Chapter Sixty-Four
Do you mean to tell me, Lady Lucas, that Charlotte will wed the Viscount?” Mrs. Bennet’s voice rose a full octave by the end of her question.
“That is exactly right, my dear Mrs. Bennet,” Lady Lucas said. If there was a good deal of smugness in her voice, she could hardly be blamed. She had listened to Mrs. Bennet boast about Jane’s beauty for many years now, and it was high time the worm turned.
“Why, I can scarce believe it!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. “Jane, Jane, come here.”
Jane had been about to enter the parlour, but had paused upon seeing Lady Lucas there. She did not much like witnessing the competition between the two ladies who purported to be good friends, but there was no escape now. “What is it, Mama?”
“Lady Lucas wishes me to believe that Mr. Fitzwilliam, who is really the Viscount Worthing, has proposed to her Charlotte!”
“Congratulations, Lady Lucas,” Jane said, sweetly. “I am certain Charlotte will make a wonderful Viscountess.”
Mrs. Bennet turned to her eldest daughter. “Jane, you believe this preposterous tale?”
“I do indeed, Mama, as I had already heard it from Sarah.”
Mrs. Bennet threw her hands into the air. “Surely the Earl and Countess will forbid such a match!” she declared, almost feverishly.
“On the contrary, they visited us yesterday and told us they were everything delighted, and wished to help plan the wedding! Such lovely people, and such good manners. I shall be quite pleased to be related to the Earl and Countess of Matlock.” The self-satisfaction in Lady Lucas’ voice was almost more than Mrs. Bennet could bear.
“He is quite odd, though, is he not?” Mrs. Bennet did her best to sound disdainful.
Lady Lucas shrugged. “He is a Viscount and will someday be the Earl of Matlock. He may be as odd as he likes.”
There could be no reply to that, and Lady Lucas took her leave soon after. No sooner had the front door closed behind her then Mrs. Bennet burst into tears.
“Why, Mama!” Jane hastened to put her arms around her mother.
“It has all gone wrong, Jane,” Mrs. Bennet sobbed. “You were supposed to make the best match, and now there is no money and no gentlemen, and Charlotte will one day be a Countess! No, there is no justice in the world, that is certain.”
“Mama, please, listen. Mary has married Mr. Collins, and we will never have to leave Longbourn; we just have to get through this next few – well, six or so – months, and then there will be another harvest, and –“ And here Jane broke down as well, and the two women clung together.
***
In the last days before Christmas, everyone did their best to pretend that all was well at Longbourn.
The Gardiner’s food hampers were raided, and the girls worked as long as there was daylight to finish the gifts they were making.
Even wax candles were occasionally put into use.
Mr. Gardiner had made a few attempts to speak with Mr. Bennet privately, but he was stymied by Mr. Bennet’s unwillingness to engage, and so finally ceased his efforts.
Mr. Bingley came to call, and he was alone. Mr. Darcy did not accompany him, nor did his sisters. He immediately took a seat beside Jane. Her heart beat fast and her face blushed beautifully as she looked up at him. Was this to be the day? Oh, how she hoped it was!
“Miss Bennet,” he began. “I am not certain I understand recent events.”
“Do what do you refer, Mr. Bingley?” she asked.
“Why, simply the disappearance of Miss Elizabeth. I did see her go off to Kent with Mr. and Mrs. Collins, did I not? I begin to wonder if I imagined the whole thing!” He laughed a little.
Jane’s heart sank. Was he missing Lizzy?
Should she have stayed, and perhaps Jane gone away instead?
She struggled to keep her voice steady as she replied.
“No, you did not imagine it. Mary was rather nervous about leaving home for the first time – Lizzy and I have been to London with our relatives several times, but Mary never had – and so she asked Lizzy to accompany her.”
“I see,” was the thoughtful response. Mr. Bingley’s mind was racing.
If he had truly raised expectations for Miss Elizabeth, she surely would not have left.
And certainly she would not have left without a word to the man who had raised those expectations.
Unless…unless she truly had never cared for him, and this was her way of avoiding an unwanted proposal!
And in that case, he was free to offer for Miss Bennet, was he not?
“What is your family doing for Christmas day?” Jane asked, interrupting his reverie.
“My sister has ordered a splendid dinner, of course.” He paused, feeling awkward.
“I had hoped that we might invite your family, but given that Miss Lucas is betrothed to Mr. Fitzwilliam, we had to invite the Lucases. And with the Earl and Countess still in residence, well, the dining room will be near to overflowing.”
“I understand, of course,” Jane said, dully. She needed no reminder that Charlotte Lucas had succeeded where she had failed. Charlotte would be married, while Jane would be…not.