Chapter Twelve #3
Mr. Bennet appeared satisfied with this impudent challenge, and he bowed his head to her.
“Lady Gresham’s letter was full of thinly veiled admonishments that you had never before moved enough in the world to meet a young man you could like, and you were so keen to accept her invitation that I wondered if there was some merit in all her hinting at your meeting some eligible prospect. ”
“I cannot deny the great allure of travel – of seeing new scenery and moving amongst new and interesting people. But there are greater sights to delight one than eligible prospects .”
Jane felt a pang of sympathy for her sister as she considered that Elizabeth had never travelled away from Meryton before going to Weymouth.
Jane had seen every county in England during her time with the Campbells, as they followed the colonel’s regiment, while Elizabeth had been content to stay at home with her father.
“I have always been perfectly happy at Netherfield,” Jane said on her sister’s behalf. “It seems you have decided that this must no longer be the case.”
Mr. Bennet wrapped an arm about her shoulders and drew her nearer.
“I have never wished you away, and while you were in Weymouth, I thought of you constantly. In London, where there is so much of the absurd to be savored, you were present in all my thoughts. I often imagined how we might amuse one another with the folly of high society . I wish no alteration to our contentment, my Lizzy, but neither is it right for me to hold you back from being more in the world.”
Tears welled in Jane’s eyes; she had heard enough of life with Mr. Bennet from Elizabeth that it felt like her own memories now moved her. “And you would never allow Miss Bingley to alter that contentment?”
“I have every hope she will prove an ample source of amusement and delight to you. She is a bit silly, but I doubt I shall be obliged to intervene in any real mischief. You remember Lady Amelia’s Pomeranian – we often teased that we should let Bessie mop the floor with the angry little ball of fur – and yet you wept for a fortnight when the infernal menace finally snarled his last.”
Jane laughed. “Are you really comparing your future bride to a dog?”
“A foolish misstep, for you must already be planning to tell her of it, and bring the engagement to a swift conclusion.” Mr. Bennet gave a rueful laugh, then turned serious as he regarded Jane.
“I only ask you to give her a chance, Lizzy. I do wish to have a son, if only because you have been such a delight to raise; having another child has been often on my mind over the years. Lady Amelia was not designed for motherhood, but I think Miss Bingley would at least have some affection for a babe of her own. Indeed, we may discover that motherhood improves her. And if you remain determined not to marry, a baby brother might make you a more pleasing pet than my late wife’s furry demon.
You could teach a brother to climb trees and play the pianoforte very ill. ”
“He would surely be a wicked creature,” Jane agreed, shuddering at the thought of what offspring Miss Bingley might produce.
And then she thought of Miss Bates, who must have been but seventeen when she met her handsome young officer; it was not impossible that she might satisfy Mr. Bennet’s wish for a son.
“A lady in her late thirties might have suited you,” Jane mused.
“Surely you cannot mean Bessie; I thought we put that awkward notion to rest when you were twelve,” Mr. Bennet said, giving another wry laugh. Jane sputtered with laughter at the thought.
“As it happens, the unattached ladies of that age are widows or spinsters who know enough of the world to think better of attaching themselves to a sardonic old curmudgeon who is set in his ways and fonder of books than people. And such a woman would be a far greater threat to your liberty and pleasure than a young lady concerned only with her own vanity.”
Jane frowned, wondering if her father was right – was her mother content as she was? Would her parents be better off not reunited? She stood and brushed off her skirts, ready to be riding again. “I suppose you have given me much to think of, sir.”
“And will you? Give her a chance, that is.”
“I have little choice but to do so,” Jane murmured. Knowing she was near to weeping over her doubts about the plan she hatched with her sister, Jane hastened back to her horse, untethered and mounted the animal, and tore off down the hillside, obliged her father to make haste in giving pursuit.
When Jane returned to the manor, she did not wait for her father to stable his horse.
She wiped away the tears she had shed as she sprinted toward home, and wanted only the solace of her room.
After scarcely a quarter hour, Bessie knocked on the door and let herself in.
“Lizzy, your father says you outrode him! I do not know if I should commend your progress, or ask if you wish to confide, my dear.”
Jane allowed her wretchedness to show on her face.
“Miss Bingley is awful, and he treats it as a joke, that she will either be too caught up in her own vanity to vex me, or that she and I will form some female alliance against him! Neither outcome could please me as much as if things were simply as they ought to be – what they have always been.”
“I hoped you would bring him to his senses before the date is set and the marriage contract signed,” Bessie sighed.
She sat down on the chair next to the bed where Jane had thrown herself as she wept.
“He will listen to you, if you thoroughly speak your mind. He said you went easy on him, and I cannot say whom I wish to throttle more!”
“Miss Bingley, surely,” Jane whimpered. “If he must marry – for I know Mr. Collins is hardly worthy of Longbourn – I should rather have a real mother.”
“Well, if you wish a little revenge upon Miss Bingley, I have the menu for tomorrow’s dinner – and her suggestions.”
Jane sat up and took the sheet of paper from the housekeeper, looking over all the changes that had been marked down.
There was not a single dish that had not required some alteration; many were changed entirely to something else, and a long list of the Hursts’ preferences was composed at the bottom of the page.
“I was astonished you did not stand up to her, Lizzy.”
Jane knew she had failed miserably at behaving like her sister, and she understood what Bessie expected.
“Serve the meal exactly as originally planned. However, please tell the cook to use a generous hand with the capers, mushrooms, prawns, and anything else Miss Bingley and her relations are averse to. But perhaps not the salmon – dressed lobster would do nicely instead.”
“But salmon is your favorite!”
Jane resisted the urge to wrinkle her nose with distaste. “Oh – I ate a great deal of it in Weymouth.”
“But you have not had your fill of prawns? Well, if it will teach that harpy not to meddle just yet, I shall tell the kitchen. I hope you have some scheme in mind, Miss Lizzy, to prevent that woman from becoming mistress of this house; the entire staff are quite depending on your prevailing.”
“I shall try not to let you down,” Jane replied, rallying herself to unleash Elizabeth’s full powers of wickedness. “I do have a few cards yet to play.”