, and she had forgotten how much they helped before I left. She does admit that she never appreciated the efforts my sisters and I took on their behalf and regrets that she never did it sooner. It is an aspect of being mistress that she ignored, and now that she has no daughters at home, she has found she enjoys it. I realise that as the mistress of an estate, it is a duty that I also enjoy, but it became more difficult to manage after Alex was born. Mama gave birth to five girls relatively quickly, so I am certain she would have found it difficult. However, she never took a role, not even before her children were born and certainly not after. She mocked me for my desire to do so, and I began the visits when I was ten or twelve and began to recognise the need. As Mama did not know or care, Charlotte taught me what to do.”
Elizabeth slumped back into her seat and closed her eyes briefly.
“She will always be selfish at heart, I am afraid. When I deal with her, it will always feel like dealing with a child.” She sighed deeply and closed her eyes again as she thought about what to do.
“I have forgiven her, although it seems I must forgive her repeatedly. I must face the fact that she will never change, and while I may, of necessity, be in her presence again one day, we will never have a relationship.”
“Will you visit Longbourn?” Darcy asked.
“I do not know,” she replied sadly. “I do not think so, as I want little to do with either. There is too little there to hope for any sort of restoration. Perhaps I will be willing to be in their company again—Kitty and Lydia will likely marry eventually, and those weddings will likely occur in Meryton. And if we encounter them in London, I will recognise them, but I will not invite them into our homes. I will meet them at the Gardiners or Jane’s home, but that will be the extent of our relationship, and even that will depend on their behaviour when we encounter them. ”
“I understand, love,” he said as he finally opened the letter from the steward.
The steward and the housekeeper had nothing unusual to report but reported on the running of the estate and household.
There were a few more expenses with the two youngest girls at home, but these were negligible given the estate’s improved income.
Since their confrontation nearly two years before, Bennet had taken an interest in the estate, and his efforts had borne fruit.
Their correspondence with Mr Bennet returned to his usual impersonal style after the letters when he had apologised to his daughter and son, and this letter was little different, although he did make a few comments about his daughters being home and the increased noise that resulted.
They discussed these matters and several others until well past when they usually went downstairs.
When they finally emerged from their rooms, they went to their study to write letters.
Elizabeth had decided to write to her mother and her sisters.
To Kitty and Lydia, she would explain her decision regarding their mother—she would tolerate being in her company when necessary but would not seek her out—and ask them to stop scolding their mother on her behalf.
It is unnecessary, my dear sisters, as I have realised that Mama will never truly change and have accepted that.
Yes, she has taken a more active interest in the estate and the tenants, something she had not concerned herself with before, and that benefits all who live at and depend upon Longbourn.
I am incredibly pleased you are assisting her while you are home this summer, as the practice will serve you well someday.
However, you must cease speaking to Mama on my behalf.
She is your mother and does not deserve to be scolded by you as though she were a child.
You may think you are acting on my behalf, but you are not, as my relationship with Mama is mine to resolve.
I will also write to her, but I must insist the two of you stay out of it.
Whatever you may have overheard in London or think you may know, forget it all.
Concentrate on enjoying your summer at Longbourn, and make plans for what you will do next.
Speaking of which, what are your plans for the autumn and beyond …
The letter continued to ask her sisters their intentions for the autumn.
Lydia would not be returning to school, and Gardiners offered to take one or both of them back into their home if they desired.
Darcy had agreed to hire a companion for them since their former companion had married, and this companion would aid them in attending events in London when Mrs Gardiner could not escort them.
Kitty had a few friends in London, although Lydia had not spent time there.
Both girls would accompany Georgiana to events in the spring when the Darcys returned to London, but that would not be until after Easter, and the new baby was old enough to travel.