Chapter Two
Elizabeth paced back and forth in her room for several minutes. Then she fell down on the bed, face first. Her eyes were dry; hearing her father’s words and learning her fate put her in a state of shock that was too deep for tears.
The words were seared into her mind; again and again, she heard ‘Your family needs you to marry him.’
Him! Who was this him that she was supposed to enchant into offering for her as soon as possible? Nothing was known about him, nothing at all, only that he was wealthy!
She could not think in this small room! The walls were closing in on her, making her feel trapped!
She ran downstairs and out the door, out into the air. She ran and ran, as fast and far as she could; when she could run no more, she finally stopped, sucking in great gulps of air.
Moving slowly now, she turned around and started back toward Longbourn. It was cold, so very cold. She had not stopped to bring her cloak.
As she approached the front drive, she stopped and stared at the house.
Longbourn! Longbourn had always represented safety, security, stability.
But the shrubberies had not been trimmed for ages, and the paint was peeling away from the doorway.
She recalled now that the carpets in the drawing room were badly in need of replacing, and that a significant portion of the wallpaper in the room she shared with Jane had peeled away.
She understood now that these things had not been addressed as a result of lack of funds, not lack of attention. Now it all fell into place.
The unexpected departure of the Johnson and Lafferty families – well, she had known about that, of course.
The Johnsons had left because Mrs. Johnson’s father had left her a small house in London.
The Laffertys had left because their son’s wife in Suffolk had borne twins and desperately needed family help.
That had left the two largest tenant farms empty last spring.
Why, then, had Papa not been able to find new tenants?
Oh. Likely because the two cottages were not in very good condition; now Elizabeth understood that there had not been sufficient funds to repair the roofs and fences.
Yes, the signs had been there all along, and Elizabeth had seen none of them. ‘I have been blind,’ she whispered to herself. ‘I should have seen and I did not.’
Oh, how desperately she wished Jane were here with her! But then it would be Jane who would be sacrificed to save the family. Beautiful Jane, sweet Jane, would step up at once to do her duty, and thereby lose her own chance to marry for love!
No, it must be me, Elizabeth thought, squaring her shoulders. Jane must know nothing of it, or she would rush home at once. Elizabeth would not allow her parents’ failure to rob Jane of her chance for happiness.
Feet dragging, Elizabeth went back inside the house.
Making her way to her father’s study, she opened the door without knocking and found her parents sitting together, silently.
They looked up as she entered; Papa’s face was pleading, while Mama was clearly getting ready to put her foot down and insist that Elizabeth do as she was told.
But Elizabeth spoke first. “Very well. I will do my best. But I have conditions.”
Her parents looked up at her, hope writ clearly on their faces.
“Jane is to be allowed to stay in London, so that she might have the opportunity to do what is being denied me.”
Mr. Bennet spoke at once. “Understood. Anything else?”
“Yes. Kitty and Lydia are not to make any public appearances until after…if…well, keep them away from this gentleman. I do not wish to waste my time making excuses for their manners, or lack thereof.”
Mrs. Bennet looked rebellious at this, but Mr. Bennet agreed at once.