Chapter 6
Days came and went, and Elizabeth continued to be pushed along and spun around in the emotional storm that had enveloped her..
She wrote to her mother at Longbourn, mentioning both her engagement and her father’s illness.
An express was sent and the rider instructed to wait for Mrs. Bennet’s reply.
Mrs. Bennet did not own a carriage to travel all the way to London, so Elizabeth hoped her mother and younger sisters would remain at home—but such an expectation was improbable.
Lord Barrington applied for a special licence—expected to be granted in five days. The engagement became the talk of the ton and was announced in all the newspapers.
Lady Augusta visited Elizabeth, expressing her support and joy and calling Elizabeth ‘daughter’.
Unexpectedly, Mr. Bennet’s state improved slightly on the second day after the engagement.
Both doctors remained sceptical about his future recovery, but the progress was undeniable.
He recovered enough to open his eyes occasionally, to whisper a few incoherent words, to react to the voices around him and even to gulp drops of tea from a teaspoon.
Despite the doctors’ prudence, joy and gratitude enveloped Elizabeth. She had reasons to hope and to believe her prayers had been listened to, balancing her heavy heart concerning the wedding.
On the third day of her engagement, Lord Barrington presented himself to Mr. Gardiner, with the settlement prepared for Elizabeth.
On the same day, Lady Sedgewick invited Elizabeth to a private conference. Lord Barrington accompanied her to the door, then left.
“The carriage and the servants will wait for you, Miss Bennet,” he said politely, then bowed and took his farewell.
Elizabeth watched him leaving, with a lump in her throat. She had no different feelings for him than for any other gentleman of her acquaintance and he had made no effort to build any sort of bond between them.
He seemed as relieved to be away from her as she was from him—and they were expected to wed in a few days.
Whenever her mind was freed from turmoil for a moment, she recollected that only weeks had passed since she had rejected the proposal of a man who declared to have loved her ardently.
A man who she had despised and misjudged.
A man who at least she knew well enough, if only from their constant disagreements.
A man with good traits and faults—all familiar to her.
Lady Sedgewick’s house was majestic on the outside. The doorman invited her in, then a maid led her along a large hall, past a gallery of paintings. Elizabeth felt awkward and lonely as her steps sounded on the floor.
Eventually, they entered a large chamber which Elizabeth believed to be a drawing-room. It was arranged as a bed-chamber, with a large bed placed close to the windows, and a sofa, two small tables and several other chairs spread around.
Lady Sedgewick, elegantly dressed, with her hair perfectly arranged, was sitting on the bed, her back resting against several pillows.
Near her, there was a beautiful, young black woman with curly hair and enquiring eyes.
“Miss Bennet! Thank you for coming at such short notice. Come in! Take a chair and sit near me, we have much to discuss. Jenny, bring us some refreshments please,” she addressed the maid.
The orders were obeyed; despite the lady’s harsh tone, Elizabeth could see she was pale, thinner and obviously weaker than the last time she had seen her.
“Miss Bennet, this is my protégée—Cecilia. I call her Cece. Does her presence bother you?”
Elizabeth was genuinely puzzled. “Why would it bother me?”
“Because she is black, of course. I hope you will not be so hypocritical as to pretend you did not notice,” Lady Sedgewick answered mockingly.
Elizabeth glanced at the young woman, who seemed amused by the statement.
“I certainly noticed, but I do not understand why it would bother me. I have dark hair and dark eyes. Is your ladyship bothered by it?” Elizabeth asked in complete earnest.
Both women remained disconcerted for a moment, then Lady Sedgewick began to laugh.
“Oh dear, what a perfect reply! I wish I had thought of it sooner, to use it against all those pompous fools who were offended by Cece’s company. Very good answer.”
“I am glad your ladyship is amused. My response was honestly the first thing that crossed my mind.”
“You have a sharp mind, Miss Bennet. Or shall I call you Elizabeth, since you will be family soon? I hope you do not mind.”
“I would like that very much, your ladyship.”
“Good. Now—Cece here has been my most faithful companion for the last ten years. Since she was ten. Both my husband and I treated her like our own child. She had the best teachers and she exceeded all our expectations. She is incredibly bright—more knowledgeable than most men. She is often wiser and more even-tempered than me, and she is very talented at both playing and singing.”
“Your ladyship is too kind and partial to me. I do not deserve such praise. I am doing my best to benefit from your extraordinary generosity. I was given more than others can dream of and I wish I could do more to repay you,” the young woman said with obvious emotion.
“Nonsense, my dear. Elizabeth, Cece knows everything about my business and she has been involved in most of my charities since she was a girl. I trust her with my life. She took care of my husband when he was ill and now she is always by my side. She will help you when I am gone too—if you wish it.”
Elizabeth smiled.
“I hope to have the chance to become better acquainted with Miss Cecilia and with your ladyship. I would be grateful for any help she might provide me, as I am lost and I will remain so—probably for a long while. But I am praying to have your ladyship guiding me.”
“Sadly, I am afraid that will not be the case, my dear. Cece, darling, would you allow me some privacy with Miss Bennet?”
“Of course. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Bennet,” the young woman said, leaving the chamber after a brief curtsey.
Once they were alone, Lady Sedgewick’s tone changed and her gaze sharpened.
“Elizabeth, let us speak openly. I might be old and ill, but my mind is still quite clear. Do not believe I am a fool.”
“I would never believe that,” Elizabeth replied, bearing the scrutiny and expecting to face the harshest censure. The sudden change in the conversation startled her.
“Good. I am fully aware that this hasty marriage is an arrangement meant to ensure my nephew unrestrained rights over the inheritance that he has been waiting for for more than five years. The moment he invited your family to dinner, I knew he planned to marry one of you. I would have expected him to prefer your sister, but apparently, I was wrong. My nephew is not an easy man to read; he is predictable only in his inclination towards entertainment and dissipation. As for you, considering your family’s situation, I am sure this union will be most advantageous. ”
Embarrassment, shame and misery silenced Elizabeth.
“I can see you are troubled—do not worry, I am the last woman to condemn an arranged marriage. I never fantasised about seeing my husband’s nephew in a genuine loving relationship.
Both my husband and I wished to be certain that he would find an honourable woman, of stronger character than himself, to protect at least some of the inheritance and to carry on the projects of my heart.
Be sure that I have hired men to enquire after your family, your education and your nature, Miss Bennet.
They have been searching around Longbourn since the day I met you. ”
Elizabeth could not conceal her astonishment. Lady Sedgewick smiled condescendingly.
“Surely I would not have given my consent otherwise. You see, our fortune is being protected by two trustees, most honourable and reliable gentlemen, with thorough knowledge of the law. There are very peculiar requirements.”
“I have been told that,” Elizabeth confessed in a low voice. “I remember your ladyship mentioning it when we met, and Lord Barrington has been fair enough to not deceive me by claiming false reasons for his marriage proposal.”
“I am glad to hear that. When my husband passed away five years ago, my nephew was only granted an annual income, due to some concerns my husband and I shared. His access to the rest of the fortune was restricted by clear demands. He was required to marry a gentleman's daughter, with good character and proper education, that would meet my and the trustees’ expectations.”
Again, Elizabeth remained silent. Such restrictions on a man in his late twenties was uncommon. Lady Sedgewick watched her intently.
“Miss Bennet, regardless of what you will be told, my husband had sound reasons to show prudence that might appear excessive to some. My nephew is a pleasant companion but not a reliable man. He has wasted a significant part of his own parents’ fortune—the part that was left from his equally unwise and reckless father. ”
“I was not aware of that,” Elizabeth whispered.
“Most of those who know him are acquainted with his habits. Sadly, these are not uncommon among his friends—most of his regular companions are the same. Including our more distant relatives that hope to inherit something from us. It was such a disappointment for me and my husband.”
The lady paused to gulp some tea; she looked tired and Elizabeth hurried to take the cup from her cold hands.
“We were not blessed either with children or with relatives to comfort us. We even tried to find a way to make Cecilia our heiress, but of course, that was impossible. Not only because she was black, but also because she was a woman. She is ten times better than our blood relatives and still, she is treated as if she is nothing outside this house.”
A shiver ran along Elizabeth’s skin. “I am sorry to hear that, your ladyship. Everything that you told me...I did not know...”