Chapter 6
The dinner with Lady Kendal and Lord Alveston was a turning point in Elizabeth’s life.
A week later, she returned with Jane and Bingley. The ladies enjoyed a cup of tea, while Bingley and the young earl spent their time in conversation over wine.
That habit became regular. Elizabeth visited Lady Kendal once a week, always with Jane, sometimes with Mrs Gardiner too.
Surprisingly, Bingley was invited even more often, and he gladly accepted.
Since Darcy was not in town, and with no other close friends, Bingley welcomed the unexpected friendship with a gentleman of similar age.
To the earl, Bingley was the perfect companion: amiable, with unassuming manners, genuine kindness, a generous heart, no tendency to gossip or judge, and he lived near enough to visit easily.
They played cards, spoke of politics and war, economics, and mutual acquaintances. The earl had been as fond of parties and entertainment as Bingley, and he was not ashamed to admit missing his old life.
Soon enough, a new friendship flourished and grew stronger between the young people, and they were calling each other by their given names.
With Lord Alveston—now Philip to her—Elizabeth still had some lively debates, which she enjoyed as much as the young man did. Slowly, Elizabeth discovered his pleasant nature behind the grief and resentfulness, and understood the degree of his and his grandmother’s suffering.
The news of Lord Alveston’s affliction had hit everyone unexpectedly.
Despite the grievous tragedies in Lady Kendal’s family, nobody had ever suspected the young earl of suffering from any possible illness.
He had been a healthy, energetic child, always willing to play out of doors and excelling in any sport.
As the sole heir he was expected to make an advantageous match to a woman who would have many children and manage his household.
Those who spread rumours about the tragic passing of so many young people in the Kendal family seemed to have finally been proved wrong and were silenced by the apparent good health of Lord Alveston.
Then, five years ago, at just two and twenty, during a hunting party, Lord Alveston had fallen from his horse, overcome by dizziness and an unbearable pain in his head.
It had been a light fall and everybody had joked about it for weeks.
He had dismissed it as being a trivial happenstance, until months later the headaches had returned, stronger and increasingly more frequent.
However, he still did not mention anything to anyone.
Another half a year passed, and by then the pain had descended into his back, his arms, and his feet.
He had fought it by himself for a long while until one morning, he could not rise from his bed.
His feet, his back, even his hands were not strong enough to support him.
Only then did his valet fetch the doctor. Lord Alveston had not even been four and twenty at that time.
Despite almost a year of treatment from physicians from England and abroad, his condition had worsened.
Everybody had recommended sea bathing, so Lady Kendal had purchased a property in Brighton, next to the sea but out of the town, isolated from the curiosity of intruders. They had spent several summers there, but no improvement had been observed in his condition.
Tea and herbal remedies of all sorts had been ordered from all around the world; the best doctors in England had no answers or explanations, so they wrote to their most famous colleagues. Many answers, suggestions, and suppositions arrived but no cure.
Three months after they met, on a rainy spring day while her tears fell freely into her teacup, Lady Kendal had confessed all this to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, Jane, and Charles were already all considered close friends and were regular guests in the house.
But the confession was made only to Elizabeth.
“You can easily imagine that our hopes were slowly shattered, one by one. The best physicians in town are studying Philip’s illness.
They have recorded notes on his monthly condition, tried all sorts of new cures—from China to the Continent.
Still, we have seen no results—quite the contrary.
As you might notice yourself, Philip’s condition worsens day by day.
I look forward to the summer, so we can move to Brighton.
The sun, the breeze, and the sea seem to help him significantly. But nothing else does.”
“But do you know what caused his disease? Was it that fall from the horse?” Elizabeth asked, her voice strangled by tears.
“No. Nobody knows the cause. It appears to be a family affliction.”
“So…there is nothing and nobody that can help Philip?” Elizabeth insisted, devastated.
“Only God. It must be my curse and the cross I have to bear. To watch the last of my blood dying slowly, day by day. I am not sure what frightens me more: the notion that I may die before him, and he will have nobody to care for him, or the thought that I shall have to bury him too.”
Elizabeth had never experienced such a deep, gripping pain as she had felt witnessing Lady Kendal’s grief. She watched helplessly, as there was nothing to be said or done. There was no remedy, not even hope. Only prayers and tears—until they dried too.
Eventually, her ladyship regained enough strength to continue.
“Several other people are showing similar symptoms of the disease. This is my motivation. I sponsor two hospitals. Many people are suffering in poverty, and I want to provide for them as much as I can. But also, I confess I pray someone with a similar illness will be cured, and we shall at least have hope. I know it is a ridiculous and groundless expectation but it is all I have left.”
“What can I do? How may I help?” Elizabeth eventually asked.
“By being our friend,” Lady Kendal responded.
“Philip had many friends, but he has distanced himself from them. When he was forced to stay in the chair, for a while his old friends used to keep him company. There were always parties in his house, but then some rumours about the delicacy of his constitution were spread in London and he felt betrayed. He had some distant cousins who remained close to him, until he suspected their purpose was to benefit from his money. He cares little about money but very much about loyalty.”
“I can easily understand that,” Elizabeth admitted.
“Also, several young ladies continued to call, even after he ceased leaving the house. I shall not conceal from you that I had discussions with some of those ladies’ mothers.
Several of them even proposed ‘arrangements’.
Many of them wished to marry him, promising to care for him for as long as he lived.
Yes, those were their precise words. And I shall not deny I was tempted to accept.
I even talked to Philip about it, but he refused.
He dreaded the notion that someone would marry him then count the days until he died so they might enjoy his fortune and title.
He even accused me of wanting to cast the burden of caring for him onto someone else’s shoulders.
He became rude and hostile to anyone who entered the house. ”
“Yes, I do remember that the very first time we met.”
“I know you do,” Lady Kendal replied. “And you were the first person to rebuke him properly. You showed no restraint in treating him as he deserved—like an ill-mannered child with repulsive behaviour.”
“Well, I am not proud of my outburst either,” Elizabeth laughed nervously.
“But you should be, my dear. You were precisely what Philip needed. You gained his attention and then his trust. He could see there was no falsehood in your character, and that you had no intention of flattering him for your own benefit. Since then, you have always shown him sympathy but also respect and consideration. You showed him care but never made him feel pitied. You—together with Jane and Charles—are a blessing for him.”
“Oh, but I assure you, we are fortunate too. Charles is so delighted with their friendship! And for me, both his company and yours are a pleasure!”
“I know, my dear. I am deeply grateful that you decided to remain in town longer. You cannot fully understand how much your presence helps him. And me.”
“Surely I have done nothing special! But your ladyship has been exceedingly generous with all the presents you have sent to my sisters and my parents. My father loved the books almost as much as my sisters loved the gowns! However, I fear we are imposing on your generosity!”
Lady Kendal waved her hand. “My dear, it was my pleasure, I assure you. I know I might sound pretentious, but my fortune is a burden at times. I wish to use it to give people reasons for joy for as long as I can. There is nobody to inherit it, except some distant relatives who will likely waste it in a few years. I cannot allow that. I would rather share it as I feel appropriate.”
“Your ladyship is bestowing extraordinary generosity upon so many people who truly need it! Your kindness has improved so many lives already! But please do not buy more gifts for my sisters, at least not without telling me,” she tried to joke.
“As long as you remain our friend, I shall do nothing to displease you, my dear.”
∞∞∞
Six more weeks passed in the same manner.
Slowly, Lord Alveston became utterly at ease with them.
He abandoned any restraint and embarrassment in asking his valet for help or to confessing when he was fatigued and needed rest. He considered them family, and they loved him as a brother.
The news that Mrs Bingley was expecting her first child was celebrated together during another dinner when the Gardiners were also present.